Paris - Brazilian football legend Pele has been signed up by US firm Pfizer, maker of the erection drug Viagra, to promote an anti-impotence awareness campaign.
Pele will take part in a news conference in Tokyo on Tuesday to give a boost to the campaign, which urges men not to be coy about seeking treatment for impotence.
"Fear and embarrassment prevent many men from speaking to their doctor about erection problems," a Pfizer statement quoted Pele as saying.
"I hope that my personal commitment to this campaign will help to motivate men to seek medical help. If I suffered from ED (erectile dysfunction), I would speak with my doctor."
Financial details were not disclosed.
Pfizer said it estimated that more than 140-million men suffer from impotence.
Viagra has been used by more than 15 million men, it said.
Pele, now aged 61, played in 1 363 matches and scored 1 282 goals.
His best season was 1958, when he scored 139 times. - Sapa-AFP