Pelé: Birth of a Legend 2016

As Pelé (Kevin De Paula), then just 17 years of age, navigates the world under the guidance of manager Vicente Feola (Vincent D’Onofrio), he finds himself leading Brazil’s mixed-race team on an improbable journey to the World Cup in Sweden, where they face off against the reigning Olympic champions, the Soviets. The odds were stacked against them from the start, having barely scraped through qualification and dealing with a plethora of injuries.

Fast-forward to 1950, when Edson Arantes do Nascimento (Dico), a young boy making ends meet by polishing shoes, finds himself torn between his passion for football and the harsh realities of poverty. His mother, Celeste (Mariana Nunes), disapproves of Dico’s interest in the beautiful game, urging him to focus on earning a living for their family. On the other hand, Dondinho (Seu Jorge), Pelé’s father and former footballer himself, offers words of encouragement.

The 1950 World Cup final between Brazil and Uruguay proved to be a crushing defeat for Dico and his country, with Uruguay emerging victorious at 2-1. In the aftermath, Dico makes a heartfelt promise to his tearful father that he will one day win the World Cup for Brazil. Celeste, meanwhile, reveals to Dico that his father’s footballing dreams were cut short by injuries, forcing him to take on menial work as a janitor.

As Dico toils away helping his mother scrub floors at a wealthy family’s apartment, he stumbles upon an opportunity when Waldemar De Brito (Milton Gonçalves), a former Brazilian footballer and scout, comes calling for talented players. Inspired by the exploits of Pele, a goalkeeper for Vasco, Dico earns the nickname “Pelé” from his friend José. However, this newfound moniker is met with ridicule from José Altafini “Mazzola” (Diego Boneta), the spoiled son of the wealthy family.

Dico’s dreams are dealt a significant blow when he arrives at the selection trials only to be thwarted by José and his posse. Undeterred, Dico turns to his friends for support, and together they concoct a plan to raise funds by selling peanuts – a scheme that ultimately falls flat due to José’s meddling. Yet, with the help of his friend, Dico manages to secure a pair of makeshift shoes, paving the way for future endeavors.

As Brito watches with keen interest, Dico’s fortunes take a drastic turn for the worse, sinking six goals down without reply. Meanwhile, Pele’s spirits sink when he catches sight of his idol, Dondinho, in the stands, his feet heavy with disappointment. But then, something remarkable happens - barefoot and free from the constraints of traditional footwear, Pele unleashes a dazzling display of skill that leaves Jose and his teammates stumbling to keep up. The scoreboard begins to swing in his favor, with Pele scoring a goal and narrowing the gap to 6-5 within just ten minutes. Alas, time runs out on this thrilling encounter, leaving the crowd baying for more as they chant Pele’s name.

But Celeste is having none of it - her opposition to Pele’s involvement in football is absolute, and she forces him to trade his cleats for a janitor’s uniform at the local hospital. The spark has gone out of Pele’s eyes, and even Dondinho senses the devastating impact this has had on his young protégé. It takes mangoes, not match balls, to rekindle the fire in Pele’s belly as he grows into a teenager.

One fateful day, Celeste’s gaze falls upon Pele and Dondinho going about their duties at the hospital, and she finally begins to see things differently. She summons Brito, and soon Pele is donning the green and yellow of Santos football club once more. At just 15 years young, he earns a spot on the youth team, but his confidence takes a hit under the new coaching regime - the beautiful game that was once second nature now feels like an uphill struggle. Pele’s reputation suffers as a result, and it seems he’s lost his touch.

But Brito has a plan - he reveals to Pele the rich history behind football in Brazil, how African slaves who escaped their Portuguese oppressors brought with them the martial arts they had mastered. When slavery was abolished, these Africans transplanted their art onto the pitch, but this ancient form of expression was lost in the sands of time. Brito wants Pele to be the one to revive it, to bring Ginga back to Brazilian football.

