Pelé, the teenage king: the birth of a legend at 17 in 1958
Aged just 17, Pelé scored the winner in the quarter-finals, a hat-trick in the semis and two goals in the 1958 World Cup final, Brazil's first. A legend was born.
The 1958 World Cup in Sweden gave the world its most famous footballer. Edson Arantes do Nascimento, Pelé, arrived at the tournament aged just 17 and carrying a knock that made him miss the opening games. When he finally took the field, football would never be the same.
In the quarter-final against Wales he scored, in the 66th minute, the game's only goal (Brazil 1-0) and became the youngest goalscorer in World Cup history. It was only the beginning.
In the semi-final against France he produced a full hat-trick (minutes 52, 64 and 75) to seal an emphatic 5-2 and send Brazil into the final. The teenager was already the sensation of the tournament.
The final, on 29 June 1958 at the Råsunda in Solna, ended 5-2 against hosts Sweden, who even took an early lead (Liedholm, 4th minute). Brazil responded with a Vavá brace and goals from Pelé (55'), Zagallo (68') and Pelé again (90'). It was the first world title in Brazil's history.
At 17 years and 249 days, Pelé became the youngest scorer in a final and the youngest world champion, records that still stand. The boy who wept on the Solna turf would play two more World Cups and win two more (1962 and 1970), but his legend was born in Sweden.
Source: Wikipedia (1958 FIFA World Cup; 1958 FIFA World Cup final; Pelé).