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As we continue our countdown to the 2014 World Cup in Brazil here at PST, each day from now until the tournament begins we will look back at a memorable moment from years gone by.
Here is number 11.
PST’s Top 20 World Cup moments – No. 11. Pele bursts onto the scenes with Brazil, wins first World Cup
Before the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, Brazil had never won the famous Jules Rimet trophy.
Then again, they never had a man called Pele on their team either. We call him a man, but Pele was just 17 during the tournament as he finished second in goals with six that included a hat trick in Brazil’s 5-2 semifinal win over France. Pele then bagged another two in another 5-2 win in the final against hosts Sweden, including a marvelous individual effort which you can watch in the video above.
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Pele’s legendary name swept across the globe after his emergence sparked Brazil’s golden generation as they’d go on to win three out of four World Cups with the man from Sao Paulo at the center of their team for over a decade. Many say he is the best player the game has ever seen and after taking a World Cup by storm at the age of 17, it is hard to argue with that.
At the final whistle in Stockholm in ’58 the emotion of it all was too much for Pele as he broke down in tears and was lauded by his teammates.
Pele has enjoyed several of the most memorable moments in World Cup history but this was when he truly arrived on the world scene.