In 2020, MLSist received a box of old U.S.-soccer-related VHS cassettes. One of them was: “MasterCard Presents Mastering the Game of Soccer with Pelé and the U.S. National Team.” Enjoy.
The ‘90s video game music playing over this opening montage is spectacular. And we have a MasterCard tracksuit-clad Pelé telling a group of children “soccer is the beautiful game” within the first two minutes. This is off to a great start. On the rear of the VHS jacket, this gem: “Pelé guides you through the fundamentals of what he calls ‘the beautiful game.
“We had played Brazil at the L.A. Coliseum before this shoot,” remembers Murray. “We played really well but lost 1-0. I remember Pelé went down the line as we were filming after the game and he stopped and said ‘Murray… you played good.’ I almost had a heart attack. It was like Moses or someone holding the tablet over his head telling you something. I couldn’t believe it.”
Let me just prepare you for the next segment by saying that the U.S. men’s national team is about to score some absolute bangers against this hapless band of kids. I’m serious. “Now I think we can beat any team,” said the girl after spending an afternoon doing a few light drills amidst excessive MasterCard branding, before the U.S. national team instantly goes up 2-0 against them, showing no mercy. Perhaps the greatest lesson of all right there.
“So it was like a very, very staged game,” recalled Daniel. “But as kids most of us were young enough to where it was just so much fun. We weren’t really quite in on the joke. Looking back on it, the national team guys were just absolutely great. So good about it. I remember we got a penalty kick and Pelé ran onto the field yelling and he has me take the penalty kick.
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