Go back more than 54 years to relive this magical moment of the 1970 World Cup? The day Pelé wanted to celebrate a goal he didn't score.
“I scored a goal, but Gordon Banks saved it”. This legendary phrase, attributed to Pelé (who will pay tribute to the Englishman a little later) perfectly sums up what happened on June 7, 1970 in Guadalajara. To this day, the English goalkeeper's feat is still considered the greatest save of all time.
The story even says that Bobby Moore heard Pelé shout “Gol!” “. But the best player in the world will never have the opportunity to celebrate, because there is no goal. In the same second as the king's header, Gordon Banks relaxed his height of six feet three (which was tall for a goalkeeper at the time) and deflected the ball over his cage.
Gordon Banks takes the ball out of a magic cuff
By detailing the accretion, we see that the Englishman's dive, slightly backwards, saves him that fraction of a second which will allow him to touch the ball after the rebound. This is what makes the magic of the action, Gordon Banks takes the ball out of a cuff while he seems beaten… To achieve such a feat so quickly is magic.
SEE THE VIDEO OF THE JUDGMENT ABOVE ⬇️
At the time, the man who was one of the heroes of the 1966 World Cup, won by the English, seemed not to really realize his achievement. It was only much later, at the end of a career rich in 73 caps, that the former Leicester and Stoke City goalkeeper defined his save as being “the biggest Pelé has seen”.
It must be said that the context is magical. This 1970 World Cup is considered one of the most beautiful in history, with magnificent matches and above all, the best player in the World at his peak, within one of the most beautiful Brazilian teams ever fielded. During one action, Gordon Banks was the genius who almost stood up to the Brazilians. Unfortunately for the English (still beaten 1-0 that day), Gordon Banks, victim of stomach ailments, will miss the quarter-final of his team, which will be knocked out by the West (3-2).
A magical context for an impossible stop
Two years later, while still an international, Gordon Banks was struck by fate. A terrible road accident costs him the use of one eye and forces him to end his professional career. 5 years later, he returned to the field, giving in to the sirens of the American league and, despite his handicap, was elected “best goalkeeper in the championship”.
54 years later, football historians continue to ask themselves the question: if the author of the header had not been Pelé, but an anonymous person, would we still be talking as much about this save? Probably not. But would Banks have pulled off this exceptional parade in another context?
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