LIFE - Never-Seen: Pelé's 1966 World Cup

Brazil Comes to England

Fri, 01 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

Brazil's national football team (with the great Pelé in the first row, third from left) poses during the 1966 World Cup in England. The photographs by LIFE photographer Art Rickerby that appear in this gallery have never been published before. (NOTE: One photo here was not taken by Rickerby, but is included because it is central to the story of Pelé's experience at the '66 Cup.)

Portrait of Pelé

Fri, 01 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

By 1966, Pelé was the most famous footballer in the world. He had led Brazil to World Cup titles in both 1958 and 1962 (during the former, he was only 17 years old), and few expected anything less than, at the very least, an appearance in the finals by the mighty Brazilian squad in '66.

Pelé at Practice

Fri, 01 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

Pelé practices, in the goal, with his teammates in England in mid-July, 1966. A LIFE memorandum sent to New York from England to keep editors apprised of what was happening during the World Cup reads, in part: "The Brazilian team had a training session of loosening up exercises, kicks, and goal-tending for the team's two goalies and Pelé, who may have to play reserve goalie under disastrous conditions."

Stopper

Fri, 01 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

Not too many fans recall that Edson Arantes do Nascimento was a deadly scorer who also, incredibly, played goalkeeper in a few games during his time with the Brazilian club Santos. After all, he was pegged the "Athlete of the Century" by the International Olympic Committee, and many of his former teammates and opponents acknowledged that Pelé was such an amazing talent that he likely would have been the best at any position he chose to play.

Lucky Fans Watch Pelé Up Close

Sat, 01 Jan 1966 03:00:00 EST

"Success is no accident, " Pelé once said. "It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice, and most of all, love of what you are doing, or learning to do."

A Man Apart

Fri, 01 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

Like so many of the world's great footballers, Pelé was born and raised in poverty. In fact, for much of his youth, his family could simply not afford a real soccer ball for the obviously talented youngster. Pelé made do with the same sort of resourcefulness that, for decades, poor kids the world over have relied on in order to play "the beautiful game": socks stuffed with newspaper; a bundle of tied rags; even a grapefruit.

Brazil vs. Hungary, July 15, 1966

Fri, 15 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

The 1966 World Cup was a rough one for Pelé and the reigning Brazilian squad. Pelé, badly injured, appeared in only three games—and only briefly in the one pictured here, a 3-1 loss to a formidable Hungarian team at Goodison Park in Liverpool. Still, his brilliance was evident every time he was one the pitch, and the English fans—passionate, discerning, and fully aware that they were witnessing genius at work and at play—followed Pelé's every move.

Down

Tue, 19 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

An injured, frustrated Pelé is tended to by Brazil's team doctor during the match against Portugal. Portugal won the game 3-1 with two goals by the great Eusébio, "The Black Panther," who scored an amazing nine goals during the tournament. Of the game against Portugal, in which Pelé was constantly hard-tackled, harassed, and otherwise abused, the LIFE team's update from England noted that "Pelé got creamed because he's so good. Even hobbling around he set up Brazil's lone goal." But there's also an acknowledgement that the game's English referee, George McCabe, let "the Portuguese get away with murder" in the way they flagrantly fouled and badgered the Brazilian star.

Breaks of the Game

Fri, 15 Jul 1966 03:00:00 EDT

While Pelé was hardly at his best against Hungary (shown) or any of the other clubs Brazil faced before being eliminated, he was still a force, and no team could risk letting him roam unmarked. The reports back to New York also captured some of the excitement of Americans covering the World Cup in the birthplace of "the simplest game." One dispatch to the LIFE editors by writer Mike Acoca notes that "the British press has gone wild over the way Hungary played. I must say I agree with their cheers."

Pelé at Goodison

Tue, 13 Oct 2009 17:08:20 EDT

A fan reaches out for a reverent touch of the Brazilian legend as the national team enters Goodison Park for a match. But eventually, for the host nation, all the hype about Brazil—and Hungary, and Portugal, and several other teams in the tournament—all the hype was forgotten amid a torrent of elation as the English team, led by their great captain, Bobby Moore, stunned the world and left English fans with memories to last a lifetime. The home heroes roared through to the finals, where on July 30, 1966, they beat West Germany at Wembley Stadium, 4-2. It was England's first (and to this day, only) World Cup triumph. Four years later, in Mexico, Brazil would win its third World Cup; to this day, Pelé remains the only three-time winner.