1958 World Cup Final

Lore & Background

Sweden took the lead after 4 minutes through Nils Liedholm. Vavá equalized in the 9th minute and scored again in the 32nd minute to give Brazil a 2–1 halftime lead. In the second half, Pelé scored in the 55th minute, Mário Zagallo made it 4–1, Simonsson pulled one back for Sweden, and Pelé sealed the 5–2 victory with a stoppage-time header. The match holds the record for most goals in a World Cup final and shares the record for greatest winning margin (with 1970 and 1998).

Pelé became the youngest goalscorer in a final (17 years, 249 days), and Liedholm the oldest (35 years, 263 days). It was the first final between a European team and a team from the Americas. Sweden became the first and only host to lose a final. The last survivor on Brazil's side was Mário Zagallo, who died on 5 January 2024 at age 92; the last survivor of the game, Sweden's Kurt Hamrin, died on 4 February 2024 at age 89.

Reader's Guide

Brazil wore blue shirts after a draw forced them to change from their usual yellow. Sweden wore yellow. The match was played at Råsunda Stadium in Solna, near Stockholm.

Did You Know?

• Pelé started the match and was not a substitute.
• Brazil was never leading 3–0; the score progressed 2–1, 3–1, 3–2, 4–2, 5–2.
• Pelé played the full semi-final against France and scored a hat-trick; he was not injured in that match.
• The opponent was Sweden, not Hungary.