Brazil 1970: The Greatest Football Team Ever

Introduction: The Beautiful Game at Its Peak

In the summer of 1970, football reached a level of artistic expression that has never been equalled. Brazil's World Cup-winning team, led by the incomparable Pele in his final tournament, did not just win the World Cup — they redefined how the game could be played. Their football was fluid, joyful, intelligent, and devastatingly effective. Six matches, six victories, 19 goals scored, and only 7 conceded. They won every match by at least two goals. For a comparison with other great World Cup teams, visit our /world-cup/history page.

Road to Mexico 1970

Brazil's qualification for the 1970 World Cup was far from straightforward. The team had been in transition since the decline of the 1962 generation, and their 1966 World Cup campaign in England had been a disaster, eliminated in the group stage with Pele kicked out of the tournament by violent defending. In the years that followed, Brazil appointed Joao Saldanha as manager, a journalist with no prior coaching experience. Saldanha controversially left Pele out of several friendlies and clashed with the Brazilian federation.

With just months to go before the tournament, Saldanha was fired after a disagreement over team selection. Mario Zagallo, a 38-year-old former World Cup winner from 1958 and 1962, took over. Against expectations, Zagallo made bold decisions. He abandoned the traditional Brazilian 4-2-4 formation and adopted a more European-influenced 4-2-3-1 system. He handed the number 10 shirt to Rivelino, shifted Pele into a deeper playmaking role, and built the team around the attacking quartet of Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, and Tostao. For more on Brazil's World Cup history, see /competitions/world-cup.

Squad Profiles

Pele (Forward, 29 years old)

Edson Arantes do Nascimento was playing in his fourth World Cup at just 29. Already a two-time World Cup winner (1958, 1962), Pele had nothing left to prove, yet he was determined to finish his World Cup career in style. In 1970, he operated as a withdrawn forward, dropping deep to collect the ball, creating space for others, and delivering an array of assists while still scoring four goals. His performances in 1970 were arguably his most complete, combining his youthful athleticism with the tactical intelligence of a veteran.

Jairzinho (Winger, 25 years old)

Jair Ventura Filho, known as Jairzinho, achieved something that no other player has ever equalled: he scored in every match of a World Cup tournament. Playing on the right wing, Jairzinho was a powerful, direct runner with a ferocious shot. He scored 7 goals in the tournament, including the winner in the final. His goal against England, when he ran from the halfway line, exchanged passes and finished, is one of the tournament's most memorable moments.

Rivelino (Midfielder, 24 years old)

Roberto Rivelino was the heartbeat of Brazil's midfield, wearing the iconic number 10 shirt. Known for his powerful left foot and trademark long-range shots, Rivelino pioneered the "banana shot" — a free-kick that curled dramatically. He scored twice in the tournament, including a stunning free-kick against Czechoslovakia in the group stage. His vision and passing range were crucial to Brazil's attacking transitions.

Tostao (Forward, 23 years old)

Eduardo Goncalves de Andrade, known as Tostao, was the tactical fulcrum of the attack. Playing as a centre-forward who constantly dropped deep and drifted wide, Tostao created space for Pele and Jairzinho to exploit. He scored two goals in the tournament but his contribution went far beyond goals — he was the link player, the decoy runner, and the selfless team player who made the system work. Tostao had suffered a detached retina in 1969 which nearly ended his career, but he recovered to play a central role in Mexico.

Gerson (Midfielder, 29 years old)

Gerson de Oliveira Nunes was the cerebral presence in midfield, nicknamed "Canhotinha de Ouro" (Golden Left Foot). He was the deep-lying playmaker who dictated the tempo of Brazil's games. His passing range was exceptional, and his ability to switch play from one flank to the other stretched defences to breaking point. Gerson scored a magnificent goal in the final, a long-range drive that restored Brazil's lead after Italy had equalised. His role was so important that when he was injured or substituted, Brazil's rhythm noticeably suffered.

Carlos Alberto (Right-back, 25 years old)

Carlos Alberto Torres was the captain and the leader of the defence, playing at right-back. He was a modern full-back who combined defensive solidity with attacking ambition. His overlapping runs provided width on the right, and his goal in the final — the famous fourth goal — remains the most iconic team goal in World Cup history. Carlos Alberto's leadership was vital in organising a defence that was often exposed by the team's attacking philosophy.

Clodoaldo (Midfielder, 20 years old)

Clodoaldo Arruda was the youngest member of the starting XI, playing as a defensive midfielder. While the attackers received the plaudits, Clodoaldo's work in breaking up opposition play and providing a platform for Gerson and Rivelino was crucial. He memorably dribbled past four Uruguay players in the semi-final before laying on a goal, and in the final, his skill and composure on the ball were on full display.

Tactical Innovation: The 4-2-3-1 System

Zagallo's tactical approach in 1970 was revolutionary. Brazil played a 4-2-3-1 formation that was far ahead of its time. The system featured a back four of Carlos Alberto, Brito, Piazza, and Everaldo. In midfield, Clodoaldo and Gerson formed a double pivot, providing defensive cover and distribution. The attacking line of three — Jairzinho, Rivelino, and Tostao — operated with complete freedom behind Pele as the central striker.

What made Brazil's system so difficult to defend was the constant movement and rotation. Pele dropped deep to receive the ball, drawing defenders out of position. Tostao drifted wide, creating space in central areas. Jairzinho attacked from deep, arriving late in the box. Rivelino cut inside from the left to shoot with his powerful right foot. The system was fluid to the point of appearing chaotic, but it was underpinned by exceptional football intelligence and countless hours of practice on the training ground. For more on tactical evolution in football, visit our /knowledge page.

