Pele is the only player in football history to have won the World Cup three times, and his performances in 1958, 1962 and 1970 have led many to consider him the greatest World Cup player ever. His triumph in 1970, when Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in the final, was particularly notable for the iconic goal involving his casual pass to Carlos Alberto.
However, Pele's legacy is not without controversy. After the 1970 final, he reportedly shouted 'I didn't die! I didn't die!' in the dressing room, a release of pressure after being ordered back from self-imposed exile by Brazil's military dictatorship, which demanded victory. This has sparked debate over his relationship with the regime.
Pele's World Cup journey began in 1950 as a nine-year-old, when he comforted his father after Brazil's shock defeat to Uruguay in the final, promising to win the World Cup for him. Eight years later, at age 17, he delivered on that promise, scoring six goals in the 1958 tournament, including a hat-trick in the semi-final and two in the final against Sweden.
His 1970 performance, at age 29, included the famous assist to Carlos Alberto, described as 'perfect geometry in the moment'. That goal cemented his status as the ultimate World Cup player, with a record that remains unmatched.
