This week ESPN FC is counting down, in chronological order, 10 of the best goals to have been scored at the World Cup. We'll be bringing you two of the finest per day, but add your own and join the debate in our comments section or via the hashtag #FCWorldCupgoals. Users in the U.S. can watch each goal in the video above, but those outside please click here.
- World Cup's Greatest Goals: Geoff Hurst (1966, West Germany)
Edson Arantes do Nascimento entered the 1958 World Cup an unknown Brazilian teenager. But after leaving Swedish shores with six goals and a winners’ medal around his neck, the young striker -- better known by childhood moniker Pele -- was well on his way to becoming a global phenomenon. Belying his years, he exhibited seemingly unending qualities; a delicate touch was matched with supreme athleticism, while he boasted pace, power and remarkable instinct for opportunity.
Pele had become his nation’s youngest ever player and goal scorer in a friendly against Argentina a year earlier, but was made to wait for his World Cup debut; a knee injury picked up before the tournament meant his first appearance came in Brazil’s third group game against the Soviet Union. His first World Cup goal came in the next match as the Selecao eliminated Wales in the quarterfinals, and he added three more as France were put to the sword in the semifinals.
Pele’s reputation was growing game by game, with Brazil’s fitness trainer during the finals, Paolo Amaral, later remarking: "He could shoot with his left, with his right, and he had such vision that as soon as he got the ball he already knew what he was going to do with it. He was extraordinary."
Tournament hosts Sweden were to learn that the hard way in the final in Stockholm. Legendary AC Milan striker Nils Liedholm netted first, becoming the oldest scorer in a World Cup final, but a brace from Vava put Brazil 2-1 up and then Pele took centre stage to become the youngest scorer in a World Cup final at the age of 17 years and 249 days.
It had rained for 24 hours before the match and, as the footballs of the period were prone to soaking up water, the sodden pitch would have made it difficult to manipulate. Not so for the precocious Pele, who effortlessly chested down a cross under pressure, audaciously flicked the ball over the top of the defender and then volleyed into the net.
In his book, “The Story of the World Cup,” renowned journalist Brian Glanville wrote: "Catching a high ball in the thick of the penalty area on his thigh, he hooked it over his head, whirled round and volleyed mightily past [Sweden goalkeeper Kalle] Svensson."
Pele himself remembered the goal as such: “When I passed to Didi, I made as if I was going to run forward but turned back instead. That confused the defender a little and he let the ball come through to me. When I controlled it on my chest he thought I was going to shoot. I got my foot on it and flicked it over his head, which was something the Europeans weren’t used to. They always tried to close you down because they were used to people shooting straightaway. I hit the ball before it touched the ground and in it went. It was one of the most beautiful goals of my career.”
Brazil would add a fourth before Agne Simonsson gave Sweden a glimmer of hope in the 80th minute, but the last word would go to Pele, who claimed his second goal to round off a 5-2 victory. Sweden centre-back Sigvard Parling later recalled: "After Pele scored the fifth goal I didn't want to mark him anymore. I just wanted to applaud him.”
Pele collapsed at the final whistle and wept as Brazil celebrated their first World Cup triumph. On his return to his homeland, he was greeted in Sao Paulo with a banner that read: “Welcome Pele: Son of Bauru, Champion of the World.” Back in Bauru, more was to come as Pele was presented with a car in his home city in recognition of his achievement. As he couldn’t drive, the forward gave the gift to his father Dondinho. The legend of O Rei (The King) was born.