The former Brazil striker has said that he wants to ‘have faith and believe’ that his countrymen will lift the World Cup at home this summer.
But, in an interview with FIFA.com, Pelé was preoccupied with the defeat inflicted by a Paolo Rossi hat-trick in 1982 and, primarily, Uruguay’s victory in Brazil in 1950.
He said: “I hope nobody will repeat what [Alcides] Ghiggia did in 1950. What we all hope is that Brazil have a good World Cup, reach the final and, if possible, win the title.
“I do not want to remember what happened in 1950. I must have faith and believe that victory is possible because you never know. Football is full of surprises and it is not always the best [team that] wins. In 1982, for example, Brazil had the best team but we lost against Italy and we were eliminated.
“I do not want to speculate on upcoming matches. I want to be positive and think that Brazil will win the World Cup. That"s what I want to believe."
