Edson Arantes do Nascimiento, AKA Pelé, passed away this Thursday, December 29, 2022 at the age of 82. The legendary Brazilian played most of his career in Santos (1956-74), before ending his career in New York Cosmos (1975-77). Pelé played several times in Europe playing friendly matches and, on four occasions, faced the FC Barcelona.
His debut at the Camp Nou, at the age of 18
One year after winning his first World Cup, Pelé, at just 18 years old, visited the Camp Nou for the first time with Santos. That night Pelé scored two of the five goals for Santos (1-5). The Brazilian team had just beaten Inter 7-1 in Valencia. Pelé, who received the marking from Martí Vergés, had an impressive game. He scored the third with a hard shot and the fifth with a corner kick. Barça’s goal of honor was scored by Evaristo.
📸| 19-year old Pelé with László Kubala and Luis Suárez in 1960.
Barcelona defeated Santos 4-3 in this match at the Camp Nou, after being 4-0 up at half-time.
Pelé, Kubala and Suárez – all of them scored 2 goals each. pic.twitter.com/i72Enc9Ahq
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) December 30, 2022
The second visit, a year later
One year after the first friendly of Santos in the Camp Nou, on Saturday, July 2, 1960, Pelé returned to face FC Barcelona in their stadium. However, this time Barça won the game (4-3) on a rainy night. The four goals of Barça arrived in the first half (two were scored by Luis Suárez, another of Kubala and another from Villaverde). But after the restart the Brazilian team scored 3 goals and was close to tie the match. Pele was the author of the third goal for Santos. But legendary goalkeeper Ramallets with a great performance, prevented the draw.
Another culé victory in 1963
The third and last visit of Pele to the Camp Nou ended again with victory for FC Barcelona. Pereda and Zaballa were the authors of the goals for the Blaugrana.
— Barça Buzz (@Barca_Buzz) December 30, 2022
Against Cruyff, in the Carranza
It was his last season at Santos, and after having won six league titles and two Libertadores and two Intercontinentals, plus the three World Cups with Brazil (1958, 1962 and 1970). Pele faced Cruyff’s Barça in the Carranza Trophy. That match ended with a 4-1 win for Barça. Santos was touring Europe, and Barça, despite being a friendly, took it as a final by facing the best player in the world at the time.
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