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World Cup of Masters

World Cup of Masters

FieldValue
nameWorld Cup of Masters
organiserIMFA
founded1987
abolished
regionInternational
number of teams8 (1995)
related compsLegends Cup
current champions(1995)
most successful team(4 titles)
broadcastersBandeirantes
  • 1987
  • 1989
  • 1990
  • 1991
  • 1993
  • 1995

The World Cup of Masters, also known as the Pelé World Cup and Mundial de Seniors, was a Mini World Cup event that ran every two years from 1987 until 1995. The tournament was for senior (35+) players and it was under the rules of the IMFA (International Master Football Association), presided by Julio Mazzei at the time. In 1990 the term "seniors" was replaced by "masters". The editions until 1991 were organized by Brazilian TV station Bandeirantes, and the International Masters Football Association.

Most of the teams participated used to play masters games on a regular basis and kept the quality of football on a competitive level. Brazil Masters team, which won the 1989 event and finished second to Argentina in 1987.

There were two exceptions to FIFA rules: players must be 34-and-over, and teams were allowed five substitutions instead of two. Teams were awarded two points for a win, one point for a tie and no points for a loss in group play. Semifinal, third-place and championship matches would be decided by penalty kicks if tied at the end of regulation time.

International Master Football Association

IMFA after consultation with FIFA's general secretary Sepp Blatter took initiative to organise the tournaments for legendary veteran players in an attempt to bring back a glimpse of the previous glorious World Cups. Julio Mazzei as a president of IMFA played a major part, while assisted by vice-president and England representative Sandra Roberts and German Werner Treimetten.

World Cup Legends

Legends of the game participated in the tournaments reviving somehow the FIFA World Cups of the previous years. Pelé was a starter for Brazil in the opening game of the 1987 tournament, while Zico played a key role in Brazil's winning performance in 1990. Other players played in the World Cups of Masters were Mario Kempes, Klaus Allofs, Gerd Müller, Karl-Heinz Rummenigge and Horst Hrubesch .

As Rivellino in 1989 and 1990 after 1970 FIFA World Cup either three times, Paolo Rossi and Alessandro Altobelli were crowned World Champions for the second time in their career in 1993 after having already won the 1982 FIFA World Cup. This time it was not West Germany in the final but Austria who co-hosted the tournament with Italy. The latter presented some great players in the tournaments like Hans Krankl, Herbert Prohaska and Walter Schachner. Other big names of the world football fielded in the tournament were Paul Breitner, José Altafini, Bruno Conti, Harald Schumacher, Hans-Peter Briegel, Klaus Augenthaler, Jairzinho, Enrico Albertosi, Sócrates, Bobby Moore, Frank Worthington and René van de Kerkhof.

Luciano do Valle won 4 trophies with Brazil but Enzo Bearzot proved to be the only coach won a FIFA World Cup as well.

Results

Finals

;Keys

  • aet: after extra time
  • p: penalty shoot-out
"width:;"Ed."width:;"Years"width:100px;"HostsChampionsScoreRunners upVenuesCity"width:;"Num.
teams
11987****1–0PacaembuSão Paulo5
21989****4–2CanindéSão Paulo6
31990****5–0PacaembuSão Paulo5
41991{{leftUnited States****2–1Joe RobbieMiami6
51993
****2–0Nereo RoccoTrieste8
61995****1–1WörtherseeKlagenfurt8

Results by team

Most successful team was Brazil with 4 trophies, while Argentina won only 1 Cup and lost the 1995 one to Brazil in penalties. Italy's squad of 1982 repeated the 1982 in 1993 beating Austria by 2–0 in the final.

TeamsWinnersRunners-up
41
10
12
01 (1989)
01 (1990)
01 (1993)

Participating teams and results

Brazil and Argentina participated in the 6 tournaments facing each other in the final twice, in 1989 which was the inaugural year and in 1995, the very last year of the Masters tournaments. Italy also had 6 participations winning the trophy once in the 1993 edition.

Team[[File:Flag of Brazil.svg20px]]
1987[[File:Flag of Brazil.svg20px]]
1989[[File:Flag of Brazil.svg20px]]
1990[[File:Flag of USA.svg18pxborder]]
1991[[File:Flag of Austria.svg18pxborder]] [[File:Flag of Italy.svg18pxborder]]
1993[[File:Flag of Austria.svg20px]]
1995Total
2ndWWW4thW6
W2nd3rd2ndG2nd6
2ndG2
GG2
G1
GGG3rd3rd5
G1
GGG3rdW4th6
2ndGG3
G1
G1
G2nd4thG4

W: winner.

G: eliminated in group stage.

Top scorers

Walter Schachner (Austria) is the all-time leading scorer with 8 goals

Austrian Walter Schachner is the overall goalscorer with 8 goals, all scored in 1993. Brazilian Zico was the top scorer in 1990 and 1991 scoring a total of 6 goals in the Cups.

Mario Kempes and Paolo Rossi scored 2 goals each with Rivellino having a total of 3 goals. Legendary Pelé, at the age of 47, didn't manage to score though he played for 90 minutes in the opening 1987 match.

EditionGolden BootGoals
1987BRA Rivellino2
1989BRA Cláudio Adão7
1990NED Johnny Rep4
POL Lesław Ćmikiewicz
1991BRA Zico3
1993AUT Walter Schachner8

Players with most participations

PlayerNationalityParticipationsEditions
Luís Pereira51989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Amaral51989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Rivellino51987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Wladimir51989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Francesco Graziani41989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Mario Kempes41987, 1991, 1993, 1995
Edu41989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Zenon de Souza Farias41989, 1990, 1991, 1995
Cafuringa41987, 1989, 1990, 1991
Jayme de Almeida31989, 1990, 1991
Batista31989, 1990, 1991
Pablo Forlan31987, 1989, 1991
Fernando Morena31987, 1989, 1991
Oscar Mas31987, 1990, 1991
Francesco Morini31987, 1989, 1990
Claudio Gentile31990, 1991, 1993
Franco Causio31990, 1991, 1993
Wolfgang Kleff31987, 1989, 1991

References

References

  1. [https://www.bitbol.la/historias/copa-pele-torneo-senior-bitbol/ Copa Pelé: El torneo senior de selecciones campeonas del mundo] by FEDERICO KONISZCZER on Bitbol, 19 January 2022
  2. [https://www.rsssf.org/tablesp/pele-wc.html Pelé World Cup] on the RSSSF
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