Today marks the first birthday without the true G.O.A.T., Pelé, who would have celebrated his 83rd birthday. Nevertheless, his legacy endures. Over the years, he has been a central figure in numerous productions and news articles. The latest addition to this legacy is the documentary Pelé (David Tryhorn and Ben Nicholas, 2021), which is available on Netflix.
The documentary focuses on Pelé’s significance to Brazil as a nation and the parallel growth of both. In the 1940s, when he was born, Brazil was relatively unknown internationally. However, by the time of his passing in 2022, Brazil had already gained global recognition by football, thanks to him, who also paved the way for numerous Brazilian footballers.
During Pelé’s childhood, he played pickup football and joined smaller local teams in his hometown. Eventually, in 1956, at the tender age of 16, he was accepted into Santos Futebol Clube. This marked the beginning of a career that started with a bang. His debut on the international stage was at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, despite some newspapers considering him too young at the age of 18. In the documentary, he reminisced about incidents related to his 'exotic' beauty and aptly remarks, 'In the field, everybody is the same.’
In Chile 1962, Pelé's World Cup was full of promise, but he suffered an injury. Nonetheless, Brazil secured its second championship and emerged as a formidable force in football. Pelé captivated the hearts of Brazilians, instilling pride, self-esteem, and a sense of identity. He became a symbol of hope for underprivileged black youth in Brazil, where poverty has a colour. His celebrity status soared with appearances in advertisements and feature films, and he became an international star, attracting devoted fans and intense media attention.
In parallel with Pelé's development, Brazil was undergoing a transformation into a modern nation. It held the promise of being a 'country of the future,' transitioning from an agrarian economy to an industrial one. Television replaced radio as the primary means of communication during this period of change.
It's worth mentioning that many Pelé documentaries have omitted discussions of Brazilian politics because he was known for being apolitical and often criticized for playing a submissive role. However, the documentary released in 2021 addressed this aspect of his life. Between the 1960s and 1980s, a military dictatorship came to power in Latin America, with the support of the United States during the Cold War era, driven by fears of communism. Brazil was no exception, and this period began on April 1st, 1964. It is remembered for its brutality, horrors, and its far-reaching consequences across various aspects of society. In the documentary, Pelé maintains the pose and said it did not impact football, but he was aware of it. However, other interviewees disagree, citing how the regime sought to exploit his importance to Brazil in order to get the support from the people.
In England 1966, it marked the beginning of tight marking on Pelé by European footballers, eventually resulting in his exit from a match due to a violent tackle. It was believed to be his final World Cup appearance until 1968 when he celebrated a milestone by scoring his 1000th goal at Maracanã Stadium. Meanwhile, in Brazil, this period saw the start of Institutional Act Number Five, which granted the military government the authority to intensify its repression and torture of political opponents.
During these sombre times, football served as a release valve, uniting a divided country. Mexico 1970 was filled with high expectations, marked by slogans like 'Brasil ame-o ou deixe-o' (Brazil, love it or leave it) and 'Ninguém segura esse país' (nothing stops this country), fuelling nationalist euphoria. There was immense pressure on Pelé to participate, despite earlier disagreements with the first coach who had spread false rumours about him. Eventually, he joined the World Cup and ended it on a high note, securing another championship for Brazil and bringing pride and happiness to the nation.
Shortly after retiring from the football fields, Pelé made a brief return to Santos and also played for the New York Cosmos in the United States. Over the course of his 21-year football career, Pelé scored 1283 goals in 1367 matches and remains the only footballer to have won three World Cups. His legacy extends beyond football; he helped shape the identity of a nation and its people. He paved the way for a generation of Black Brazilians who were seeking direction and gave them sense of pride and identity. His impact goes deeper than his dribbles on the field. Brazil continues to grow and evolve beyond the kingdom of Pelé.
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