When Pele Broke Our Hearts : Wales and the 1958 World Cup

Author(s): Risoli, Mario
Binding: Paperback,
Date of Publication: 11/06/2026,
Pagination: 192 pages, 50 b/w,
ISBN13\EAN\SKU: 9781904609292,
Description:

When Pelé Broke Our Hearts is the definitive and bestselling story of  Wales's remarkable 1958 World Cup campaign. Now republished in an updated and expanded third edition, Mario Risoli’s highly acclaimed book contains additional material from the  players and their families and many more photographs and illustrations from the qualifying campaign and tournament.

An incredible tale that features the Munich Air Disaster, a bizarre   qualification as representatives of FIFA’s Middle East/Asia group, and hilariously haphazard preparations, Wales battled through to a quarter-final against Brazil. But without the injured John Charles - the world’s most valuable player who’d been mercilessly targeted by Hungary in the previous game - the team were beaten 1-0 by the first World Cup goal scored by a 17-year-old Pelé.

Heartbreaking yet uplifting, emotional and entertaining, When Pelé Broke Our Hearts chronicles a truly astonishing story that continues to be loved by fans of ‘the beautiful game’.