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The Greatest Show on Earth: The Inside Story of the Legendary 1970 World Cup
Shortlisted for the Sunday Times Football Book of the Year 2022
One of the Financial Times Top 5 Best Sports Books of the Year
The 1970 World Cup is widely regarded as the greatest ever staged, with more goals per game than any World Cup since. But more than just the proliferation of goals was the quality of the overall football, as some of the finest teams ever to represent the likes of West Germany, Peru, Italy and England came together for a tilt at the world title. But at the heart of the tournament were Brazil; captained by Carlos Alberto and featuring legends like Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino and Tostão, the 1970 Seleção are often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team.
Using brand new interviews alongside painstaking archival research, Andrew Downie charts each stage of the tournament, from the preparations to the final, telling a host of remarkable stories in the players' own words. The result is an immediate, insightful and compelling narrative that paints a unique portrait of an extraordinary few weeks when football hit peaks it has seldom reached since. This is Mexico 1970. Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth.
One of the Financial Times Top 5 Best Sports Books of the Year
The 1970 World Cup is widely regarded as the greatest ever staged, with more goals per game than any World Cup since. But more than just the proliferation of goals was the quality of the overall football, as some of the finest teams ever to represent the likes of West Germany, Peru, Italy and England came together for a tilt at the world title. But at the heart of the tournament were Brazil; captained by Carlos Alberto and featuring legends like Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Rivellino and Tostão, the 1970 Seleção are often cited as the greatest-ever World Cup team.
Using brand new interviews alongside painstaking archival research, Andrew Downie charts each stage of the tournament, from the preparations to the final, telling a host of remarkable stories in the players' own words. The result is an immediate, insightful and compelling narrative that paints a unique portrait of an extraordinary few weeks when football hit peaks it has seldom reached since. This is Mexico 1970. Welcome to the Greatest Show on Earth.
- GenresSportsNonfiction
329 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 2, 2021
3 people are currently reading
75 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews
September 6, 2021
Clearly for football enthusiasts, this book takes you back to 1970 in more ways than one.
A match-by-match account of what for many was the greatest ever World Cup, graced by the greatest team ever to take to the field with the greatest player ever to play the beautiful game.
In an easy-to-read format, the author keeps the introductions, mid-match and half-time commentaries brief, and lets the players from the 16 national teams who travelled to Mexico in the summer of 1970 tell the story in their own words.
South Americans complain about the altitude of several stadiums, Europeans complain about the altitude and the heat. Players recall the preparations, the heroic feats, the disastrous mistakes, the joy or the bewilderment in the dressing room after decisive matches.
Longer chapters are dedicated to the most memorable games — Brazil vs England, Brazil vs arch-enemy Uruguay, Italy vs Germany in the “Match of the Century,” Germany’s stunning 3-2 comeback win over England avenging the 1966 final, and of course Brazil’s 4-1 romp over Italy to win the cup for a third time and keep the Jules Rimet trophy. But the book also covers the trials and achievements of lesser-known teams like El Salvador, Bulgaria and Israel, the Peruvian players’ worries about the devastating earthquake that hit back home, and host Mexico’s bitter disappointment at not making it to the semi-finals after a second-half collapse against Italy.
And in the age of internet, when many of the games or at least the highlights can be viewed online, the author recovers the lost art of bringing football alive through prose. Well worth the read.
A match-by-match account of what for many was the greatest ever World Cup, graced by the greatest team ever to take to the field with the greatest player ever to play the beautiful game.
In an easy-to-read format, the author keeps the introductions, mid-match and half-time commentaries brief, and lets the players from the 16 national teams who travelled to Mexico in the summer of 1970 tell the story in their own words.
South Americans complain about the altitude of several stadiums, Europeans complain about the altitude and the heat. Players recall the preparations, the heroic feats, the disastrous mistakes, the joy or the bewilderment in the dressing room after decisive matches.
Longer chapters are dedicated to the most memorable games — Brazil vs England, Brazil vs arch-enemy Uruguay, Italy vs Germany in the “Match of the Century,” Germany’s stunning 3-2 comeback win over England avenging the 1966 final, and of course Brazil’s 4-1 romp over Italy to win the cup for a third time and keep the Jules Rimet trophy. But the book also covers the trials and achievements of lesser-known teams like El Salvador, Bulgaria and Israel, the Peruvian players’ worries about the devastating earthquake that hit back home, and host Mexico’s bitter disappointment at not making it to the semi-finals after a second-half collapse against Italy.
And in the age of internet, when many of the games or at least the highlights can be viewed online, the author recovers the lost art of bringing football alive through prose. Well worth the read.
July 9, 2025
I saw this at Blackwell’s in Oxford, England and had to cop.
I really enjoyed reading this. Downie’s compilation of footballer’s recollections and commentator snippets pleasantly exposed me to a different era of football, simultaneously reinforcing Pelé’s staying power as one of the best of all time (if not the best). Growing up, it was always Messi versus Ronaldo, but reading on the conditions of this tournament, the heat, altitude, and totalitarian regime terrorizing Brazil back at home, one must give Pelé his flowers.
With star-studded names accompanying Pele such as Rivellino, Jairzinho, and Gerson, it’s no wonder the Seleçao took home the Jules Rimet trophy.
The photo of the reigning champions, the English in between games enjoying a cigarette, and washing it down with a pint tells you all you need to know about this era of football.
Fun read.
I really enjoyed reading this. Downie’s compilation of footballer’s recollections and commentator snippets pleasantly exposed me to a different era of football, simultaneously reinforcing Pelé’s staying power as one of the best of all time (if not the best). Growing up, it was always Messi versus Ronaldo, but reading on the conditions of this tournament, the heat, altitude, and totalitarian regime terrorizing Brazil back at home, one must give Pelé his flowers.
With star-studded names accompanying Pele such as Rivellino, Jairzinho, and Gerson, it’s no wonder the Seleçao took home the Jules Rimet trophy.
The photo of the reigning champions, the English in between games enjoying a cigarette, and washing it down with a pint tells you all you need to know about this era of football.
Fun read.
April 20, 2022
Not great.
December 29, 2025
Incredible book about the incredible Brazil 70 and some stories that I have never heard before
Displaying 1 - 4 of 4 reviews