# Santos 3–1 Fluminense

> The match at the Maracanã in which Pelé scored the solo goal that gave Brazil the phrase gol de placa.

Source page: https://pele.wiki/footballer/matches/gol-de-placa-match-1961
Reference: https://www.gazetaesportiva.com/?p=2857988

- Date: 5 March 1961
- Stage: Torneio Rio–São Paulo
- Result: Won

Santos played Fluminense at the Maracanã on 5 March 1961, in the Torneio Rio–São Paulo. Near the end of the first half, Pelé picked up the ball deep in his own half and ran the length of the field. He went past several defenders before beating goalkeeper Castilho.

The crowd, Fluminense supporters included, applauded for a long time. A commemorative plaque was later put up at the stadium for what it called the most beautiful goal in the Maracanã's history. That plaque gave Brazilian football the phrase *gol de placa*, a goal worthy of a plaque.

Santos won 3–1.

Pelé was 20 at the time. The goal was scored in Rio against a Rio club, which made the applause of the home crowd all the more striking. The phrase it inspired is still part of everyday Brazilian football talk, used for any goal worth commemorating.

## Related

- The stadium: [Maracanã Stadium](https://pele.wiki/footballer/locations/maracana)
- His side: [Santos FC](https://pele.wiki/footballer/teams/santos)
- The opponents: [Fluminense](https://pele.wiki/footballer/teams/fluminense)
- People who played a part in it: [Pelé](https://pele.wiki/footballer/people/pele)
- His famous goals in it: [The gol de placa](https://pele.wiki/footballer/goals/gol-de-placa)
- The chapters it appears in: [The peak years at Santos (1959–1965)](https://pele.wiki/footballer/chapters/the-peak-years-at-santos)