A 17-year-old Pele announced his presence to the world at the 1958 World Cup by guiding Brazil to victory over Sweden in the final in Stockholm.

The 1958 World Cup in Sweden marked a new era in the tournament. Although the festivities in Switzerland four years earlier were televised, the 1958 competition was the first to receive international television coverage. For the first time, people from all corners of the globe had the opportunity to watch soccer’s brightest stars compete in the game’s showcase event.

Swedish footballers Gunner Gren (right) and Nacka Skoglund and German player Eckel (left) in action during the World Cup semi-finals at Gothenburg, on 26th June 1958: Sweden won 3 - 1. Photo: FIFA

International television and the World Cup combined to create the perfect stage from which the career of the most recognized athlete of the 20th century and the greatest soccer player of all time was launched: Edson Arantes do Nascimento, more famously known as Pele.

Pele sat out the first two matches because of injury and didn’t play until Brazil’s final group game against the Soviet Union. It wasn’t until the quarterfinals, against Wales, that he scored his first goal, before netting a hat trick in the semi-finals versus France.

Brazil's Mario Zagalo (7) scores his side's fourth goal in the World Cup Final past Swedish goalkeeper Svensson, 29th June, 1958.

The final was played in Solna, in the Rasunda Stadium; 50,000 people watched as the Brazilians went a goal down after four minutes. However, Vavá equalised shortly afterwards and then put them a goal ahead before half time. In the second half Pelé outshone everyone, notching up two goals, including the first one where he lobbed the ball over Bengt Gustavsson then followed it with a precise volley shot. Zagallo added a goal in between, and Sweden managed a consolation goal.

Brazilian players Vava and Pelé celebrate after scoring.

The Final saw many records made in World Cup history that still stand. At age 17, Pelé simultaneously became the youngest player to participate in, score, and win a World Cup Final. Conversely, Nils Liedholm became the oldest player to score in a World Cup Final at 35 years, 263 Days. This final had the highest number of goals scored by a winning team (5), the highest number of total goals scored (7), and together with the 1970 and 1998 finals shares the highest goal margin of difference (3); Brazil played in all those three finals.

Bellini receives the World Cup trophy after Brazil beat Sweden 5-2 in the 1958 final. Photo: Folke Hellberg

The game is also notable for many firsts in FIFA World Cup as this marked the first time that a World Cup host reached the final without winning it. Additionally, the match marked the first time two nations from different continents met in a World Cup final. It also marks the first and only World Cup hosted in Europe not won by a European team; a feat mirrored in 2014 where a World Cup hosted in the Americas was not won by a team from the Americas.