Was Pelé Really “Kicked Out” of the 1966 World Cup?

When Pelé played Portugal at the 1966 FIFA World Cup, it’s a match that’s often remembered for one main reason - Pelé reportedly decided he would retire from international football afterwards, having been kicked off the pitch and targeted throughout the tournament.

However, I’ve just watched the full match back, focusing on every time Pelé touched the ball, and there are a few things worth pointing out.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bln8hpVCF1E

First of all, there’s a common misconception that Pelé went off injured early and didn’t return. That’s not actually true. He did go off in the first half to receive treatment, but after a couple of minutes he came back on. At the start of the second half he wasn’t on the pitch, but he returned within the first five to ten minutes and played the rest of the match.

That said, it’s clear that after the injury late in the first half, his right knee was never the same. While he was kicked several times, it was also clear he was carrying an issue coming into the game - something even mentioned in the commentary.

You can see the difference: in the first half, he mainly used his right foot. After his knee was heavily bandaged, he switched almost entirely to his left. He was also moved from centre-forward out to the left wing, which shows Brazil knew he couldn’t operate through the middle anymore. Of course, this was before substitutes were allowed, so he had no choice but to continue.

Watching it back also gives great context to the era. People often dismiss football from this time, but one major difference stands out - referees were far more lenient. That meant defenders could be far more aggressive, and often chose to target attacking players.

With Pelé being viewed as the best in the world, it was inevitable he’d receive that treatment. While he was used to physical play, playing mostly in Brazil - where he was revered - perhaps didn’t prepare him fully for the intensity of a World Cup.

The commentary even references the previous tournament, saying he could only play “a game and a half” due to similar treatment - and history seemed to repeat itself here.

The Goodison Park crowd were even singing his name, which says everything about his global stature.

On the other side, though, was Eusebio - and he was outstanding. Despite also being fouled, he was on another level in this match, beating players with ease. His powerful shooting was on full display, and he scored a brilliant goal to make it 3–1 and effectively seal the game.

So while Pelé didn’t look like the unstoppable force people often describe, context is everything. He was clearly injured, and after a series of fouls - including two in quick succession - he was heavily limited.

Even so, he deserves huge credit. He came back on twice after treatment, adapted his game, played out wide, and still showed moments of quality - linking play, delivering crosses, and trying to influence the match.

It also revealed a different side to him. He was visibly frustrated by the constant fouling and began reacting, even lashing out at times. Commentary from Ron Greenwood described him as “an artist” and noted that they didn’t like seeing that side of his game.

But really, it just showed how competitive he was - a winner desperate to make an impact despite the circumstances.

By the end, that frustration boiled over, with a couple of late challenges where he clearly wasn’t going to win the ball.

Overall, this match offers a fascinating insight into both Pelé and the era - and challenges a lot of the assumptions people make about football in the 1960s.