The Brazilian side which won the World Cup in 1970 is widely regarded as the greatest footballing side of all time as they swept to a record third World Cup victory in the searing heat of Mexico.
World soccer had been less than inspired by the previous two World Cups in 1962 and 1966 as the more physical side of the game overtook the skilful attacking play of previous generations and the entertainment factor was removed in part from the beautiful game.
Notable countries missing from the 1970 World Cup were Argentina, Yugoslavia, Portugal and France and while the holders England prepared to do battle to retain the Jules Rimet Trophy, Pelé prepared for his third and final World Cup.
Mexico 1970 saw the first uses in a World Cup of both substitutions and the yellow and red card system.
Viktor Serebrjanikov of the Soviet Union was the first player to be substituted (to be replaced by Anatoli Puzach) after 45 minutes of the opening match and that same game saw the first instances of the yellow card being issued as well, five times in fact although there were no red cards issued in the whole tournament.
Mexico 1970 was also the first World Cup to be televised in colour.
The former World Cup winners of 1958 and 1962 had been kicked out of contention in England in 1966 and with several new and exciting faces in the squad were ready to reclaim the Jules Rimet Trophy for a record third time.
Former World Cup winning player Mario Zagalo, a winner in 1958 and 1962, was now coach and called upon stars such as Pelé, Rivelino, Jairzinho, Tostao, Gerson and Carlos Alberto to help shoot his Brazil side to glory.
Brazil were drawn in a tough group along with holders England and Europeans Czechoslovakia and Romania.
In one of football's most abiding memories, Pelé tried to lob Czech goalkeeper Ivo Viktor in their opening group game from the halfway line and missed scoring a goal by inches.
The game against England was a real clash of the titans with Brazil overcoming the holders 1-0 in a tight fought game best remembered for Gordon Banks' physics defying leap to deny Pelé a headed goal.
Brazil faced fellow South Americans Peru in the quarter finals after the Peruvians had disposed of Bulgaria in their own earlier group stages.
A fascinating encounter between two expert attacking sides saw Brazil's firepower win through and the former champions racked up a 4-2 scoreline with goals from Rivelino, two from Tostao and another from Jairzinho to seal the game.
Having already defeated Peru in the quarter finals, Brazil found themselves up against another South American side in the shape of Uruguay.
They had just snuck into the knockout stages on goal difference over Sweden but put up a spirited display against Brazil only to fall 3-1 after late goals from Jairzinho and Rivelino.
The other semi-final saw England's conquerors West Germany defeated by a resurgent Italy 4-3 after extra time in a game widely known as the "Game of the Century".
Two proud footballing nations faced each other in the 1970 World Cup Final as the attacking skill and power of a Pelé inspired Brazil locked horns with the defensive masters of Italy.
In a display of breathtaking attacking football the boys from Brazil proved to be completely unstoppable and with goals from Pelé, Gerson, Jairzinho and a late contender for the greatest team goal of all time from captain Carlos Alberto, the Brazilians won 4-1 and lifted the World Cup for a third time.
Every player who pulled on a yellow jersey in the 1970 World Cup deserves the plaudits because they displayed, maybe for the last time ever, just how beautiful the beautiful game can really be.
The Brazil side of 1970 were poetry in motion and have gone down in footballing legend, quite rightly, as the greatest team of all time, the ultimate triumph of pure attacking football over negativity and defensive intransigence.
Coach Mario Zagalo became the first man to ever win the World Cup as both a player and coach, adding the 1970 crown to his previous 1958 and 1962 player's medals.
Striker Jairzinho broke a record which still stands today of becoming the only player ever to score in every game of a World Cup finals, eventually netting seven goals in his and Brazil's six games. Surprisingly he still didn't win the Golden Boot for top scorer as German hotshot Gerd Muller plundered ten goals including back to back hat-tricks against Bulgaria and Peru in the group stages.
Brazil were the first country to win three World Cups and as a reward were given the Jules Rimet Trophy to keep. The trophy was eventually stolen and never recovered.
Pelé also scored the 100th goal in FIFA World Cup finals when he netted in the 1970 World Cup final.
