The legend of the past Pele, who passed away today (Thursday) at the age of 82, will be remembered for so many reasons.
The breakthrough for the black athletes, the unusual talent with his feet that won him three World Cups and over 1,000 goals in his career and countless other moments etched in the history of the sport for the rest of the world.
I chose the five great goals, signed by the legend of the past.
Cooking for Carlos Alberto in the 1970 World Cup:
Pele left so many goals behind him, but it was Koushul that entered this list.
This assist came in the 1970 World Cup final against Italy, at the end of one of the most famous soccer attacks in history.
He arrived in the 86th minute, with a 1:3 lead, and symbolized Brazilian football at that time.
There were only nine passes in this attack, but it included movement that resembled a samba dance.
The Brazilians moved freely from side to side, enjoying the right they were given.
When Pele receives the ball 20 meters directly from the Italian goal, Tostao signals to him with his finger that Carlos Alberto joins on the wing.
Pele doesn't even look.
He trusts his friends, and rolls a ball that will become an iconic 1:4.
It was a great goal by a great team, and a goal by a huge player.
Pele celebrates winning the 1970 World Cup, photo: AP
The slalom against Mexico in the 1962 World Cup:
Pele scored many, many important goals in his life, but one of the most beautiful was of relatively lesser importance.
In the World Cup in Chile, in the first early home game, Brazil led 0:1 over Mexico with a goal by Mario Zagallo.
In the 73rd minute, Pele collected the ball in the middle line area, and went to break into the box.
This is what the game broadcaster said: "Now Pele. The sorcerer starts his movement, but the defenders will stop him. No! He enters with the power of a motorcycle, there is no one to stop him, he kicks - and scores! A spectacular goal by this gentleman, Pele."
It really was a special goal.
A combination of speed, power, dribbling and finishing.
Pele was injured during the tournament and did not play again, but that did not stop him from leaving a golden mark.
The hat-trick against France in the 1958 World Cup:
Even before what he would do in the final, Pele introduced himself to world football fans in the semi-final against France.
Everyone was looking forward to this game, and in the first half it was really even.
But in the second half the young Pele took control of things, and in 23 minutes scored a hat trick that sealed the fate of the game.
The most beautiful of the goals was the one where he took control of a ball with his knee, and out of the air - sent it flying into the corner.
Pele scores against France in the 1958 World Cup,
The strike in the 1970 World Cup final:
Even though he swore after the World Cup in 1966 that he would never play in the World Cup again - Pele regretted it.
and better this way.
The tournament in Mexico, the last one he took part in, was his farewell performance on the biggest stage.
The goal against Italy in the final, the one that gave the Brazilians a 0:1 lead on the way to a 4:1 victory, was the epitome of Pele's abilities.
Positioning, athleticism, timing, precision - a perfect shot, which left the Italian goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi no chance.
Pele scored four goals in this tournament, and this one - in the most memorable and iconic final of all.
Pele after the goal in the 1970 World Cup final, photo: Action Images
1958 World Cup Final:
Once the world did not belong to the young - certainly not in football.
And when Winsta Paula, coach of the Brazilian national team, invited a 17-year-old boy to the World Cup in Sweden, the world raised an eyebrow.
"At first they didn't believe me," this boy, a Santos star named Pele, will say over the years.
And in the end they didn't believe it either.
He scored six goals, two of them in the 2:5 victory over Sweden in the final match.
One of the goals in that final, a bounce over the goalkeeper's head and ending with a kick from the air into the corner, is a piece of the game's history.
Pele (left) in the 1958 World Cup final. Became a giant at the age of 17, photo: AP
were we wrong
We will fix it!
If you found an error in the article, we would appreciate it if you shared it with us
