17 years old Pele sets the world alight, 1958
Sweden 1958
Brazil v Sweden, Stockholm, Final
The most exciting talent in football arrived at the World Cup in Sweden a 17-year-old unknown. In the days before mass media, Pele's renown had not yet spread. This was just a kid from the slums. And his debut in the competition was delayed by injury. Moreover, his coaches, initially suspicious of his youth, had brought him along solely to pick up experience by watching from the sidelines. He was one for the future. But one glimpse of him in training had his colleagues insisting he be picked the moment he recovered from a knee problem. It was immediately obvious why they were so enthusiastic. He played in the final group game against USSR, scored the winner in the quarter final against Wales and a hat-trick in the semi-final demolition of France. He thus became the youngest player ever to appear in a World Cup final at just 17 years and 249 days. Exuding the exuberance of youth, Pele was simply unstoppable in the Stockholm final. He scored twice, his second goal an audacious volley he set up for himself by dinking the ball over the head of a bemused Swedish defender. Sigvard Parling, the man left flabbergasted in his wash, would later say: "When Pelé scored the fifth goal in that final, I felt like applauding". But if his performance was almost preternaturally mature, Pele’s reaction to victory demonstrated he was still a kid at heart. Such was the emotional toll he collapsed at the final whistle, needing immediate medical assistance. And when he recovered, he blubbed his way uncontrollably through the presentation ceremonies.
BEST OF PELE
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