Reliving the Biggest Stage of Football: World Cup 1958

The World Cup 1958 is known as the stage where Pelé paved his way into becoming a legend. 1958 was also the time when Brazil won their first of five World Cups.

Hosted by Sweden from June 8 to June 29, 16 teams took part in the competition. The competition format was retained for the first time since its start, in 1930.

Before we continue, you are advised to read the summaries of previous World Cups in 1930, 1934, 1938, 1950, and 1954.

Wilber Cush of Northern Ireland scored the first goal of the tournament in a 1-0 win over Czechoslovakia, which marked a perfect World Cup start for the debutant nation.

Defending champion West Germany ended up as Group One winner. Northern Ireland went through as group runner-up.

France finished top in Group Two by goal difference despite losing a match to Yugoslavia, who ended up second.

Sweden topped Group Three unbeaten, with Wales following them through as runner-up.

Brazil finished top in Group Four unbeaten as well. New entrant USSR finished second in Group Four and made the quarterfinals too.

Helmut Rahn became the hero of West Germany yet again when he scored the only goal against Yugoslavia in the quarterfinals.

Sweden eased through USSR comfortably with a 2-0 win over USSR.

France trashed Northern Ireland, 4-0, as Brazil also booked a place in the semifinals with a narrow 1-0 win over Wales.

Defending champion West Germany were sent home in the semifinal after a 3-1 loss to Sweden, despite having a 1-0 lead.

Brazil trashed France, 5-2, in a seven-goal thriller in another semifinal. Young Pelé scored a hat-trick in that match.

France then trashed West Germany, 6-3, in a nine-goal thriller to finish third.

Tournament favourite Brazil and host nation Sweden set up an exciting final. The South American giants won the match by a 5-2 margin with Pelé and the late Vavá scoring two each. Mário Zagallo scored the other.

Therefore, Brazil won the World Cup for the first time thanks to the wunderkind that was Pelé.

Just Fontaine of France was the top scorer of the tournament, with 13 goals, including a hat-trick against Paraguay in a group match and a double-brace against West Germany in the third-placing match.

A total of 126 goals were scored from the 35 matches played in World Cup 1958.

The World Cup has gotten more and more interesting each time. If you want to relive the sweet and not-so-sweet memories in the coming World Cups, be sure to follow.