The World Cup of Masters, also known as the Pelé World Cup and Mundial de Seniors, was an 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.[1]

World Cup of Masters
Organising bodyIMFA
Founded1987
Abolished1997; 27 years ago (1997)
RegionInternational
Number of teams8 (1995)
Related competitionsLegends Cup
Last champions Brazil (1995)
Most successful team(s) Brazil (4 titles)
Television broadcastersBandeirantes

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.[2]

International Master Football Association

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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

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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 .

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, Rivellino, 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

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Finals

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Ed. Years Hosts Champions Score Runners up Venues City Num.
teams
1 1987  
Argentina
1–0  
Brazil
Pacaembu São Paulo 5
2 1989  
Brazil
4–2  
Uruguay
Canindé São Paulo 6
3 1990  
Brazil
5–0  
Netherlands
Pacaembu São Paulo 5
4 1991 United States  
Brazil
2–1  
Argentina
Joe Robbie Miami 6
5 1993
 
Italy
2–0  
Austria
Nereo Rocco Trieste 8
6 1995  
Brazil
1–1

(3–2 p)

 
Argentina
Wörthersee Klagenfurt 8

Results by team

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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.

Teams Winners Runners-up
  Brazil 4

(1989, 1990,

1991, 1995)

1

(1987)

  Italy 1

(1993)

0
  Argentina 1

(1987)

2

(1991,

1995)

  Uruguay 0 1 (1989)
  Netherlands 0 1 (1990)
  Austria 0 1 (1993)

Participating teams and results

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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  
1987
 
1989
 
1990
 
1991
  
1993
 
1995
Total
  Brazil 2nd W W W 4th W 6
  Argentina W 2nd 3rd 2nd G 2nd 6
  Austria 2nd G 2
  England G G 2
  France G 1
  Germany G G G 3rd 3rd 5
  Great Britain G 1
  Italy G G G 3rd W 4th 6
  Netherlands 2nd G G 3
  Poland G 1
  Portugal G 1
  Uruguay G 2nd 4th G 4

W: winner.
G: eliminated in group stage.

Top scorers

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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.

Edition Golden Boot Goals
1987   Rivellino 2
1989   Cláudio Adão 7
1990   Johnny Rep 4
  Lesław Ćmikiewicz
1991   Zico 3
1993   Walter Schachner 8

Players with most participations

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Player Nationality Participations Editions
Luís Pereira   Brazil 5 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Amaral   Brazil 5 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Rivellino   Brazil 5 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Wladimir   Brazil 5 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993, 1995
Francesco Graziani   Italy 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Mario Kempes   Argentina 4 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995
Edu   Brazil 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Zenon de Souza Farias   Brazil 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995
Cafuringa   Brazil 4 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991
Jayme de Almeida   Brazil 3 1989, 1990, 1991
Batista   Brazil 3 1989, 1990, 1991
Pablo Forlan   Uruguay 3 1987, 1989, 1991
Fernando Morena   Uruguay 3 1987, 1989, 1991
Oscar Mas   Argentina 3 1987, 1990, 1991
Francesco Morini   Italy 3 1987, 1989, 1990
Claudio Gentile   Italy 3 1990, 1991, 1993
Franco Causio   Italy 3 1990, 1991, 1993
Wolfgang Kleff   Germany 3 1987, 1989, 1991

See also

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References

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  1. ^ Copa Pelé: El torneo senior de selecciones campeonas del mundo by FEDERICO KONISZCZER on Bitbol, 19 Jan 2022
  2. ^ Pelé World Cup on the RSSSF