40 Greatest Goals in World Cup History: #27 Jairzinho - Brazil vs England ('70)
Back when tigers used to smoke and England were wearing the footballing crown, they had to endure the predicament of facing Brazil in the World Cup of 1970. It was a rare occasion, the champions from England going up against the poster boys of the beautiful game in the group stage of the grandest prize in football.
And this was no random Brazil side, oh no! This one was beastly and intimidatingly superior to anything we have seen on a football field. How about I make things a little easier to discern and tell you that Rivelino, Tostao Gerson, Carlos Alberto, Pele and Jairzinho were the ones championing Brazil's World Cup campaign at the time.
The match turned out to be as riveting as it was billed to be and there were plenty of moments to cherish on offer. Going into the game after winning their respective opening games, both teams were desperate to get the win which will go a long way towards helping them top the group.
Gordon Banks made a stunning save from a Pele header- it is still regarded as one of the greatest saves ever in a World Cup. But he would find himself not knowing what to do a little while later as Brazil scored one of the finest goals in a World Cup.
This goal was not about one player motoring his way past footballers like Mel Gibson rushing past the road warriors in his prime. This goal was all about the Brazilian way. This goal was about deftness as much as it was about the brilliance of all the individuals who work towards putting the ball in the back of the net. This was the Selecao at their finest.
Tostao almost lazily drives into the edge of the area from the left side, pootling his way past one before nutmegging Bobby freaking Moore. He swipes past another and then does a 360 around the ball and whips one into the box, measured meticulously to fall at Pele's feet.
Pele kills it with one sweet touch and instead of going hell for leather, he takes a second, turns to his right and slides it into the path of Jairzinho, thereby taking 2 more defenders out of the equation.
Jairzinho did not need to think twice and blasted the ball into the back of the net and the Brazilians wheeled away in celebration of one of the greatest World Cup goals to have been scored.
Watch it once and you'll know why it is one of our picks for the 40 Greatest Goals in World Cup history.