Pelé - 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970 FIFA World Cup Classic Players

Eternal greatness
Throughout his career, Pele was a record breaker. His 1,000th goal, a penalty, came in 1969 in front of a delirious crowd at the Maracana. He scored five goals in a game on no fewer than six occasions, managed 30 four-goal hauls and netted 92 hat-tricks. In one match against Botafogo in 1964, he hit the back of the net eight times. In total, the great man struck 1,281 goals in 1,363 games.

Pele quit what he called o jogo bonito (the beautiful game) in 1974, before returning the following year to play for the New York Cosmos in order "to bring the world's game to the American public". He would hang up his boots for the last time in 1977.

J.B. Pinheiro, the Brazilian ambassador to the United Nations, was quoted as saying: "Pele played football for 22 years, and in that time he did more to promote world friendship and fraternity than any other ambassador anywhere". And who could contradict him? In warring Nigeria a ceasefire was declared when Pele played in Lagos in 1969. The President of Brazil declared him a "national treasure" to thwart any potential transfer to a European club. And in the port city of Santos, 19 November is forever 'Pele Day', to celebrate the anniversary of his 1,000th goal.

Since his playing career ended, Pele has used his ambassador's status to promote his country, the UN and UNICEF. "Every kid in the world who plays football wants to be Pele," he said, "which means I have the responsibility of showing them how to be a footballer but also how to be a man." But that is what Gods are for, isn't it?

Category:

Sports

Tags:

• Pelé
• 1958
• 1962
• 1966
• 1970
• FIFA
• World Cup
• Football

[becefalus]

your just ignorant there is no other footage this is it. Pele was a genius he was very advanced for his time. Without Pele there is no Maradona, Zidane, Ronaldo (brazil), Johan Cruyf. If there was no Pele soccer would be the same, Brazil wouldent have won 5 world cups. And why do you bring up Maradona? Maradona is no where near Pele. Pele is the God of football he was a super dribler. Pele could take on any defender any time.

[Adilshit]

nowadays football are parody, with kids saying messi is better or c.ronaldo, they won't understand REAL FOOTBALL!

[128elcone]

For all of those marranona butt-budies, if you chose to ignore everything Pelé did, then look at what your druggie idol (maradona) did: use performance enhancing drugs, snort cocaine, score a goal with his hand, get gastric by-pass surgery (and still manage to be fat). Pelé at 71 looks in much better shape than maradona.

[Darcyleung]

I never see to pele to play ball . Base on movie . I sure! He still best player on the world !

Even if , everybody take about Meiss.

[andreyus08]

@GeoffBond007 760, not 530, the last number corresponds to 1st division goals !

[gonzaparra1]

NEGRO VENDEHUMO!!

[GeoffBond007]

@leonardomessi1000 Let's Be honest. Pele Never ever scored 1284 goals. That's a Falacy. Even the FIFA only recognize 530 goals in his career (wich is the maximun ever for a player). with that said, Pele is the greater player ever.

[GeoffBond007]

@Jiltedin2007 Maradona maybe is not the greaters, But Klinsmann and Matthaus are NO were near maradona levels... Cryuff had the Best team in the 70's and he wasn't capable to win a world cup. Maradona took 3 weak teams and made them champions. (Argentina sub-20 1979, Argentina 86-90 and napoli). He was also very succesfull in spain playing with a very mediocre barcelona at that time.

[GeoffBond007]

@sagnyc Superb comentary!! 100% true everything you said!

[GeoffBond007]

@becefalus Excelente comentary

[sagnyc]

@brian2010lal

Each player in Brazil's 3 winning World Cup squads from that era (58, 62, 70) played his club football in Brazil. So what would be "sad" about remaining in a league containing the world's best? Pele's club team, Santos, in addition to winning a great many domestic honors, won back-to-back Intercontentinal Cups against Europe's best teams (62, 63), and (same years) Copa Libertadores trophies against S. America's best. Making them the world's best club of that era by definition.