Youngster Pele’s World Cup Final Performance Leaves Everyone in Awe – TBT #23
It’s June 8th, 1958. The FIFA World Cup begins in Sweden, and millions of fans worldwide are watching. Sixteen national football teams participate in this sports tournament, all wanting to lift the FIFA World Cup trophy. The 1954 World Cup winner is West Germany, a nation that’s a heavy favorite to win the tournament again.
Besides West Germany, Brazil’s national team is a top-notch squad that could become the FIFA World Cup winner. They have star players like Garrincha, Zito, Didi, Vava, Bellini, and Nilton Santos. Moreover, they also have numerous young talented players, like the 17-year-old Pele.
The group phase starts. In the first game, Brazil easily wins 3-0 against Austria. In the second match, they draw 0-0 against England. Then, in the third and final match of the group stage, Brazil beat the USSR 3-0 and finished the group in first place.
It’s the quarter-finals, and the Brazilians are playing against the national team of Wales. From the match’s first minute, the South Americans are playing better football than the Welshmen. The first half ends goalless. Then, in the 66th minute of the game, something historic happens. Pele scores at only 17 years and 239 days old and becomes the youngest player to ever score in a FIFA World Cup game. Brazil advances to the semi-finals with a 1-0 win against Wales.
In the semi-finals, Brazil faces France. In the 52nd minute, youngster Pele scores his second goal of the tournament. Just 12 minutes later, he bags another goal. In the 75th minute, the incredibly talented Pele scores a hat-trick. Brazil advances to the final with a 5-2 win against France.
In the final, Brazil and the host, Sweden, are playing. Almost 50,000 fans are attending the 1958 FIFA World Cup final at the Rasunda Stadium in Solna. Just 4 minutes into the final, the Swedes take the lead. Nevertheless, the Brazilians answer with a goal from Vava in the 9th minute. In the 32nd minute, Vava scores another goal.
Then, In the 55th minute of the game, the rising star Pele scores a goal. In the 90th minute, he bags one more. That was his 6th FIFA World Cup goal.
Ultimately, Brazil won their first FIFA World Cup with a 5-2 victory against Sweden in the final.
Amongst all Brazil players, Pele left the biggest impression. After the final, he was named the best young player of the 1958 FIFA World Cup. It was clear that he would become the next football superstar.
Read Next: Last Week’s TBT Edition
Featured image taken from YouTube.