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None of this, however, affected his performances on the pitch. In the South American championship (the Copa America) staged in Argentina the following year he was named best player of the tournament and scored eight goals as Brazil came second, despite being unbeaten in the tournament. The final game of the Copa America saw them draw with Argentina in Buenos Aires, which was enough to see the home country declared as winners. Pelé scored in five of Brazil’s six games, including two goals against Chile and a hat-trick against Paraguay.
The scoring spree would continue, even though Pelé was never an out-and-out centre forward, as did the many assists for goals. He scored another hat-trick, this time against Chile, in the O’Higgins Cup in the autumn of 1959 as Brazil demolished their fellow South Americans 7-0, and another against the United Arab Republic in 1960.
By the time he arrived in Chile for the 1962 World Cup he had bagged 33 international goals in 30 games, including two in the final game before the tournament against Wales. It was an astonishing strike rate which saw him recognised as the best player in the world at still only 21 years of age.
This World Cup was notable for its violence on the pitch, for the introduction of goal difference to determine which teams came out on top in the groups if they were level on points, and the absence of both the 1958 runners-up, Sweden, and the third-placed team, France, who both failed to qualify. The tournament looked set to be played in Argentina but political unrest there saw the tournament instead go to Chile.
Brazil had been in imperious form ever since they became champions of the world four years previously. Pelé may have stood out but he was also surrounded by most of his fellow stars from the successful 1958 World Cup campaign, including Vava, Zito, Didi and Garrincha. This made the defending champions – automatic qualifiers for the tournament as holders – the favourites to retain their title and they would not disappoint.
In their first group game against Mexico in Viña del Mar, Brazil ran out as comfortable winners, 2-0, with Pelé assisting with the first goal scored in the 56th minute by Mário Zagallo, a chipped cross from the right wing for his teammate to head into the corner of the net. He had already struck the woodwork with a fierce shot from outside the penalty area.
He scored the second goal himself in the 73rd minute, starting his run on the right just inside the Mexican half. Pelé then skipped past four challenges using his speed, strength and skill, before planting his left foot shot past the diving Mexican goalkeeper. It was another of his special goals.
Three days later Brazil returned to the same venue to play out a goalless draw in their second group game of the tournament. Their opponents were Czechoslovakia, a strong Eastern European outfit who would face Brazil again in the World Cup Final. It was not the best result for the defending champions, although by no means a disaster, but the game is best remembered for an injury to Pelé after he attempted a long-range shot, that ruled him out for the rest of the tournament.
The reaction back home was that of a family loss. How could this somewhat ageing Brazilian team now win the World Cup again without their young talisman? Botafogo’s Amarildo replaced him, a man not well-known even at his own club, let alone nationally.
And yet Brazil found inspiration in the loss of their young leader. The elder statesmen in the team stepped up to cover Pelé’s loss with aplomb.
In the final group game Brazil were 14 minutes away from defeat when Amarildo scored twice to beat Spain, 2-1. The win meant the defending champions topped their group.
A strong England team would be their opponents in the quarter-final and,
with the score at 1-1 at half time, it suggested another close encounter for the Brazilian team. Instead Garrincha, the speedy winger with the mesmerising dribble, filled the void vacated by Pelé to take control. He had already scored Brazil’s first half goal in the 31st minute before Vava, who scored five goals in the 1958 World Cup tournament, gave his country the lead in the 53rd minute. Garrincha then settled the matter six minutes later as Brazil ran out 3-1 winners.
The Garrincha and Vava double act were at it again in the semi-final where Brazil beat the hosts, Chile, 4-2, with a still injured Pelé named on the bench as a substitute. Garrincha scored both of Brazil’s first half goals in the 9th and 32nd minutes inside the Estadio Nacional stadium in the capital, Santiago, which would be the venue for the World Cup Final four days later.
Chile pulled a goal back just before the interval, but Vava reclaimed Brazil’s two-goal cushion two minutes into the second half. Back came Chile with a converted penalty just after the hour but Vava eased any lingering concerns with his second and Brazil’s fourth goal of the semi in the 78th minute.
Ninety-six hours later Brazil were back in the national stadium to face Czechoslovakia in the World Cup Final. The holders had won every game in this tournament except one, the goalless group game against the same opponents they now faced in the final. The Czechs had also shown fine form in dismissing West Germany and Yugoslavia in the quarter and semi-final.
When they took the lead in the final in the 15th minute they might have fancied their chances but Pelé’s replacement, the unfancied Amarildo, equalised just two minutes later and, although the Czechs held Brazil at 1-1 up to half time, goals from Zito and Vava in the 69th and 78th minutes saw Brazil complete the job.
Brazil were now double world champions – the last team to date to successfully defend their title – and although Pelé had only played in two games, he returned home with a World Cup winners’ medal and now two World Cups to his name.
This would prove to be a swansong for many of those great Brazilian names that helped win the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. But not for Pelé. He still had plenty to achieve in the game. And with bittersweet memories of the 1962 campaign, he resolved to enhance his already legendary status in world football.
of the 1962 World Cup.
aloft the Jules Rimet Trophy