It is quite usual to remember the finest team of a sport at the time of its biggest event.
This is the 23rd edition of the football World Cup since 1930. In all these World Cups, Brazil has remained the most successful country, having lifted the World Cup five times — in 1958 (Sweden), 1962 (Chile), 1970 (Mexico), 1994 (USA) and 2002 (South Korea and Japan). In all of Brazil’s World Cup outings, however, it is their 1970 victory in Mexico that remains the most memorable.
There are several reasons for this — such as their flawless run in the tournament, winning all six World Cup matches, scoring a staggering 19 goals in those six matches and averaging more than three goals per match. They also had the most fearsome five playmakers/forwards in the same starting line-up — Pelé, Tostão, Rivellino, Gérson and Jairzinho — never seen before or after in any World Cup.
They didn’t just win, they created a masterpiece showcase of football. Brazil provided magical spells in every match in Mexico.
In the opening match, they came from behind to beat the erstwhile Czechoslovakia 4-1. Their goals were captivating. The legendary Pelé brought a high ball down with his chest before slamming it in. Jairzinho chased a long high ball and, with his first touch, lobbed it over the goalkeeper and then calmly found the empty net. Then, Jairzinho again, dribbled past two defenders, moved away from the third and put the ball in the far corner of the goal.
Brazil are not among the favourites at this year’s World Cup. But their very presence is a reminder of the greatest football team ever to grace the global sporting event
Then there was Pelé’s audacious shot from the halfway line. Spotting the Czech goalkeeper far outside his penalty area, his precise chip from behind the centre line caught the keeper completely off-guard.
The second tie, against England, the defending champions, was the most anticipated of all the pool matches. Brazil triumphed 1-0 in an exciting encounter. An excellent ball from the left by Tostão found Pelé in the penalty area, whose deft pass to Jairzinho on his right found him in an ideal position to put the ball in.
Ironically, this match is also remembered for a goal not scored, again involving Pelé. Off a high cross from the left, a perfectly positioned Pelé’s perfectly placed header bounced just before the goal line. The great English net-minder Gordon Banks miraculously dived backwards to his right and scooped the ball over the bar. Pelé had already shouted “Goal” but it is universally recognised as the most outstanding save in tournament history.
The last pool match was against another strong European side, Romania. Brazil won 3-2. The wonderful playmaker Gérson, after a defence-splitting run down the left flank, sent a cross to Jairzinho, who easily availed the opportunity. The South Americans also displayed mastery over set-pieces. Pelé’s excellent free hit beat the wall for the first goal.
In the quarter-final, the Brazilians met a fellow South American side, Peru, coached by the former Brazilian star ‘Didi’ (Waldyr Pereira who was a member of the World Cup-winning teams of 1958 and 1962). Peru did cause some problems but, eventually, the Brazilians were home 4-2. Tostão (twice), Rivellino and the irresistible Jairzinho were the goal-getters in another excellent exhibition of spectacular football.
The semi-final was also against a South American country, Uruguay, twice World Cup winners. Uruguay went ahead in the 19th minute. The equaliser only came one minute before half-time. Defensive midfielder Clodoaldo, surrounded by defenders, somehow found the target. Brazil then went ahead with a delightful team goal in the second half: first-time passing and deft touches, finished by Jairzinho. It became 3-1 only in the 89th minute. Pelé’s superb pass from the left was struck into the net by the rampaging, moustachioed Rivellino.
Yet again, a stunning Pelé act was witnessed. His dummy against Uruguay in the 1970 World Cup semi-final is considered one of the most audacious and legendary non-goals in football history. Pelé ran into a Tostão through-ball. As the goalkeeper ran off his line, Pelé surged forward but didn’t touch the ball. He overstepped the ball, which rolled to the goalkeeper’s left. Meanwhile, Pelé circled around the goalkeeper from the right. The bemused goalkeeper dived in the empty air. A backtracking defender closed down on Pelé, whose curling shot went narrowly wide of the far post. Though there was no goal, the spellbinding act is permanently engraved in sports lore.
Italy, the other finalist, was apart from Brazil and Uruguay, the only country till then to have lifted the World Cup twice. A crowd of over 107,000 was present at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Despite the venue’s neutrality, the Mexican crowd, enamoured by Samba football at its finest, had a clear favourite.
Brazil took the lead in the 18th minute. Pelé jumped to head in a Rivellino cross from the left. A rare blunder by the defence enabled Italy to draw level in the 37th minute. It stayed 1-1 with less than one-third of the time left. Then the attacking Brazilians exploded for two goals in five minutes. Gérson fired in a powerful, well-directed left-footed shot. Then Gérson’s long free kick was headed down by Pelé into the path of a rampaging Jairzinho.
The final scoreline of 4-1 was completed by what is remembered as the greatest ‘team goal’ ever scored in the World Cup. The Brazilian squad orchestrated a flowing, multi-pass move involving eight players that cut through the Italian defence and ended with a thunderous strike from their captain Carlos Alberto.
The Jules Rimet Trophy was the original Fifa World Cup prize, awarded from 1930. By winning it for the third time, it was permanently claimed by Brazil in 1970. Since then, the teams have competed for the Fifa World Cup Trophy. The winners now keep the replica instead of the original.
In 1970, Mário Zagallo became the first person to win the World Cup both as manager and a player. Pelé is still the only player to win three World Cup titles. Winger Jairzinho became the only player in history to score in every single match of a World Cup tournament.
Records aside, the Brazilians displayed everything for the ordinary fans as well as for the connoisseurs: dribbling, body swerves, feints, sublime passes, intricate flowing moves, precise crosses, stunning finishes, the greatest team goal and three most memorable no goals. There have been books written and movies made on them.
BRAZIL’S CHANCES IN FIFA WORLD CUP 2026
All of this seems a far cry from the Brazil team at the present World Cup. And their opening match, where they scraped through to a 1-1 draw against Morocco wouldn’t have given supporters great hope.
Fifa’s latest world rankings show Brazil at No 6. Brazil qualified for this World Cup by finishing fifth in the South American Football Confederation standings — their worst qualification campaign in history, with most defeats (six), least wins (eight), and most goals conceded (17).
In May 2025, Italian Carlo Ancelotti was appointed the manager of the Brazilian team. With a record five Champions League titles, he is considered one of the most successful strategists in history. He is also the only manager to win league titles in all of Europe’s top five leagues. But his only experience with a national team was as an assistant manager with the Italy national team between 1992 and 1995, and reaching the 1994 World Cup.
The Brazilian side is not bereft of sublime individual talent. Forwards Vinicius Jr and Raphinha were Ballon d’Or nominees in 2025. Igor Thiago was nominated for EPL’s Player of the Season this year, Alisson Becker is regarded as one of the greatest goalkeepers of all time and Neymar Jr is his team’s all-time top scorer, although injuries have kept him out of international soccer for the last three years. Captain Marquinhos, the great centre-back, also the captain of Paris Saint-Germain, recently lifted the Champions League Trophy and Endrick is one of the world’s best teenage talents.
Looking at their history, Brazil can never be discounted. But a lot will depend on how Ancelotti marshals his gifted charges.
The writer is a freelance sports journalist based in Lahore.
Email: ijaz62@hotmail.com X: @IjazChaudhry1
Published in Dawn, EOS, June 21st, 2026