Group Stage: The Battle with England

Brazil were drawn in Group 3 alongside England, Romania, and Czechoslovakia. England, the defending champions, were coached by Alf Ramsey and featured stars like Gordon Banks, Bobby Moore, and Geoff Hurst. The group stage match between Brazil and England is one of the most famous in World Cup history.

Pele created the decisive moment with a looping header that seemed destined for the net, only for Gordon Banks to produce the "Save of the Century" — somehow diving to his right to scoop the ball over the crossbar. Jairzinho scored the only goal of the match, a powerful finish after a cross from Pele. Brazil won 1-0, and the save has been replayed countless times since. Pele later admitted he had already begun to celebrate before Banks's miraculous intervention.

Brazil beat Czechoslovakia 4-1 (with Rivelino scoring a stunning free-kick) and Romania 3-2 (Pele scoring a brilliant goal from 50 yards out) to top the group with maximum points.

Quarter-Final: Peru

In the quarter-finals, Brazil faced Peru, a talented South American side managed by the legendary Brazilian midfielder Didi, a star of the 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories. Brazil won 4-2 in an open, entertaining match. Rivelino scored twice, Tostao scored once, and Jairzinho continued his run of scoring in every match. Peru played their part with two goals, but Brazil's attacking quality proved decisive.

Semi-Final: Uruguay

The semi-final against Uruguay carried enormous historical weight. Uruguay had won the World Cup in 1950 by beating Brazil in the infamous Maracana final — a defeat that remains a national trauma in Brazil. The match was tense and competitive, with Uruguay taking the lead through a deflected free-kick. Brazil equalised through Clodoaldo's memorable solo run and pass to Rivelino, who scored. Jairzinho then scored the winner with a typical powerful run and finish. Brazil won 3-1, avenging the 1950 defeat and reaching the final.

The Final: Brazil vs Italy (4-1)

The final on 21 June 1970 at the Azteca Stadium in Mexico City pitted Brazil against Italy. Italy had reached the final with a defensive approach, defeating West Germany 4-3 in extra time in one of the greatest semi-finals in World Cup history. But against Brazil, their defensive organisation could not hold.

Pele opened the scoring with a powerful header from a Rivelino cross, becoming the first player to score in four World Cup finals. Italy equalised through Boninsegna after a defensive error by Clodoaldo. In the second half, Brazil's quality overwhelmed Italy. Gerson scored a magnificent long-range goal, curling the ball into the top corner from 25 yards. Jairzinho made it 3-1 after good work from Pele, scoring in his seventh consecutive World Cup match.

The fourth goal is the most famous in World Cup history. Brazil produced a 20-pass move that involved every outfield player. Clodoaldo started it with a series of dribbles, the ball was worked through midfield, Pele delivered a perfectly weighted pass to Carlos Alberto overlapping on the right, and the captain smashed a first-time shot past the goalkeeper. The image of Pele running to embrace Carlos Alberto is perhaps the most iconic in football history.

Jairzinho's Record: Goal in Every Match

Jairzinho's feat of scoring in every match of the World Cup tournament remains unique. In an era when 32-team tournaments with seven matches had not yet arrived, Jairzinho achieved this in a 6-match tournament. His goals came against Czechoslovakia, England, Romania, Peru, Uruguay, and Italy. In total, he scored 7 goals. Only Just Fontaine (13 goals in 1958) and Gerd Muller (10 goals in 1970) have scored more in a single tournament.

Legacy as the Greatest Team

The "Team of the Century" label has been applied to few teams, and Brazil 1970 is the most frequently cited. The reasons go beyond results. Brazil 1970 played with a joy and creativity that captured the imagination of the world. Their football was the "beautiful game" incarnate. They proved that attacking football could win the highest prize against the most organised defences.

The team's legacy endures in every aspect of modern football. Zagallo's 4-2-3-1 formation became the default for many top teams decades later. Pele's final World Cup confirmed his status as the first global football superstar. Carlos Alberto's goal in the final has been recreated in countless youth training sessions around the world.

When FIFA conducted a poll in 2000 to determine the "best" in various categories, Brazil's 1970 team was overwhelmingly voted the greatest team in World Cup history. The BBC, World Soccer magazine, and countless football historians have ranked them first. Whether measured by style, achievement, or influence, Brazil 1970 remains the benchmark by which all great teams are judged.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Why is Brazil 1970 considered the greatest team ever?

Brazil 1970 is considered the greatest team ever because of their perfect record (6-0), their fluid and attacking style, the extraordinary quality of their individual players (Pele, Jairzinho, Rivelino, Tostao, Gerson, Carlos Alberto), their 19 goals in 6 matches, and the iconic 4-1 victory over Italy in the final. They played football of unmatched beauty and effectiveness.

Who scored in the Brazil 1970 World Cup final?

Pele opened the scoring with a powerful header, Gerson scored a long-range drive to make it 2-1, Jairzinho scored the third with a clinical finish, and Carlos Alberto scored the famous fourth goal after a 20-pass team move. Italy's goal was scored by Roberto Boninsegna.

How many goals did Jairzinho score in the 1970 World Cup?

Jairzinho scored in every match of the 1970 tournament, finishing with 7 goals. He is the only player in World Cup history to have scored in every match of a single tournament, a record that remains unbroken.

What formation did Brazil 1970 use?

Brazil used a fluid 4-2-3-1 formation that was revolutionary for its time. The system featured a double pivot of Clodoaldo and Gerson, an attacking three of Jairzinho, Rivelino, and Tostao with complete freedom, and Pele as the central striker dropping deep.

Who was the manager of Brazil's 1970 World Cup team?

Mario Zagallo managed Brazil to victory in 1970, having previously won the World Cup as a player in 1958 and 1962. He remains one of only four people to win the World Cup as both player and manager, alongside Franz Beckenbauer, Didier Deschamps, and Lionel Scaloni.