Pelé (top) celebrates with his teammates during Brazil’s 4-1 win over Italy in 1970 inal PELÉ FACTS& FIGURES MOST SUCCESSFUL LEAGUE GOALSCORER WITH 1281 GOALS IN 1363 GAMES YOUNGEST WORLD CUP WINNER ONLY PLAYER TO WIN3 WORLD CUPS 19 NOVEMBER IS PELÉ DAY AT SANTOS – AFTER THE DATE PELÉ SCORED HIS 1000TH GOAL SCORED HIS FIRST PROFESSIONAL GOAL ON HIS LEAGUE DEBUT AT 15 YEARS OLD JOINT FIFA PLAYER OF THE CENTURY WITH DIEGO MARADONA 30
PELÉ Pelé and Gerson both scored in the 1970 inal, with Brazil becoming the irst team to win the <strong>World</strong> Cup three times that Brazil side was hardly starved for talent, and Pelé’s teammates took up the slack, in particular a fellow footballing genius by the name of Garrincha. Brazil went on to triumph without Pelé, defeating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in the inal. Pelé’s reputation was not diminished despite his absence for much of the 1962 tournament, and he was still the world’s most famous talent when he came to England to play in the 1966 <strong>World</strong> Cup. But again, Pelé sufered from injury problems in a tournament where opposition players had evidently decided to kick him out of the game. He scored one goal in the opening match, missed the second through injury, and returned in the inal game of the group stages, where he ended up limping around the pitch as he watched his team fall 3-1 to Portugal. The 1966 failure left a bitter taste in the mouths of Brazil fans and Pelé himself. He vowed he would never play for Brazil in a <strong>World</strong> Cup again, frustrated by the deliberate fouling he had been subject to and the injuries he’d sufered as a result. Eventually, however, Pelé was persuaded to return to play in the 1970 <strong>World</strong> Cup in Mexico. We’re grateful he did, because the team that he became part of was to go down in history as perhaps the greatest <strong>World</strong> Cup side of all time. “BRAZIL’S SUPREME ATTACKING TALENT CAME UP AGAINST A MAGNIFICENT DEFENCE, PELÉ AGAINST BOBBY MOORE” The side that went to Mexico in 1970 was phenomenally talented. The standout player in defence was the great Carlos Alberto, ittingly for a Brazil team, because of his rampaging attacking talent. In central midield, the cultured Gerson was there to pull the strings alongside the tireless Clodoaldo. On the left was the graceful Rivelino, credited with innovating the lip lap, and on the opposite lank another of Brazil’s many all-time greats, the dynamic Jairzinho. He complemented Rivelino’s tendency to sit deep with a direct, pacey approach and eye for goal. Partnering Pelé was Tostão, a player with skill, vision, and most importantly for his partnership with Pelé, the intelligence to interchange with his star teammate, dropping deep when necessary and pushing forwards to make space in the hole for Pelé when appropriate. This gifted team went one down to Czechoslovakia in the 11th minute of their irst game of the group stages. A Rivelino goal brought them in level at the break, and Brazil exploded in the second half to swat their opponents out of their way. Pelé struck irst to give Brazil the lead and Jairzinho followed up with a double to inish the game. Brazil’s next match was against the world champions: England. Only one goal was scored in the game, but it was a classic nonetheless. Brazil’s supreme attacking talent came up against a magniicent defence, Pelé leading his compatriots against a deiant Bobby Moore, who time after time would break up Brazil’s attacks. Pelé could draw out the best of his opponents, it would seem. Indeed, he did just that when Gordon Banks stopped Pelé opening the scoring with a stop dubbed the ‘save of the century’. Carlos Alberto played a cutting pass from deep, allowing Jairzinho to get behind the England defence. He made it to the byline and crossed to Pelé, who headed powerfully towards the bottom corner. It looked as if the header was already beyond Banks as he reached behind him and tipped the ball up over the bar. 31