Chile 1962: Garrincha Carries Brazil to Back-to-Back Titles
Pelé went down injured after one match, a game between Chile and Italy descended into all-out warfare, and Brazil won the World Cup anyway — carried almost single-handedly by the extraordinary Garrincha.
The 1962 FIFA World Cup was held in Chile from 30 May to 17 June, and it will forever be remembered as Garrincha's tournament. The man they called the Little Bird was the heartbeat of the Brazilian side from first match to last — twisting, turning and tormenting every defender he faced with a brilliance that bordered on the supernatural.
Brazil's preparations suffered a significant blow when Pelé — the teenager who had dazzled the world in Sweden four years earlier — picked up an injury early in the tournament and played just one match. His replacement, Amarildo, rose admirably to the occasion, but it was Garrincha who carried the side, becoming the dominant individual force of the entire competition.
The tournament also produced one of the most notorious matches in World Cup history. The group-stage clash between hosts Chile and Italy — already billed as a grudge match after disparaging press comments from Italian journalists about the host country — descended into a full-scale brawl. The game, later dubbed the Battle of Santiago, featured countless fouls, multiple injuries and two Italian players sent off, with Chile prevailing 2-0 amid scenes of chaos that referee Ken Aston could barely control.
The final pitched Brazil against a lively Czechoslovakia side inspired by their outstanding midfielder Josef Masopust. It was Masopust himself who opened the scoring for the Europeans, but Brazil's class told in the end — Amarildo, Zito and Vavá securing a 3-1 victory and the title. Brazil became only the second nation in history, after Italy, to successfully defend the World Cup.
Top scorers: Garrincha (Brazil), Vavá (Brazil), Sánchez (Chile), Albert (Hungary), Ivanov (USSR), Jerković (Yugoslavia) — 4 goals each
Champions squad: Gilmar, D. Santos, Ramos, Zito, Zózimo, N. Santos, Garrincha, Didí, Vavá, Amarildo, Zagallo, Castilho, Coutinho, Pelé, Pepé, Jair Marinho, Bellini, Jurandyr, Altair, Zequinha, Mengálvio, Jair da Costa
Coach: Aymoré Moreira
Highest-scoring match: USSR v Colombia 4-4
Total goals scored: 89 | Average per match: 2.78
Best-attended match: 76,500 — Brazil v Chile | Average attendance: 28,086