World Cup of Masters

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.

World Cup of Masters
Founded1987
Number of teams8
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.[1]

International Master Football Association

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

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, Rivelino, 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.

Competitions

Year Host Winners Runners-up
1987
Details
 Brazil
Argentina

Brazil
1989
Details
 Brazil
Brazil

Uruguay
1990
Details
 Brazil
Brazil

Netherlands
1991
Details
 USA
Brazil

Argentina
1993
Details
 Austria &
 Italy

Italy

Austria
1995
Details
 Austria
Brazil

Argentina

Successful teams

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.

Team Winners Runners-up

Brazil
4

1989, 1990, 1991, 1995

1

1987


Argentina
1

1987

2

1991, 1995


Italy
1

1993

0

Austria
0 1

1993


Netherlands
0 1

1990


Uruguay
0 1

1989

Participating teams and results

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
 Argentina W2nd3rd2ndG2nd6
 Austria 2ndG2
 Brazil 2ndWWW4thW6
 England GG2
 France G1
 Germany GGG3rd3rd5
 Great Britain G1
 Italy GGG3rdW4th6
 Netherlands 2ndGG3
 Poland G1
 Portugal G1
 Uruguay G2nd4thG4

W: winner.
G: eliminated in group stage.

Top scorers

Zico was the top scorer in 1990 and 1991 scoring a total of 6 goals in the Cups. But the Austrian Walter Schachner was the overall goalscorer with 8 goals, all scored in 1993. Mario Kempes and Paolo Rossi scored 2 goals each with Rivelino having a total of 3 goals. Legendary Pele, at the age of 47, didn't manage to score though he played for 90 minutes in the opening 1987 match.

Year Tournament Golden Boot Goals
1987
Details
 Brazil Rivelino 2
1989
Details
 Brazil Cláudio Adão 7
1990
Details
 Brazil Ćmikiewicz &
Johnny Rep
4
1991
Details
 USA Zico 3
1993
Details
 Austria &
 Italy
Walter Schachner 8
1995
Details
 Austria

Players with most participations

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
Mario Kempes  Argentina 4 1987, 1991, 1993, 1995
Francesco Graziani  Italy 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Edu  Brazil 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1993
Zenon de Souza Farias  Brazil 4 1989, 1990, 1991, 1995
Cafuringa  Brazil 4 1987, 1989, 1990, 1991
Pablo Forlan  Uruguay 3 1987, 1989, 1991
Batista  Brazil 3 1989, 1990, 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
Jayme de Almeida  Brazil 3 1989, 1990, 1991

See also

References

  1. Pelé World Cup on the RSSSF
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