4. Brazil 5–2 Sweden (1958)
The young Pelé was already a phenomenon in Brazil, scoring at a prolific rate and becoming his nation’s youngest scorer. Yet he would not truly debut on the world stage until the quarter‑finals of the 1958 tournament in Sweden, despite arriving with a knee injury.
He opened his World Cup account against Wales and then netted a second‑half hat‑trick against France in the semi‑finals, cementing his status ahead of the final.
In the decisive match, the 17‑year‑old wearing the number‑10 shirt scored twice in a 5‑2 victory, the highest‑scoring final ever recorded.
His first goal remains one of the most celebrated moments in World Cup history; he controlled the ball on his chest, shrugged off a defender and volleyed it into the bottom corner.
It secured Brazil’s first world title and fulfilled a promise Pelé made to his father after the 1950 “Maracanazo,” when Uruguay defeated Brazil in Rio.
“I remember seeing him sitting by the radio, sobbing,” Pelé recalled to FIFA. “He told me, ‘Brazil have lost the World Cup.’”
“I joked back, ‘Don’t cry, Dad – I’ll win the World Cup for you.’”
Also Read
- Seattle Seahawks’ rookie cohort makes early entrance as 2026 training camp begins
- LPL hit by franchise owner controversy hours before 2026 season opener
- The World Cup Final Stakes as Ballon d’Or Race Hangs in the Balance
- Raiders Face Defining Quarterback Crossroads With Fernando Mendoza and Kirk Cousins