Brazil and the birth of a footballing culture

Anushree Nande

23rd May 2018 | 1:07 AM

Mexico 1970 was Brazil’s coronation as a footballing culture, coming 20 years since the tragedy of the Maracanazo. But the wheels were set in motion in Sweden, when a 17-year-old Pele helped them win their first-ever World Cup in 1958, and much was to come before the Beautiful Team.

On the 19th of July, 1966, a lone, crumpled figure sat on a bench in a dressing room. Goodison Park, home to Everton Football Club, had been the site of back-to-back defeats for defending world champions Brazil, and just like that, they were out of the competition, in the group stages.

Eight years after coming good on his promise to his father following the 1950 final that he would win him a World Cup, Pele was bruised, scarred, and very hopeless. That day he called journalists to the locker room and shocked everyone by announcing that, at age 26, he was retiring. “That’s it. This is the last time you’ll see me in the uniform of Brazil.”

In his book with David Winner, the legend muses that it was “downright dumb” to make that decision, any decision that important, in the heat of the moment. “I’d tell him to relax a little bit, and stop being so dramatic! I’d tell him things are never quite as bad as they seem after a big defeat. I’d tell him some adversity can make your life worthwhile, and make your triumphs even sweeter.” He would tell him that even the so-called “king of soccer” was yet to learn the most important lesson the beautiful game could teach.

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