While the world of football bids farewell to Pelé, absolute legend of sport, Belgium remembers: the Brazilian played several times in our region, and his last European goal was scored in Antwerp!
In 1974, after having won everything under the colors of Santos and having won three World Cups with Brazil, Pelé took semi-retirement at the age of 34, contenting himself with matches here and there with Santos. He will end up trying his luck abroad – but not in Europe: head for the New York Cosmoswhere several aging stars such as Carlos Alberto, Franz Beckenbauer, Johan Neeskens or even…François Van der Elst will evolve later.
Like football’s Harlem Globe Trotters, Pelé’s NY toured abroad, notably in September 1976. After a match at PSG, the Cosmos went to Bosuil and faced Antwerp there. In front of 25,000 people, Pelé will score the only goal for his team, beaten 3-1. Jean-Marie Trappeniers keeps the Antwerp goals, and a certain Louis Van Gaal holds the midfield. This will be the last goal scored by King Pelé on the European continent. A match that went down in history, then.
???????? Nice fact: #Skin scored his last goal on European soil at the Bosuil. In 1976 he played against NY Cosmos #Antwerp. Goalkeeper Jean Trappeniers swallowed the goal. Louis Van Gaal, among others, was also on the field.#RIPPelé pic.twitter.com/A0qdTxsanh
— Jarno Bertho (@JarnoBertho) December 29, 2022
#Skin visits #Antwerp
Royal Antwerp FC vs #NewYorkCosmos at #Bosuil Stadium 1976#RAFC #Belgium #Tattoo owl#PeleGala pic.twitter.com/LUIJOzcaHW— OldFootballPhotos (@OldFootball11) July 7, 2015
