19 | Pelé (1958)

In the series finale of 22 Goals, Brian looks back at one of soccer’s most momentous beginnings: The childhood and early career of Pelé, the player who defined the modern game. From his origins as a barefoot boy playing soccer on the streets of Brazil to his breakout performance at the 1958 World Cup, when he was just 17, we’ll explore Pelé’s breathtaking rise to stardom—the story that, more than any other, made the World Cup what it is today.

Host: Brian Phillips
Producers: Devon Renaldo, Mike Wargon, Conor Nevins, and Vikram Patel
Sound Design and Original Music: Devon Renaldo
Mixing and Mastering: Scott Somerville

Match footage from FIFA.

Also available in Spanish and Portuguese.