King In Life

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Brazil beat Italy 4-1 in the 1970 World Cup final in Mexico, in what is considered by many to be the greatest football match of all time. As three-time winners, Brazil keep the Jules Rimet trophy. Pelé becomes the first player to ever win the trophy on three occasions.

Edson Cholbi do Nascimento, Pelé and Rosemeri’s second child, is born.

Two hundred thousand pack the Maracanã to witness Pelé’s final game for Brazil. The match finishes 2-2. After the final whistle Pelé does a lap of honour, during which the fans chant, ‘Stay! Stay!’ Amongst the parting gifts he receives is a gold miniature of the Jules Rimet trophy, plus a portrait of his father Dondinho scoring for Athletico of Bauru.

Pele plays his final game for Santos against Ponte Preta at Santos’ Vila Belmiro stadium. In the twenty-second minute of the first half, he stops the game by catching the ball, then proceeds to do a final lap of honour before departing the pitch.

After a four-year chase, New York Cosmos General Manager Clive Toye finally convinces Pelé to come out of retirement to sign a three-year contact with the Cosmos, worth $2.8 million.

Pelé is appointed Goodwill Ambassador for UNICEF

Pelé and Rosemeri’s third child, Jennifer, is born in New York

75,000 fans, including Muhammad Ali and England’s Bobby Moore, attend Pelé’s farewell match as Cosmos take on Santos. After scoring for Cosmos in the first half, Pelé switches to his former team’s side, but Cosmos win the match 2-1. The event is covered by 650 journalists and is broadcast to 38 countries. In a final tribute to Pelé, the Cosmos retire his number 10 jersey, reducing Pelé to tears. His professional career is at an end.

Pelé’s relationship with Rosemeri breaks down after his heavy work commitments become too much. They file for divorce.

Pelé meets Andy Warhol in New York to discuss the creation of a series of four paintings featuring his likeness, as part of the artist’s ‘Athletes Series’, which also includes Muhammad Ali, golfer Jack Nicklaus and basketball star Kareem Abdul Jabbar.