Pele’s Legacy in the Beautiful Game

Few people nowadays can claim to have seen the great Brazilian play, and there is not much surviving footage of his ability on the field. His statistics and achievements are almost in a world of their own, and his legacy in football is everlasting. Returning to the subject of the best footballer of all time, many fans will instantly think of Pele. It does not matter whether they have not seen any footage of him playing or even know how many World Cups he won. Some fans may only know him as the 99-rated icon card in FIFA Ultimate Team - and those lucky enough to get him can swear to his ability. However, what did he achieve? Here, we will look at the accomplishments of one of the most important figures in football and how he revolutionised the game.

Pele the Brazilian Prodigy

Pele is most famous for his achievements with the national team. Before Pele, Brazil had never won a World Cup, and by the time he retired, they had 3 titles and were the leading country with the most World Cup titles in the world. It all began in 1958, in Sweden, The World Cup was hosted in Brazil just 8 years earlier, and Brazil had suffered humiliation after losing the last game in the competition, thus finishing second. A fresh squad entered the World Cup in 1958, with a few stars such as Garrincha and Didi. Pele, just 17 years old, was called up for the squad after having won just 5 caps for his country. He did not play in the first two matches and came on as a substitute in the third match, where he gave an assist. Against France in the semi-final, Pele scored a hat trick, becoming the youngest player ever to do so. He played in the World Cup final and scored 2 goals for Brazil as they cruised to victory over the host nation.

By the time of the 1962 World Cup, Pele was considered the best player in the World. Guiding Brazil to their first World Cup had shot the young striker into worldwide stardom, and the whole world was waiting to see whether he could do it again. Pele started the World Cup campaign well, scoring 2 goals in the first game. However, he was injured in the second game and was forced to the bench for the rest of the competition. Despite losing their main man, Brazil powered on to victory and won its second title. In 1966, Pele suffered from injuries again and was side-lined after the second match. He was brought on, despite his condition, to play against Portugal. The defenders targeted Pele during the game, and Brazil lost the match.

By 1970, Pele wanted to retire from international football. He was called up but refused. Thankfully, he changed his mind and decided to lead Brazil for one final World Cup campaign. He took Brazil all the way to the final where they beat Italy and won their third World Cup title. Pele scored the first goal of the match, which was the 100th Brazilian goal in the World Cup tournament. His influence was crucial - Pele played a part in over 50% of the goals Brazil scored in that tournament.

Pele the Hero of Santos

Pele's achievements with Santos are usually forgotten due to the focus on his role in the Brazilian national team. At the club, he won the Serie A 6 times, the Copa Libertadores 2 times and won the Campeonato Paulista 10 times. In 410 appearances, the mighty Brazilian scored 468 goals - a record that was only beaten by Lionel Messi at Barcelona. Whilst he excelled in the domestic leagues, Santos also travelled for international friendlies, and Pele played against many opponents from across the world.

The Future Stars of Football (And How to Bet on Them)

Do you think any modern player can equal the achievements of Pele? Neymar equalised Pele’s goal record for Brazil when he scored his 77th goal in the 2022 World Cup. It is only a matter of time before Neymar takes over Pele’s record, but will his name ever be breathed in the same sentence as the legendary striker?

Looking forward, there are many footballing prodigies who may take the crown and become yet another “best of all time”. Topping the list are Mbappe and Haaland, who have shown incredible skill at an early age. It remains a matter of time before we see if they will break records and go on to achieve as much as Pele did in his career.

In terms of betting, there will be many props and special bets for these young individuals. From player props on single games to outrights such as FIFA Player of the Year, Ballon d’Or, World Cup Golden Boot or Ball, and many more. If you are interested in these starlets and follow them, then you can easily capitalise on your football knowledge by betting on them.