Brazil at the World Cups: 1958, Pelé shines and Seleção triumphs | OneFootball

Brazilian football was finally beginning to enchant the world. Thanks to a special group of players who combined Pelé’s magic with the technique of other great stars such as Nilton Santos, Didi, Bellini, Zagallo ... The first title of the current and only five-time world champion came at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

To crown that title, nothing could have been more symbolic than defeating the host nation decisively in the final, and by a landslide: 5–2.

That journey began on June 8 at Rimmersvallen Stadium in the city of Uddevalla, where Brazil beat Austria 3–0, with two goals from Mazzola and one from Nilton Santos. Next, the Seleção drew with England (0–0) at Nya Ullevi Stadium in Gothenburg, which forced them to go all out against the Soviet Union in the match that closed out Group 4.

Pelé in action in Brazil vs. WalesCredits: Publicity

With two goals from Vavá after two brilliant plays by Garrincha, the Seleção got past the Soviet Union, also at Nya Ullevi, and secured its place in the knockout stage.

The next opponent was Wales, once again in Gothenburg, with Pelé proving decisive. He scored the only goal of the match, valid for the quarterfinals, in a move that became legendary in football: he flicked the ball over Melvin Charles and finished without letting it touch the ground.

A place in the semifinals was secured, and Brazil would next face the strong French team led by Fontaine. It was a match with no clear favorite. Once again, Pelé’s star would shine, and the Canarinho thrashed the Europeans 5–2.

The “King” scored three times, while Vavá and Didi completed the scoring for Brazil. At Rasunda Stadium in Stockholm, Vicente Feola’s team left the pitch to a standing ovation from the more than 27,000 fans in attendance, many of them still stunned by Pelé’s extraordinary performance.

Attention then turned to the grand final, a clash between the only two unbeaten teams in the tournament. Sweden, led by the legendary goalkeeper Svensson, had been steamrolling through the World Cup. They defeated Mexico and Hungary and drew with Wales in the group stage. Then they beat the Soviet Union and West Germany.

The Seleção that enchanted the world in 1958Credits: National Archives / Correio da Manhã

At Rasunda Stadium, in front of 50,000 people, the Brazil national team was not intimidated. On the contrary, it knew how to impose itself, and even after falling behind with a goal conceded in the 3rd minute, it responded and won its first star with an unquestionable victory: 5–2. Pelé (twice), Zagallo, and Vavá (twice) scored the goals that sealed the title.

One of the iconic images from that feat featured Didi. He picked the ball out of Brazil’s net when Sweden opened the scoring and walked it to midfield, reminding his teammates how many times Brazilian teams had beaten the Swedes on their own soil. It worked. Shortly afterward, the Canarinho’s celebration took over the pitch in Stockholm and the streets of several Brazilian cities.

See Brazil’s squad for the 1958 World Cup:

Goalkeepers: Castilho (Fluminense) and Gilmar (Corinthians);

Defenders: Bellini (Vasco), De Sordi (São Paulo), Djalma Santos (Portuguesa), Mauro (São Paulo), Nilton Santos (Botafogo), Orlando Peçanha (Vasco), Oreco (Corinthians), and Zózimo (Bangu);

Midfielders: Didi (Botafogo), Dino Sani (São Paulo), Moacir (Flamengo), and Zito (Santos);

Forwards: Dida (Flamengo), Garrincha (Botafogo), Joel (Flamengo), Mazzola (Palmeiras), Pelé (Santos), Pepe (Santos), Vavá (Vasco), and Zagallo (Flamengo).

Coach: Vicente Feola.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.