Pelé scored six goals in the 1958 World Cup. He was only 17 when Brazil won the tournament in Sweden, and his six-goal haul made him the competition’s standout young player behind France’s Just Fontaine, who scored 13.
Pelé did not play in Brazil’s first two matches because of injury. He made his tournament debut against the Soviet Union in the final group match, then scored the only goal against Wales in the quarter-final. In the semi-final against France, he scored a hat-trick during Brazil’s 5–2 victory.
He completed his total with two goals in the final against Sweden, another 5–2 win. His performances helped Brazil claim its first World Cup and made him the youngest player to score in a World Cup final. The six goals came across four appearances, an exceptional scoring rate for a teenager competing at football’s highest level.