Mexico 1970

When Brazil asked Pelé back in 1969 he first refused, then agreed. He scored six goals in six qualifying matches. By the finals the coach was Mário Zagallo, his teammate from 1958 and 1962. He picked an attacking side in which Jairzinho, Gérson, Tostão, Rivellino and Pelé all played together, with Carlos Alberto as captain.

Brazil played their group in Guadalajara. Against Czechoslovakia on 3 June they fell behind, then won 4–1. Pelé scored, becoming only the second man after Uwe Seeler to score at four World Cups. In the same game he tried to lob the goalkeeper from inside his own half, and the ball went just wide.

Four days later Brazil met England, the champions. Pelé met Jairzinho's cross with a downward header that Gordon Banks somehow pushed over the bar. Jairzinho scored the winner after Pelé laid the ball into his path. At the end Pelé and Bobby Moore swapped shirts and embraced. Pelé then scored twice in a 3–2 win over Romania.

Brazil beat Peru 4–2 in the quarter-final and Uruguay 3–1 in the semi-final. Against Uruguay Pelé did not score, but he produced his famous dummy, letting the ball run past goalkeeper Ladislao Mazurkiewicz on one side as he ran round the other, before shooting just wide.

The final against Italy was played at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City on 21 June. In the 18th minute Pelé headed in Rivellino's cross and jumped into Jairzinho's arms. Italy equalised. In the second half Gérson scored, and Pelé headed a long free kick down for Jairzinho to make it 3–1. The last goal began deep in Brazil's half and ended with Pelé rolling the ball, without looking, into the path of Carlos Alberto, who struck it in.

Brazil won 4–1 and kept the Jules Rimet Trophy for good. Pelé had four goals and six assists, and was later named the player of the tournament. He remains the only footballer to win three World Cups.