The next match becomes a turning point for Pele - he rejects the stifling tactics imposed by his coach and instead allows his natural flair to shine through, scoring a goal that is nothing short of breathtaking. The door to the professional ranks has creaked open, and before long, Pele is playing for Santos’ junior team, then graduating to the senior side, where he becomes the top scorer.

As the 1958 World Cup draws near, both Jose Mazzola and Pele are selected to represent Brazil on the international stage - an incredible honor, especially considering Pele’s tender age of just 16. Feola (Vincent D’Onofrio), the head coach of the Brazilian national team, is not exactly thrilled about the prospect of Pele’s Ginga style making an appearance at the tournament, given Brazil’s disappointing performance in the 1950 World Cup - he much prefers the modern European approach championed by Jose.

As Pele’s companions, Garrincha (Felipe Simas) and Zito (Fernando Caruso), look on, he struggles with the weight of Feola’s demands to abandon his natural Ginga style. Despite the promise never to revert to it, Pele’s instincts ultimately prevail, and in a subsequent match, he succumbs to the temptation, only to suffer a knee injury that leaves his team doctor scrambling to assess the severity.

With no suitable replacement available, Feola faces intense scrutiny for allowing the unorthodox Ginga style to infiltrate Brazil’s national team. The stakes are further heightened when Paraguay withdraws from the qualifiers, giving Brazil an unexpected free pass to the world cup. As Pele undergoes medical treatment under the watchful eye of the team doctor, the pressure mounts.

Brazil begins its campaign with a decisive 2-0 victory over Austria, but Pele’s knee remains weakened, prompting the doctor to advise against further play. However, Feola is resolute in his determination to clear Pele for action. The next match against England ends in a draw, with three of Brazil’s star players – including Jose (no actor specified) – succumbing to injury.

As the stakes rise, Feola has no choice but to deploy Pele against the formidable Soviet Union. Despite being roughed up and receiving a hostile reception from the crowd, Pele perseveres, determined to prove himself. His performance is lackluster at best, but he survives the ordeal.

The semi-final match against France presents another challenge for Pele. At halftime, with the score tied 1-1, Pele confides in Jose, admitting that his friend might be better suited to take his place on the pitch. Jose’s response is characteristically candid: “Play with your heart, Pele. I’m scared, but you’re not.” Emboldened by this advice, Pele reverts to his natural Ginga style and scores his first world cup goal.

In a stunning turnaround, Pele goes on to score three more goals, leading Brazil to a resounding 5-1 victory. As the team prepares for the final against hosts Sweden, the Swedish coach, George Raynor (Colm Meaney), is dismissive of the Brazilians, labeling them “undisciplined” and “abnormal” due to their mixed-race composition.

Feola responds by abandoning his European formations, urging his players to embody the authentic Brazilian spirit. As the weight of history hangs in the balance – no team from outside Europe has ever won the world cup on European soil – Brazil prepares to face Sweden with renewed passion and conviction.

As the Swedish squad closes in on Pelé (Eusébio da Silva Ferreira), they unleash a flurry of tackles that leave him dazed on the pitch. The scoreboard soon reflects their dominance, with Sweden taking an early 1-0 lead. However, Pelé’s eyes are drawn to a group of African spectators perched in the upper tier, and something sparks within him. He reverts to his signature Ginga style, effortlessly navigating around the Swedish defenders as he orchestrates a series of dazzling passes that culminate in two goals for his teammates.

As the Brazilian team begins to gel in harmony, they exude an infectious joy that captivates the crowd. Pelé himself becomes unstoppable, scoring not one but two crucial goals in the final stretch. The stadium erupts into applause as Brazil claims a resounding 5-2 victory, their opponents left stunned by the sheer brilliance on display.

This triumph marks just the beginning of Pelé’s illustrious career, which would go on to be cemented by his national treasure status in 1961. He would lead Brazil to World Cup victories in 1962 and 1970, earning the distinction of being both the youngest and most decorated champion at just 17 years old – a feat that remains unparalleled to this day.