Santos beat Corinthians de Santo André 7–1 in Pelé’s 1956 senior debut. The friendly was played on 7 September 1956, and Pelé, aged 15, scored one of Santos’ goals in his first appearance for the senior side.
The match is an important early milestone because it combined Pelé’s debut with the first senior goal of his career. It was not a Campeonato Paulista fixture or a match against one of Santos’ major São Paulo rivals. Instead, it was a friendly against Corinthians de Santo André, a club whose name is often confused with Sport Club Corinthians Paulista.
Pelé had joined Santos after impressing coach Lula in a trial arranged by former Brazil forward Waldemar de Brito. Although he initially spent time around the amateur setup, his performance against Corinthians de Santo André showed that he could immediately contribute against senior opposition. Santos’ seven-goal victory helped establish the teenager’s reputation within the club.
Pelé soon became a regular and in 1957 finished as the Campeonato Paulista’s top scorer at only 16. The 7–1 debut therefore preceded the sustained scoring record that defined his Santos career.