The England legend, with one flick of his right hand, mystified Pelé a half-century ago and glamourised his craft from then on
Perfection means different things to different people. To some, its pursuit invests life with rich meaning, nobility even, while others merely see a misery-inducing, distinctly Sisyphean, obsession.
Most regard it as subjective but, just occasionally, the rarest of moments offer an objective definition. Fifty years ago on Sunday Gordon Banks’s split second of sheer brilliance melded flawlessness, completeness and excellence in one single gravity-defying save from Pelé.
Related: Gordon Banks on his famous Pelé save: 'I didn’t even realise I’d made it'
Related: From the archive: England 0-1 Brazil, World Cup match report (1970). By Albert Barham
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