Set of unpublished photographs of Pelé (1977)

In 1977, in New York, the legend said goodbye: the last game of Pelé's career.

• Set of fifteen previously unpublished photographs, in large format, of Pelé's last game at Cosmos, by French journalist Pierre Domenech from the daily La Provence.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.

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 Championships with Brazil, in 1958, 1962 and 1970. And he scored more than 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 exploits, 20 years after his first world championship with Brazil, won at the age of 17. On October 1, 1977, more than 77 thousand people attended Pelé's farewell at the Giants Stadium, during a friendly between the only two clubs of his career, Cosmos and Santos.

Unable to choose between one of the two formations, he defended North American colors in the first half, before wearing the Santos shirt after the break. As a myth never dies, Pelé stood out in this match, drawing 1-1 for New York, with a powerful free kick. However, he failed to score in the second half, when the Big Apple players won 2-1. But who cares? New York's victory remains even more anecdotal than the champion's lap of honor in the rain. This return was followed by a vibrant tribute from the Cosmos announcing, in the purest American tradition, that the number 10 has been retired, and no player will wear it at the club anymore. 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 never-before-seen photos come from a journalist who worked for a major newspaper in Marseille, the second largest city in France. He traveled to New York for this legendary match and took this series of photos. I do not own any negatives and I believe they have been lost or destroyed. The photos are original 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, in addition to assuming 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 from the game, the horde of journalists, the pre and post-game 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.