Carlos Alberto's iconic goal seals Brazil's 1970 World Cup triumph

FIFA is counting down to the 2026 World Cup by highlighting a memorable goal from each tournament. Today's feature revisits the 1970 final, where Carlos Alberto's thunderous strike put the finishing touch on a sublime team move, sealing Brazil's 4-1 victory over Italy and their third world title.

The build-up to the final

Brazil entered the match as heavy favorites, having dazzled throughout the tournament with their attacking flair. Coach Mario Zagallo's side featured a midfield heavy on creativity, with only Clodoaldo providing defensive cover. Italy, meanwhile, had reached the final after a hard-fought semifinal win over West Germany.

By the final moments of the match, Brazil led 3-1, but they were not done. The team had one more piece of magic to display.

The goal

The move began in Brazil's half, where Pele and Gerson exchanged passes. Clodoaldo then embarked on a mesmerizing dribble, sidestepping four Italian defenders. He passed to Everaldo, who clipped the ball down the line for Jairzinho. The winger controlled, cut inside, and laid the ball off to Pele.

Pele, with his back to goal, delayed before rolling a perfectly weighted pass into the path of the onrushing Carlos Alberto. The right-back met the ball first time, lashing it into the bottom corner past Italian goalkeeper Enrico Albertosi.

"Pele and me played so often together that he knew where I was – I didn’t need to shout," Carlos Alberto told The Guardian in 2013. "He saw me coming and rolled his pass in front of me so I didn’t have to break stride, and I caught it perfectly."

Reactions and legacy

The goal was the crowning moment of a performance that left a lasting impression on opponents and teammates alike. Italy midfielder Giancarlo De Sisti left the field convinced Pele was an extraterrestrial. Brazil's Tostao spent the final 20 minutes of the game crying with happiness, while Rivellino described it as the "easiest" match of Brazil's title charge.

The victory made Brazil the first nation to win the World Cup three times, allowing them to permanently retain the Jules Rimet trophy. The team, known as 'The Beautiful Team,' had completed 'The Beautiful Game' – phrases coined by Pele – with arguably the most beautiful goal in World Cup history.