The countdown to the 2026 World Cup is on! Each day ahead of the tournament’s return to North America, Yahoo Sports will highlight an insight or moment that showcases just how grand the world’s biggest sporting spectacle has become — even beyond the expanded field of this year’s global event.
The 1970 World Cup in Mexico was a memorable one for the number of firsts that happened. There was also an historic second, and one very notable last that occurred during the tournament.
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It was the first World Cup to:
• be held outside of Europe or South America
• allow teams to make subs (Anatoliy Puzach for Viktor Serebryanikov, Soviet Union)
• feature a yellow and red card system
• see a coach win the World Cup as a player and a manager (Mário Zagallo, Brazil)
It was also the last World Cup for the legendary Pelé, who helped lead Brazil to its third title, which meant they were able to keep the Jules Rimet Trophy.
The 1970 tournament also marked the second time in World Cup history that a player scored in every single one of their team’s matches en route to the title. Alcides Ghiggia found the back of the net in each of Uruguay’s four matches in 1950. Two decades later, a Brazilian would match that record and do so in two more games.
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After struggling as a left wing during the 1966 World Cup, Jairzinho moved to the right side for 1970 following the retirement of Garrincha. In a team full of stars like Pelé, Carlos Alberto, and Gérson, among many others, he would would shine for the Seleção.
Jairzinho, who earned the nickname “O Furacão'” (The Hurricane), scored twice in Brazil’s opening match against Czechoslovakia and once in each of their final two group stage matches against England and Romania. The goals kept coming in the knockout round as he tallied once each against Peru, Uruguay and then Italy during a 4-1 win in the final.
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After his playing career ended, Jairzinho became a coach for youth teams and is credited with discovering future legend Ronaldo Nazário, who was playing for São Cristóvão at the time.