Pele: Birth of a Legend

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1

- Welcome back

to the 1958 World Cup

the greatest sporting event

on Earth.

We are live in Gothenburg,

only moments away from

the start of the final match

of Group 4

Brazil versus the Soviet Union.

- It's so much more

than just a game for Brazil.

And with all their losses

in the last decade

the country's spirit

has been just crushed.

We've even seen some Brazilian

fans committing suicide

by jumping from the upper

tiers of the stadium.

- But let's be honest,

the Soviets are the reigning

Olympic champions

and Brazil, I mean

Brazil should be counting

their blessings

they even qualified

for the World Cup.

- Brazilians are about

to enter a stadium

filled with Europeans

all rooting against them.

They don't stand a chance.

They're young,

they're unorthodox

they got no discipline, and

they're mixed race to boot.

- It's just sad really and now

with all their player injuries

they are forced to play

a 17-year-old reserve.

You almost have

to feel sorry for Brazil.

- Lack of confidence has been a

real problem for the Brazilians

and starting a 17-year-old

is hardly the answer.

In fact, reports

from the locker room say

the teenager was sick

to his stomach

upon learning

he would be starting.

Not exactly the confidence

boost Brazil was hoping for.

- The 1958 World Cup in Sweden.

It's Brazil versus

the Soviet Union,

the World Cup debut for

17-year-old Edson Nascimento

the youngest player to ever

play in the tournament.

And Ullevi Stadium

is absolutely booming

50,000 screaming fans.

Millions more tuning in

from around the world.

In only a few moments, it

will be up to this youngster

and his South American

brothers to keep

their nation's hopes

and dreams alive.

- Today, July 16th, 1950

perhaps the most important day

in our lifetimes

for only in a few hours' time,

11 of Brazil's

graceful warriors will play

right here in Rio de Janeiro

at the newly-built

Maracana Stadium.

Brazil is tied to win

and the whole city has been

shut down to prepare

for celebrations

on a scale never before seen.

- Come on, Dico, let's play!

- Yeah, come on, Dico.

- I'm done shinin' shoes!

- We need a new ball!

- Today's World Cup finals!

We bring you the even

bigger big event

you've all been waiting for!

Welcome, Senhoras e Senhores

to the famous Rubens Arruda

street stadium!

- Today's very important game.

- Keepy uppy.

No, bounce!

- Keepy uppy!

- Over the roof.

- I got this.

- I got it!

Come on!

- Keep away!

- Come on, guys.

- Get out of here.

- Dico!

- Ah, Zoca!

- It was a bad pass

and Dico tripped.

And the sun was in my eyes.

No fair!

- Hmm.

- I finished shining shoes

and was walking Zoca home

when he slipped

and fell in the river.

- But you were playing football!

- You should know better.

You both go change and get back

to shining shoes.

- But, mom,

what about the World Cup?!

- Don't even think about it.

- The score is still tied 1-1!

The crowd in here is now

chanting, "Brazil must win!"

And here comes Brazil now

giving it everything

they've got.

- Go, go, just one, go.

-... Here with a header!

80 minutes in,

the match is still tied 1-1.

Over 200,000 fans now on their

feet, crammed into every seat.

Some eager fans are even

watching from their roof.

And Uruguay's Ruben Moran now

lines up for the quarter kick.

Here it is.

Uruguay shoots!

- Dico, Dico, what's the score?

- Still 1-1.

Final minutes.

- He said still tied 1-1.

- The match is winding down.

Fofinho.

- Hey, guys!

What's the score?

- Shh!

- Get lost, Zoca.

- I'll tell ma you were here,

listening to the World Cup.

- Okay, just stay quiet.

- He shoots and it's goal!

Uruguay moves ahead.

- What happened, Dico?

What happened? Did we score?

- Score against Brazil. 2-1.

- And now suddenly

all the pressure is on Brazil.

- Ugh!

- Come on, Brazil.

- He's driving the ball forward

as fast as he can! Oh, no!

The final whistle.

We are defeated 21.

Brazil has lost the 1950 World.

All 200,000 fans

have fallen

into a deafening silence.

- Come on, guys, let's go.

I thought we were gonna win.

- I'll win a World Cup

for Brazil, pai. I promise.

- If you're smart, Dico.

You listen to your mother.

You focus on school

and avoid the football

like the plague.

- Yes, I get it.

Football is romantic.

I should know.

I met your father at a game.

5 goals he scored

with his head that day.

Hmm.

Then we got married

and I told him

if he was so good with his head,

he wouldn't play football.

They paid him nothing

and dropped him

as soon as he hurt his knee.

No insurance, no severance.

You think your father

wanted to be a janitor?

Spend the rest of his life

scrubbing toilets?

- Celeste!

- Coming!

Now, Dico, can I trust you

to finish this

so I can hang the wash?

- The Bauru Youth Club?

Man, that tournament's

for street kids. Why bother?

- 'Cause de Brito's

gonna be at the final.

- Waldemar de Brito, the scouts?

- Yeah, it says here

he's looking for players

for the Santos Football Club.

Puxa! Once he sees me

play like Di Stefano!

I'm going pro, baby.

Wait till he sees me

play like Puskas.

- And I'll be like Mazzola!

- And I'll be like Pele!

- Who the heck's "Pele"?

- The goalkeeper for Vasco.

- Bile, imbecil!

His name's Bile!

- What idiot would think

Bile's name was Pele?

- We can call this boy Pele.

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