The 1970 World Cup in Mexico is considered by many to be the best ever and is packed full of memorable moments, from England captain Bobby Moore’s precision tackle on Pele to Italy’s see-saw victory over West Germany in the semi-finals.
But nothing quite matches the beauty of Brazil’s final goal in the final.
Carlos Alberto’s goal in the heat and altitude of Mexico City against a strong Italian team often tops the list of the greatest goals ever scored. Few would argue against it being the best team goal in history.
England goalkeeper Gordon Banks’s wonder save from Pele’s header, in Guadalajara on 7 June 1970. Brazil won the match 1-0 with a Jairzinho goal.
Incorporating all that is magical about Brazilian football, it is spell-binding even from the vantage point of today. The captain’s first-time strike to make it 4-1 culminated a move that included nine passes and turned defense into attack, stretching the field from one side to the other. The build-up also showcased the individual brilliance of the Brazilian players. The victorious team, led by Carlos Alberto and featuring players such as Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino, and Tostão, is often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team.
That Brazil team played some of the most ebullient football the world has ever seen and is the one that people most refer to when talking of the “Beautiful Game.”
World champions England were eliminated by West Germany in the quarters and hosts Mexico were booted out 4-1 by European champions Italy.
Italy’s Gianni Rivera scores his side’s 4th and decisive goal in the epic semi-final clash against West Germany. The match was played on 17 June 1970 at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. Italy won 4–3 after five goals were scored in extra time. Photo: FIFA
All four of the semi-finalists were former world champions with the line-up guaranteeing a European versus South American final. In the all-South American tie, controversially switched from the capital to the lower altitude of Guadalajara, Brazil came from behind to defeat Uruguay 3–1 and earn the right to contest their fourth World Cup Final. Two Brazilian goals in the final fifteen minutes decided a match that had been evenly-matched until that point. The all-European meeting between Italy and West Germany produced a match regarded by many as one of the greatest World Cup games of all time. Having led from the eighth minute through Roberto Boninsegna's strike, Italy were pegged back in injury time when sweeper Karl-Heinz Schnellinger scored his only international goal. Extra-time brought five more goals as the lead swung between the two sides until Gianni Rivera gave the Azzurri a decisive 4–3 lead. The match subsequently became known as the "Game of the Century", and today has a monument outside the Estadio Azteca to commemorate it.
Brazil captain Carlos Alberto, scorer of a 4th glorious goal in the final, lifts the Jules Rimet Trophy, which earned them the right to keep the same trophy permanently. Photo: FIFA
In the final, Brazil opened the scoring when Pelé headed in a cross from Rivellino in the 18th minute, but Roberto Boninsegna equalised for Italy after a series of blunders in the Brazilian defence.
The match remained level until the 66th minute when a powerful shot from Gérson restored the Brazilians' lead. Further goals from Jairzinho and Carlos Alberto rewarded Brazil's attacking play and secured a 4–1 victory and a record third World Cup triumph, which earned them the right to permanently keep the Jules Rimet Trophy.