Match · 7 July 1957 · Roca Cup, first leg
Brazil 1–2 Argentina
Pelé's first match for Brazil, at 16, in which he scored and became his country's youngest goalscorer.
Ten months after turning professional, Pelé was called up by Brazil for the Roca Cup, a two-match series against Argentina. The first match was played at the Maracanã on 7 July 1957.
Argentina won 2–1, but Pelé scored Brazil's goal. He was 16 years and 259 days old. He is still the youngest player to score for Brazil.
Three days later, at the Pacaembu in São Paulo, he scored again as Brazil won the second match 2–0 after extra time and took the trophy.
At 16 years and 259 days he was also the youngest player ever to appear for Brazil. Less than a year later he was in the squad for the World Cup in Sweden.
It was the first of his 92 matches for Brazil.
The stadium
His side
The opponents
People who played a part in it
The chapters it appears in
Questions this answers
How many matches and goals did Pelé play and score for Brazil?
Pelé scored 77 goals in 92 matches for Brazil between 1957 and 1971, by the count most widely used. That total includes one 1968 match that FIFA does not recognise as official.