Pele unveils new Netflix documentary about his career

Pele will star in a new Netflix documentary
Pele will star in a new Netflix documentary / AFP/Getty Images
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Brazilian legend Pele has revealed that he has partnered with Netflix to release a new documentary about his rise to international superstardom between 1958 and 1970.

During that 12-year span, Pele blossomed into the greatest footballer on the planet as he helped steer Brazil to three World Cup titles, establishing Brazil as the undisputed powerhouse of football at the time.

Pele took to Twitter to confess he was 'excited to relive his memories' in the upcoming documentary, which will cover one of the most exciting yet turbulent period in the history of Brazil.

Featuring unprecedented interviews with Pele, never-before-seen archive footage and interviews with former team-mates like Zagallo, Jairzinho and Rivellino, Pele will take fans on a journey over Brazil's four World Cup competitions and the striker's progression from unknown teenager to the greatest of all time.

Pele only made his debut in senior football in 1956 but finished as the top scorer of the Brazilian league at just 16 years old, earning himself a spot in the Brazil squad for the 1958 World Cup.

At the time, he was the youngest player to ever feature at a World Cup, and during that competition, he also set records for the youngest player to ever score a hat-trick and the youngest player to ever feature in the final.

That form saw the likes of Real Madrid, Manchester United and Inter try and bring Pele over to Europe, but neither the player nor Santos were ever interested in doing a deal.

Injury kept him out of the majority of the 1962 competition, which Brazil still managed to win, but the mood around the competition soured in 1966.

Defending champions Brazil were eliminated at the group stage in controversial fashion. They needed a win over Portugal in the final game to qualify for the next round, but were left furious at the referee's failure to dismiss Joao Morais for a tackle which left Pele limping for the remainder of the game.

Pele had vowed to boycott future World Cups in protest of the decision, but went back on his word to star in 1970, in what is widely seen as one of the greatest national teams the world has ever seen.


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