On November 19, 1969, at the Antonio Filho Maracanà stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Santos and Vasco da Gama were on the pitch. Both black and white teams, as there were no color televisions. What could have been imprinted, however, ended thanks to the cameras: penalty kick in favor of the Paulistas and a five-minute stoppage to allow all the photographers to pose to witness a moment that happened for the first time in the history of football.
Edson Arantes do Nascimiento, aka Pelè, was on the spot. In goal, for Vasco da Gama, there is Andrada, who will become famous for having conceded the thousandth goal of O’Rey’s career. As in a novel, the Brazilian number ten cannot make mistakes, but only score. As he had done in the World Cup final 11 years earlier, when he led the green and gold to victory against Sweden for the first time. As he did in the final a year later, against Italy, jumping and remaining in mid-air just long enough to score.
The ball ended up just short of the post. And a plaque is posted in the Maracanà locker room. “Pelè, on the day of his thousandth goal, left here.” In the Maracanà museum there are Pelè’s shoes, the ball and the goal net from that day.