Pelé retired from professional football in 1977. His farewell match took place on October 1, 1977, when the New York Cosmos played Santos at Giants Stadium in New Jersey.
Pelé had already become a global legend with Santos, where he spent most of his career and won major Brazilian, South American, and international titles. He also helped Brazil win the FIFA World Cup in 1958, 1962, and 1970.
After leaving Santos in 1974, Pelé joined the New York Cosmos in 1975. His arrival helped attract enormous crowds and publicity to football in the United States. In his final match, he played one half for the Cosmos and one half for Santos, the only two professional clubs he represented.
A common mix-up is confusing his 1974 departure from Santos with his final retirement. Pelé stopped playing professionally three years later, after winning the 1977 NASL championship with the Cosmos.