World Cup Legends

‘O REI’ – THE ART OF BEING PELE

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I told myself before the game, ‘He’s made of skin and bones just like everyone else’. But I was wrong.
Tarcisio Burgnich, the Italy defender who marked Pele in the 1970 World Cup Final in Mexico

1940: Pele – a name that stuck

Pele is born in a small town in Minas Gerais, on Oct 23, 1940. He is named Edson Arantes do Nascimento after American inventor Thomas Edison, but given the moniker “Pele” in school due to his mispronunciation of the name of Brazilian goalkeeper Bile. At five, his family relocates to Sao Paulo when his father – a lower-league footballer – is transferred to Bauru. He hones his dribbling technique and ball control with a sock stuffed with rags as his family cannot afford a football.

1950: Eyes on the Cup

Brazil loses 2-1 to Uruguay in the World Cup final on home soil, which is the first time he sees his father cry. The 10-year-old, who previously wanted to become a pilot, tells his crestfallen dad: “One day I will win you the World Cup.”

1956: A precocious talent

Making his senior debut for Santos at just 15 years old, Pele scores in a 7-1 friendly win against Corinthians de Santo Andre, announcing himself as a prodigy. He goes on to score a whopping 643 goals for Santos in domestic tournaments (both national and state levels), the Copa Libertadores, and the Intercontinental Cup (the precursor to the FIFA Club World Cup).

1957: Call-up to the Selecao

Pele, at 16 years and 259 days, makes his first international appearance for Brazil in the Copa Roca match against Argentina at Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana Stadium. He performs well and even scores a goal to become the youngest goalscorer for his country.

1958: A star is born

After his teammates appeal to coach Vicente Feola to blood him, a 17-year-old Pele makes his World Cup debut and produces a brilliant goal in their 5-2 win against the Swedes in the final. The great Swedish winger Kurt Hamrin later calls Pele – who finishes with a total haul of six goals – a “rare talent”. He remains the youngest goalscorer, the youngest hat-trick scorer, and both the youngest player and scorer in a final in World Cup history – all achieved before the age of 18. The records have stood untouched for nearly 70 years.

1962: Not red hot in Chile

The largely unchanged 1958 title-winning Brazil team of four years ago – including Garrincha, Didi, Mario Zagallo, and Pele – are crowned world champions again. Pele scores in the first match against Mexico, but an injury sustained in the second group game against Czechoslovakia consigns him to the sidelines as the team go on to claim victory.

1966: England disaster

Brazil head into the 1966 World Cup in England as hot favourites. Despite having a blend of talented youngsters and experienced World Cup winners, they fail to establish a settled line-up. Pele, in his prime at 25, plays in only two matches, suffering injuries against both Bulgaria and Portugal as the reigning champions crash out at the group stage.

1970: Going out on a high

Having won the World Cup in 1958 and 1962, Pele lifts his third and final World Cup with Brazil – a record for the most wins by an individual. In a team where an astonishing five No. 10s – Pele, Tostao, Jairzinho, Rivellino, and Gerson – are fielded, the nation’s favourite footballing son stands out with his involvement in 53 per cent of their goals, netting four times and providing six assists. Pele is crowned the tournament’s best player – a fitting recognition of his most complete performance in a World Cup.

1971 - 1974: Pele’s protest

Pele retires from the national team in 1971 but continues to play for Santos until he joins the New York Cosmos in 1975. He reveals, for the first time, in a 1999 televised interview that he refused to play in the 1974 World Cup in West Germany to protest against torture by Brazil’s military regime. Brazil finish fourth, with the hosts beating a Johan Cruyff-led Dutch team in the final.

2000: G.O.A.T.

Pele becomes the joint winner – alongside Argentinian great Diego Maradona – of the FIFA Player of the Century award, which honours the greatest footballer of the 20th century. The Brazilian legend died at 82 on Dec 29, 2022, in Sao Paulo from multiple organ failure caused by the progression of colon cancer. The late American artist Andy Warhol famously predicts everyone will be world-famous for 15 minutes, but later amends it by saying Pele will be famous for “15 centuries” after having witnessed how he transcends the sport.