He was just a boy， only 17. Yet in the World Cup final of 1958 Edson Arantes do Nascimento， better known as Pelé， showed the poise1 and supreme skill that would mark his career. As Brazil led Sweden， the hosts， by two goals to one he received a high pass in the penalty area. With a defender on his shoulder2， he caught the ball on his chest， took one pace3 and flipped the ball high over another defender before running to meet it and driving an unstoppable volley4 low into the net.

他还是个小将，年仅17岁。然而在1958年世界杯决赛中，埃德松·阿兰特斯·多纳西门托（更为人熟知的称呼是贝利）展现出了他职业生涯中标志性的矫健身姿和超凡技巧。当巴西队以二比一领先东道主瑞典队时，他在禁区内接到一记高传球。面对一名后卫的近身紧盯，他挺胸停球，一个加速，把球高高挑过另一名后卫的头顶，然后奔到球前，以一脚势不可挡的凌空抽射，把球低送入网。

Though he said so himself， it was a nice goal. After looping in another5， realising they were about to win the whole tournament， he passed out with emotion on the pitch. He felt he had achieved everything， all his dreams come true—even to a fling with6 a blonde， blue-eyed Swedish girl who was crazy for this little black Crioulo7， as he loved to call himself.

这球进得漂亮，虽然这是他自己的说法，但此言不虚。他穿梭过人梅开二度后，意识到巴西队即将赢得本届冠军，激动得昏倒在球场上。他觉得自己实现了一切目标，所有的梦想都已成真——他甚至一度与一个金发碧眼、为这个黑小鬼而着迷的瑞典女孩坠入爱河，他喜欢自称黑小鬼。

This was only the first of three World Cups he won， more than any other player. It might have been four， but in 1966 the Bulgarian and Portuguese defenders kicked him to pieces， the referees didn’t protect him and Brazil， he thought， were badly prepared anyway， so they crashed out8.

他三夺世界杯，次数无人可敌，而这只是第一次。他本来有可能四次捧杯，但在1966年那届，保加利亚队和葡萄牙队的后卫把他踢成重伤，裁判也没有关照他，而巴西队在他看来本就准备不足，于是惨遭淘汰。

Three Argentines—Alfredo Di Stéfano， Diego Maradona and Leo Messi—all had their claims to be the world’s greatest footballer. But he held the world record for goals， 1，279 in 1，363 matches， and that was unlikely to be surpassed. Even a goal he didn’t actually score， against England in the 1970 World Cup， became famous， because few—including him—could work out how Gordon Banks had managed to save it. Ever confident， he had shouted “Goal！” as he launched the header. It was scooped9 over the bar.

三位阿根廷球员——阿尔弗雷多·迪斯蒂法诺、迭戈·马拉多纳和莱奥·梅西——都各有球迷称其为世界上最伟大的足球运动员。但贝利在1363场比赛中打进1279球，保持着进球数的世界纪录，而且这一纪录不太可能打破。就连他在1970年世界杯上对阵英格兰队时没有打进的一粒球也成了名球，因为包括他自己在内，几乎没有人弄得清英格兰门将戈登·班克斯是如何扑救的。一向自信满满的他在头球攻门的同时高喊“进了！”。结果门将把球托出了门梁顶上。

As a forward he was not that tall， but he was strong， fast and had thighs as thick as his waist. He could read the game like a book， and control the ball as if it was drawn to him like a magnet. He could also tell exactly where he was needed， and when， and what the opposition might try to block him. All this seemed to make him a natural captain， but he never wanted that role officially. He would just show the team his best moves， and was happy to provide the killer pass for others to finish.

他身为前锋，个子不算高，但身强体壮、速度迅猛，大腿和腰一样粗。