Reconstructing Pelé’s lost goal

On August 2, 1959, Pelé scored the most beautiful goal of his career: three consecutive “sombreros” without the ball touching the ground. Yet, the legendary ‘Gol da Rua Javari’ was never caught on film. We worked alongside historians, sports journalists, football legends, and Pelé’s family to reconstruct this lost moment and share it with the world.

This project was created in full partnership with the Pelé Brand, the official managers of the Pelé estate.

Rooted in education and cultural preservation, the project heads to the Pelé Museum this year. To achieve this, teams from Google DeepMind used models like Gemini Omni and Veo to transform historical fragments into moving imagery, filmed on the original pitch with authentic uniforms and a vintage ball.

By making the memory of this goal more accessible, it stands as a tribute to inspire a new generation of fans during the first World Cup without him.

The goal is on display at the Museu Pelé in Santos, Brazil.

Learn more at https://blog.google/innovation-and-ai/models-and-research/google-deepmind/pele-lost-goal-reconstructed

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Special thanks to:

Flávia Kurtz, Walter Dias, Pepe, Neymar Jr., Marta, Mauro Beting, Vicente Romano Netto, Angelo Agarelli, Anita Lucchesi, Paulo Monteiro, Santos F.C., C.A. Juventus, NY Cosmos, Museu Pelé, Museu do Futebol

Research: Arka
Lead Researcher, Historian: Anita Lucchesi

Production: The Youth
Directors: Youth + Yuca

NY & SF Production: Feast
AI Production: Special Guest X

Editor: Bruno Lasevicius
Post Production: Colossal

Post Music and Sound: Satelite

Music:
“Magalenha”
Performed by Sérgio Mendes
Written by Carlinhos Brown
Courtesy of Warner-Tamerlane Publishing Corp. (BMI) c/o Warner Chappell Music, Inc.
and Concord Records, a Concord Label Group Release

“Paraquedas”
Written by Russo Passapusso
Universal Mus. Publishing MGB Brasil Ltda. obo Máquina de Louco Ed. Mus. Ltda.

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