Pelé: 49 years since final football match

Forty-nine years ago, on October 1, 1977, football legend Pelé played his final professional match at Giants Stadium in New York. The event featured a unique format where he played the first half for the New York Cosmos and the final 45 minutes for Santos FC.

The match concluded with a 2-1 victory for the Cosmos. Pelé scored a goal via a free kick during the first half, while Reinaldo scored for Santos. Ramon Miflin secured the win for the Cosmos in the second half. The event was attended by over 76,000 spectators, including notable figures such as Muhammad Ali and U.S. Secretary of State Henry Kissinger.

Throughout his career, Pelé played for Santos, the New York Cosmos, and the Brazilian national team, accumulating 1,283 goals and over 30 titles, including three FIFA World Cups. His career highlights include the 1958 World Cup final, where a 17-year-old Pelé helped Brazil secure its first world title with a 5-2 victory over Sweden.