The 1000th Goal

It was November 19th, 1969. The match was Santos X Vasco. It was taking place at the Maracanã stadium, in Rio de Janeiro.

On his 909th match, Pelé walks on the field for yet another valid match for the Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament, the Brazilian Championship of the time, to become the first professional Brazilian player in the history of soccer to achieve such a status.

At 33 minutes of the second half, Vasco’s quarterback, René, commits a penalty. Pelé kicks with his right foot, reaching the left-hand side of the goalkeeper, Andrada, who, despite doing his best, could not defend it. Andrada did not want to let Pelé score it, as he thought that by doing so he would not be recognized as a good goalkeeper anymore, and would just be remembered as the 1000th goalkeeper.

Soon afterwards, Pelé is surrounded by reporters and says: “Think about Christmas. Think about the small children.” Pelé wears a Vasco shirt with the number 1000 printed on it and runs around the Maracanã stadium, a stadium which would be forever imprinted in the King’s heart. It was at Mário Filho’s that the three-time champion began playing in international games, made his debut in the Brazilian team and was awarded with a plaque for a fantastic goal scored.

And it is at exactly the expression of this wish of helping the Brazilian children, made public at his 1000th goal, that the history of the partnership between Pelé and Pequeno Príncipe begins.