Pelé scored 1,283 goals, in every way, or almost every way. After all, the King of Football also made famous the goals he didn’t score, as happened in the 1970 World Cup.
The eternal shirt number 10 for Santos and the Brazilian national team was decisive. He scored goals in the four Cups he played in, including the 1958 and 1970 finals. He also scored in Libertadores and Mundial titles for Santos. In Campeonato Paulista, then, it is not even mentioned.
Below, check out ten outstanding goals from the Athlete of the Century, including right and left foot, free kick and penalty, giving a hat or two…
Brazil 1 x 0 Wales (1958)
Pelé’s first goal in Cups is also one of the most beautiful. The 17-year-old striker received the ball inside the area, with his back to goal. He killed in the chest, pulled the ball by turning his body and completed it for the goal. The result took Brazil to the semifinals of the World Cup.
Sweden 2 x 5 Brazil (1958)
The title was already defined when Pelé receives the ball at the end of the game, kills in the chest already getting rid of a defender, applies a hat to the second and kicks before the ball falls to define the score. It was one of the most beautiful goals in World Cup history.
Juventus 0 x 4 Santos (1959)
The goal scored on Rua Javari, on August 2, 1959, when the King was 19 years old, is considered by Pelé himself to be the most beautiful of his career. He played a dull game until he received Dorval, dribbled the first defender and started to distribute hats to defenders and the goalkeeper, without letting the ball touch the grass, to then complete it with his head. The goal was not filmed, but it was digitally reproduced, which is in the video below, after 1 minute and 20 seconds.
Brazil 2 x 0 Mexico (1962)
The 1962 Cup was short lived for Pelé, who was injured in the second match and watched from the sidelines as Brazil won its second championship. But the number 10 of the selection had time to score, in his debut, against Mexico. In his best style, he dribbled past rivals, balanced his body so as not to fall and concluded with his left foot.
Benfica 2 x 5 Santos (1962)
After winning their first match at the 1962 Club World Cup, at Maracanã, Santos went to Estádio da Luz, home of Benfica, and won again, with a gala performance by Pelé. Some point to the match as one of the best in that Santos. Pelé scored three times, with emphasis on the second goal, making a body dribble on an opponent, passing by other defenders and finishing with a cross kick with his left foot.
Boca Juniors 1 x 2 Santos (1963)
In the first leg of the Libertadores final at Maracanã, Santos won by 3 to 2. On the way back, at the mythical Bombonera, Pelé was beaten a lot by Boca’s scorers, who took the lead. Santos tied in the first half, with assistance from Pelé; and it was shirt number 10 who scored the goal that won the second championship for the Vila team. Also harassed by the crowd, Pelé was thrilled with the goal.
Brazil 2 x 0 Bulgaria (1966)
In his third World Cup, in England, Pelé was hunted on the field and Brazil, disorganized, was eliminated in the group stage after defeats by Hungary and Portugal, both by 3 to 1. But in his debut, the king scored a free kick, hitting the free kick strong in the win against Bulgaria at Everton’s Goodison Park.
Saints 3 x 1 Corinthians (1969)
Pelé won ten São Paulo titles, including the one in 1969, won in a final square. In the first game, against Corinthians, he scored two goals, with special emphasis on the first, in which he receives the ball, kills it in the chest, gives defender Ditão a hat, fixes it again with his chest and scores without letting the ball touch the pitch .
Vasco 1 x 2 Santos (1969)
The 1,000th goal was awaited on one of its main venues, Maracanã. Santos came out behind the score, tied in the second half and, close to the end of the game, had a penalty in their favor. As if it were a penalty shootout, all Santos players went to midfield; only vascainos were waiting for a rebound, which did not come. Pelé hit hard, in the left corner of goalkeeper Andrada and the lawn was soon invaded by hundreds of journalists.
Brazil 4 x 1 Italy (1970)
In his fourth and final Cup, Pelé was the best player in the competition, in which he played the role of scorer and waiter. In the final, he opened the scoring with a strong and accurate header, one of his many weapons. In the video below you can also see the two assists, including the memorable goal by Carlos Alberto Torres, the last of the Cup.
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