It was the last goal scored at the World Cup – the fourth in Italy’s 4-1 hammer in the final – and the one symbolizing Joga Bonito (Play Beauty) a mantra that has long been synonymous with Brazil.

Nine out of 10 field players have a role in goal creation, ending with Pele’s pass to the fast moving Alberto, who throws the ball into the bottom corner.

Enchanting Brazil

“We won the World Cup and I think in my life in sports, (that is the highlight), no doubt,” Pele told Don Riddell of the CNN Sport team in a 2016 interview.

“I said: ‘Santos is a champion, I will retire,'” Pele remembers before Mexico 1970. “Then I said: ‘No, I will play the World Cup. This will be my last World Cup, maybe God will give me one more prize to play well. ‘”

It would be fair to say his prayers were answered.

Sunday marks the 50th anniversary of the 1970 World Cup finals and looking back at the tournament there may be a sense of nostalgia too. The World Cup was the first broadcast around the world in color, making the bright yellow shirt even more enchanting.

It might also be a victory for those we now refer to as ‘soccer purists’; Brazil Jogo Bonito against Italian catenaccio, a highly organized and defensive-minded system that defines Italian football for decades.

“When I was a child, my father would have talked about that extraordinary team,” former goalkeeper Dida, who was also a World Cup winner in 2002, recently told Don Riddell of CNN Sport.

“A team that has never been seen before, a team that will win easily because they are the best of all players – and among them there is one who makes all the difference in the world, Pele.

“In my opinion, he is number one in the world, the strongest player we have ever had. He has proven it, scoring more than 1000 goals. The 1970 team is the strongest ever owned by Brazil.”

Dida was born three years after the 1970 World Cup victory, but the stories told by his father made the players also heroes.

Long before YouTube and streaming services made even the most obscure reserve league available worldwide, the 1970 World Cup was the first opportunity for many to see these superstars in action.

None of Brazil’s squad is playing club football outside their country, so the world is watching in awe as these alien faces rip off their opponents.

The point of all of that, of course, is Pele.

The forward Santos is operating from a little deeper on the front line of four people, when head coach Mário Zagallo tries to accommodate most of the Brazilian striker’s talents.

“When I was under my 20s, I almost met him [Pele] but that didn’t happen so I became disappointed, “Dida remembers her desperation to meet her hero.” But then I finally had the chance and really great emotion to hold her, feel it, talk to her.

“It feels amazing to see an idol so close. This is a great opportunity in my life.”

‘Another level’

Dida was part of the Brazilian World Cup winning squad in 2002, another team that is considered by many to be one of the greatest ever on the world stage.

The trio of attackers Ronaldo, Rivaldo and Ronaldinho are among the most feared in history, but for Dida it is still no match for the 1970 team.

“They are above all, another level,” he said. “I know football has changed but they will definitely win with the same conditions today and Pele will score.

“It definitely ranks first [in Brazil’s greatest teams]. They will do things easily and calmly. Not because his opponent is weak, but the talent that the team has to improvise is very impressive. “

There have been great Brazilian teams since then. The South American country has won two more World Cups, not the least, but for many Brazilians the 1970 side continued to hold a place in the heart higher than the others.

It was one of the one-in-one-generation teams – even for a country blessed with football talent like Brazil – that even made the opposition cry out.

“I told myself before the match, he was made of skin and bones like everyone else,” Italy defender Tarcisio Burgnich said about Pele after the final. “But I was wrong.”