Pele at the World Cup: A star is born in Sweden, greatness is sealed in Mexico
The IndependentSign up to Miguel Delaney’s Reading the Game newsletter sent straight to your inbox for free Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter Sign up to Miguel’s Delaney’s free weekly newsletter SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Sweden 1958 Pele missed the first two matches through injury before making his World Cup debut against the Soviet Union. Aged 17 years and 239 days, Pele became the youngest player to appear in a World Cup final and scored twice – the first with a flick over a defender and volley into the corner of the net – as Brazil beat hosts Sweden 5-2. Mexico 1970 Pele had vowed never to play in the World Cup again but changed his mind and was rewarded with a third winners’ medal. Pele’s perfectly-weighted pass to Carlos Alberto for Brazil’s fourth goal rounded off one of the all-time great moves, executed by arguably the finest team in World Cup history.