22 days to go…
We’re counting down to the FIFA World Cup 2026™ by showcasing a golazo from the global finals each day.
Pele
Brazil v Wales
Sweden 1958 | Quarter-finals
Nya Ullevi, Gothenburg
The reactions of Jack Kelsey, Mel Charles and Stuart Williams said it all. They were incredulous at having been utterly unravelled by a 17-year-old.
He was not, of course, any old 17-year-old. In just his second World Cup appearance, however, nobody had an inkling Pele would go on to conquer a record three titles.
The Brazil No10 took a Didi header on his chest, flicked it behind him breathtakingly to escape Charles’ handcuffs, and fired the bouncing ball into the bottom corner of Kelsey’s net. A star was born. A king – ‘The King’ – would be created.
“It was the most important goal of my career,” Pele told FIFA. “It was the only goal against a strong Wales team. And for me personally, it was the start of everything.”
The goal made Pele the youngest goalscorer in World Cup history. No other player under the age of 18 has scored in the competition.
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