Pele’s star was already in the ascendancy at the age of just 17, when he celebrated his first FIFA World Cup™ title with Brazil in Sweden on June 29, 1958. He still holds the record as the youngest world champion of all time.
Although the striker featured in the South American team’s squad as they defended their title in 1962, he missed most of the tournament due to injury. Pele’s immense talent was on full display once again in 1970 as he led his team to their next triumph, making him the only player ever to have won three FIFA World Cup’s.
FIFA World Cup records
- Pele is the youngest scorer, youngest hattrick scorer, youngest finalist and youngest player to score in a Final in World Cup history.
- Gunnar Gren, who competed against Brazil in the 1958 decider, made his Sweden debut before Pele was born. Never has such an age gap – 20 years – existed between opponents in a World Cup Final.
- Uwe Seeler, Pele, Miroslav Klose, Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are the only men to score at four or more World Cups. The West German pipped the Brazilian to become the first to do so by less than three minutes in 1970.
- Vava, Pele, Paul Breitner, Zinedine Zidane and Kylian Mbappé are the only players to have scored in two World Cup Finals.
- Pele registered six assists at Mexico 1970 – a record for one World Cup. Four players managed five: Robert Gadocha at Germany 1974, Pierre Littbarski at Spain 1982, Diego Maradona at Mexico 1986 and Thomas Hassler at USA 1994. Pele also recorded an unprecedented three assists in deciders: one against Sweden in 1958 and two against Italy in 1970.
#Pele is no more.
He died at the age of 82.
An exceptional football ⚽️ talent, who sadly played before my time, but who will be remembered for his achievements.
May he rest in peace…
— Arunava Chaudhuri | arunfoot (@Arunfoot) December 29, 2022