Mexico 1970: The Greatest World Cup — Brazil's Perfect Team
Many consider Mexico 1970 the most beautiful World Cup ever played. A match dubbed the Game of the Century, a goal still considered the finest in World Cup history, and a Brazil side so complete they won the Jules Rimet Trophy forever. This was football at its absolute peak.
The 1970 FIFA World Cup was held in Mexico from 31 May to 21 June, and for many it remains the greatest tournament ever played. Football, in the summer of 1970, reached a kind of perfection — and Brazil were its purest expression.
Pelé and his teammates swept through the competition with a blend of skill, joy and authority that has never been matched. Around the King of Football shone a constellation of legends — Jairzinho, Gérson, Tostão, Rivellino and captain Carlos Alberto — each one capable of deciding a match on their own, together forming something close to an ideal. Brazil topped a group containing Czechoslovakia, Romania and reigning world champions England, before dismantling Peru 4-2 in the quarter-finals and easing past Uruguay 3-1 in the semis.
England's defence of their 1966 crown ended dramatically in the quarter-finals at the hands of West Germany — a match that mirrored the Wembley final in the most uncanny way. England led 2-0, just as they had four years earlier. The Germans clawed back to 2-2 in the closing stages, just as they had in London. This time, however, there was no extra-time controversy in England's favour — Gerd Müller bundled home a close-range winner to make it 3-2, and Alf Ramsey's side were out.
The other semi-final produced what was immediately christened the Game of the Century. Italy and West Germany served up a 4-3 thriller after extra time — the decisive goal scored by Gianni Rivera for the Azzurri, with Franz Beckenbauer playing through the final stages with a dislocated shoulder strapped to his side. West Germany recovered to claim third place with a 1-0 win over Uruguay, but the image of Beckenbauer — Kaiser even in defeat — became one of the tournament's defining pictures.
The final was a coronation. Italy held firm until midway through the second half, the score level at 1-1 — Pelé heading Brazil ahead before Boninsegna equalised following a defensive error. Then the floodgates opened. Gérson, Jairzinho and finally Carlos Alberto completed a 4-1 rout, the captain's thundering finish from a flowing team move in the 86th minute voted the greatest goal in World Cup history. Brazil had done it for the third time — and under the rules of the competition, a nation that won the World Cup three times would keep the Jules Rimet Trophy forever. It was theirs. They had earned it.
Top scorer: Gerd Müller (West Germany) — 10 goals
Champions squad: Félix, Brito, Piazza, Carlos Alberto, Clodoaldo, Jairzinho, Gérson, Tostão, Pelé, Rivellino, Everaldo, Ado, Leão, Antônio, Roberto, Baldochi, Fontana, Camargo, César, Edu, Dário, Zé Maria
Coach: Mário Zagallo
Highest-scoring match: West Germany v Bulgaria 5-2
Total goals scored: 95 | Average per match: 2.97
Best-attended match: 108,192 — Mexico v Belgium | Average attendance: 50,124