Some of Pelé’s most legendary goals were the ones he didn’t score

For more than two decades, Pelé — who died on Thursday afternoon aged 82 — was the nightmare of all goalkeepers. From amateurs in Brazil’s minor leagues to the greatest stoppers in the world, none were spared.

In 92 matches for the Brazilian national team, the King of Football scored a grand total of 77 goals. However, in the 1970 World Cup, the crowning achievement of his career, Pelé was also praised for goals he did not score. 

Indeed, the tournament threw up three legendary moments between the world’s greatest player and three goalkeepers, Ivo Viktor, Gordon Banks, and Ladislao Mazurkiewicz, who all helped make the Brazilian an even bigger legend.

Ivo Viktor’s debut for the Czechoslovakian national team came in a friendly against Brazil in 1966 when he was 24 years old. Brazil won that match 2-1, with Pelé scoring twice in the first half. The two would meet again at the 1970 World Cup in the opening game of their respective countries, both older and wiser. 

Pelé had consolidated his position as an all-time great, while Viktor had just won the first of his two European Goalkeeper of the Year awards, being regarded among the best in the world in his position.

Midway through the first half of Brazil v. Czechoslovakia, with the scores level at 1-1, Pelé received the ball inside the center circle and glanced upfield. Noticing Viktor off his line, Pelé hit a looping shot toward the goal. Replay footage from the touchline showed Viktor scrambling back to protect his net in such desperation that he almost collided with his own goalpost. The ball went agonizingly wide.

This was not showboating. Brazil were in need of a goal, and Pelé had simply spotted an opportunity to score that no one else could have.

Before the tournament, Pelé had faced criticism in Brazil, with several voices in the press suggesting that he was past his best. There...