40 years ago Pelé scored his 1,000 goal on July 20th, 1969.

Bear in mind that if a player scores 1 goal every two matches - that is the average - it would take him 2,000 games to accomplish this feat. In other words, there aren't many soccer players around who scored more than 700 goals in their entire lifetime as a soccer player, that's counting, of course, friendly matches as well.

But the name Pelé isn't for nothing. And his 1,000th goal could not have taken place in any other scenario better than the perfect stage - MARACANÃ, Rio de Janeiro. Brazil. Better yet, the match was against Vasco da Gama, the first soccer club in the world to fight prejudice of race.

SEE IT HERE: http://www.crvascodagama.com/home.php?display=HISTORIA-1-EN

On this day, July 20th of 1969, during The Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament (THE BRAZILIAN VERSION OF THE WORLD SERIES TOURNAMENT OF SOCCER AT THE TIME), Pelé scored his 1,000th goal.

Pelé scored his 1,000th goal. From a penalty kick, against Vasco da Gama, the perfect opponent, since Vasco was the first soccer team in the world to fight racism.

Vasco da Gama stood tall against racism going against Flamengo and Fluminense Football Club (THE TWO MOST RACIALLY-BIASED INSTITUTIONS IN BRAZIL), which prohibited black players and players from the working class to even enter their premises, let alone be a part of their clubs. Vasco da Gama was banned from the local Rio de Janeiro State Championship and could not participate in the tournament for over a decade because of Flamengo and Fluminense's prejudice against race.

Today, amazingly enough, and because of the marketing and all the publicity exposed by Rede Globo, Flamengo has thousands of fans of black origins. Because its history of racism is obscured by this Monopoly TV station.

All that having been said, Vasco da Gama deserved this honor since Pelé is of African origins, who else could depict this great moment other than the Great Club de Regatas Vasco da Gama?!

Watch the video (Pelé scores his 1,000th goal against Vascãooooo!!!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcitzjlbQZw

As you watch this video, notice that after the penalty foul has been appointed by the referee, Fidélis (Vasco's Fullback) tries to dig up a hole in the penalty mark, in an attepmt to lessen the chances of a fatal penalty kick by Pelé, but Pelé, oh Pelé! Would he ever miss it... Watch and find out!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HcitzjlbQZw