At the ’58 World Cup, they gave him a rifle as a reward for his 13 goals, but the best recognition was Pelé’s words: “He was the best”
At the end of the feat, after reaching a historic milestone that so far no one has ever managed to even approach (and probably never will), the Fifa executives invited him on stage and, as a prize, gave him a sniper rifle. He took her in his hands, observed her between amazed and disappointed with her, and added: “But I’m not a hunter. I like to go fishing.” And he left the gift there, amid general embarrassment.