Happy Birthday: Pele, Zubizarreta, Haddin

Sport360 staff 09:52 23/10/2016
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  • (Clockwise): Andoni Zubizarreta, Brad Haddin and Pele.

    Widely regarded as the greatest player of all time, Brazilian icon Pele is 76 today.

    During his career, Pele scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games. In Brazil, he is a national hero not only for his accomplishments in football but for his outspoken support of policies that improve the social conditions of the poor.

    However, it was on the field where the ‘King of Football’ truly made his name. He burst onto the world stage at the 1958 World Cup – aged 17 – to become the youngest player to play in the tournament and the final. He scored six goals along the way and two in the final as Brazil beat Sweden 5 – 2 to win the World Cup for the first time.

    He lifted the Jules Rimet trophy again in 1962 and 1970, scoring 77 goals in 91 games for Brazil – a record that still stands today. He played over 1,000 games for Santos, with whom he won the Copa Libertadores in 1962 and ’63.

    More sporting birthdays on this day:

    1961: Andoni Zubizarreta, former Barcelona and Spain goalkeeper. He won 126 caps for La Roja (55).

    1971: Chris Horner, American cyclist who became the oldest grand tour winner at 2013 Vuelta a Espana (45).

    1977: Brad Haddin, retired Australian wicketkeeper who played 66 Tests and won the 2015 World Cup (39).

    1979: Simon Davies, former footballer who played for Everton and Spurs and won 58 caps for Wales (37).

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