In 1977, in New York, the legend says goodbye: the last game of Pelé's career.
Set of fifteen previously unpublished photographs, in large format, of Pelé's last game for Cosmos, by French journalist Pierre Domenech from the daily La Provence.
October 1, 1977, New York.
29.5 cm x 21 cm.
Black and white.
Excellent condition of conservation.
Pelé is considered unique for his exceptional technique, his vision of the game, and his impact on the development of football as a global sport. He won three World Cups with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970, and scored over 1,000 goals during his professional career. Pelé is also known for his humility and generosity off the field, making him a role model for football fans around the world.
Such a talented player deserved a match worthy of his achievements, 20 years after his first world championship with Brazil, won at the age of 17. On October 1, 1977, more than 77,000 people attended Pelé's farewell at Giants Stadium, during a friendly match between the only two clubs of his career, Cosmos and Santos.
Unable to choose between the two formations, he defended the North American colors in the first half, before donning the Santos jersey after the break. As a legend never dies, Pelé stood out in this match, tying the score at 1-1 for New York with a powerful free kick. However, he failed to score in the second half, when the players from the Big Apple won 2-1. But who cares? New York's victory remains even more anecdotal than the champion's lap of honor in the rain. That lap was followed by a vibrant tribute from the Cosmos announcing, in the purest American tradition, that the number 10 was retired, and no player would wear it for the club again. Another, even more vibrant tribute was also paid at the end of the game: that of Mohamed Ali, a close friend, whom the king joined in heaven.
These previously unpublished photos come from a journalist who worked for a major newspaper in Marseille, the second largest French city. He traveled to New York for this legendary match and took this series of photos. I do not have any negatives and I believe they have been lost or destroyed. The photos are originals and according to my research, they are unique and have never been published. The fact that they are large and in perfect condition allows us to see many details, as well as the dimension that Pelé had there: the stage for his speech, a fan running towards him, his face and the word “love” or “Pelé The Man” directed at him on a giant screen, various actions of the game, the horde of journalists, the pre- and post-match shows, the surroundings of the stadium, his lap of honor, Mohamed Ali, etc. In short, a moving and unmissable testimony for football fans who miss the King.
