Eighteen minutes into the match and Pele, of course, scored the first goal, his third in a World Cup final.

In the famous Azteca stadium in Mexico City, the best Brazilian team of all time conquered with wits and skills its third title -they before anyone else.

After making its way to the final, with only a stumble against Uruguay and the ghost of the Maracanazo, few doubted that the South American team would raise the cup in victory in the end.

The decisive match showcased just how good they were: a 4-1 victory over the Italian squad. Pele, Gerson, Jairzinho and their captain, Carlos Alberto, ended the hopes of the European team as Brazil brought the Jules Rimet Cup home for the third time.

Everyone went mad on that 21st of June, 1970: Rivelino fainted overcome by emotion, Tostao was practically left naked on the field and someone took home the best souvenir possible, the shoes Pele used in his last World Cup.  

Essequibo unclaimed
Between Venezuela and Guyana, a certain subject has always been dealt with as a delicate issue: The Essequibo. Territorial claims by both nations were ongoing until June 19 when the Port of Spain Protocol was signed.

That treaty stemmed from the conflicting parties' default on the Geneva Pact, which set forth that by 1970 an agreement had to be reached. The Port of Spain Protocol suspended for 12 years all claims on this land located in the southern region of the country.

It was signed by Arístides Calvani, Venezuelan Foreign Affairs Minister; S.A. Ranphal, Minister of the State of Guyana; and Roland Hunt, high commissioner of the United Kingdom in Trinidad and Tobago.

1970 was a particularly strenuous year regarding border issues. On September 1, Venezuela accepted, at the request of Colombia, to adjourn the meeting to discuss maritime borders shared by both nations and, on the 9th of that same month, Margarita Island was declared a duty-free zone for imported goods, a move aimed at developing tourism. This presidential resolution remains in effect and boosted the island's status as the main tourism destination of the country.

In the rest of the world, leftist governments prevailed:  Marxist Salvador Allende was democratically elected in Chile while in Bolivia a military, socialist government was instituted, headed by General Juan José Torres, replacing then President Alfredo Ovando.