The Defining Moment
Brazil 1962
Brazil defended their title at Chile 1962 despite losing Pelé to injury in the second match. Garrincha assumed the starring role: his impossible dribbles, his goals, and his infectious joy carried the Seleção all the way to the final. On 17 June at the Estadio Nacional in Santiago, Czechoslovakia stunned them by taking the lead through Josef Masopust. But Amarildo Pelé's replacement equalised immediately, and in the second half Zito and Vavá sealed a 3-1 victory. Brazil became back-to-back world champions, proving their football transcended any individual not even the absence of the greatest player on the planet could stop them.