Match · 1 October 1977 · Farewell exhibition
New York Cosmos 2–1 Santos
Pelé's farewell match at Giants Stadium, in which he played one half for the Cosmos and one for Santos.
Pelé's last match was an exhibition between his two clubs at Giants Stadium on 1 October 1977, before a sold-out crowd of 75,646. It was shown on ABC's Wide World of Sports. His father and wife were there, as were Muhammad Ali and Bobby Moore.
He played the first half for the Cosmos and scored with a free kick, the last goal of his career. At half-time the Cosmos retired his number 10 shirt. He played the second half for Santos.
The Cosmos won 2–1. It rained in the second half, and a Brazilian newspaper headline the next day said that even the sky was crying.
The Cosmos' winning goal was scored by Ramon Mifflin, who replaced Pelé for the second half. The captains of five World Cup-winning sides took part in the ceremony: Bellini, Mauro, Bobby Moore, Carlos Alberto and Franz Beckenbauer.
The stadium
His side
The opponents
People who played a part in it
His famous goals in it
The chapters it appears in
Questions this answers
What shirt number did Pelé wear?
Pelé wore the number 10, for Santos, Brazil and the Cosmos. He first wore it at the 1958 World Cup: by the usual account, Brazil's federation sent its squad list without numbers, and FIFA assigned them, giving the 10 to Pelé more or less by chance.
Did Pelé play in the United States?
Yes. Pelé played for the New York Cosmos of the North American Soccer League from 1975 to 1977, winning the league's championship in 1977.