When Pele played Dubai: February 23, 1973, a day the UAE ‘will never forget’

The National
  • The 1973 account of Santos's match against Al Nasr in Dubai, translated from Arabic.
    The 1973 account of Santos's match against Al Nasr in Dubai, translated from Arabic.
  • Brazilian footballer Pele appears in 'Al Nasr' magazine. Pele was in the UAE to play in a friendly match between Santos and Al Nasr in 1973. Photo: Gary Meenaghan / The National
    Brazilian footballer Pele appears in 'Al Nasr' magazine. Pele was in the UAE to play in a friendly match between Santos and Al Nasr in 1973. Photo: Gary Meenaghan / The National
  • A page from Al Ittihad newspaper, 23 February 1973, on the day Brazilian footballer player Pele of Santos arrived in Dubai for a friendly match against Al Nasr. Courtesy / Al Ittihad
    A page from Al Ittihad newspaper, 23 February 1973, on the day Brazilian footballer player Pele of Santos arrived in Dubai for a friendly match against Al Nasr. Courtesy / Al Ittihad
  • A page from Al Ittihad newspaper, 24 February 1973, on the day Brazilian footballer player Pele of Santos played in a friendly match against Al Nasr, in Dubai. The match took place on 23 February 1973. Courtesy / Al Ittihad
    A page from Al Ittihad newspaper, 24 February 1973, on the day Brazilian footballer player Pele of Santos played in a friendly match against Al Nasr, in Dubai. The match took place on 23 February 1973. Courtesy / Al Ittihad
  • Pele receives photographs from when his Brazilian team Santos played Al Nasr in Dubai in 1973. Afsal Sham / Al Ittihad / January 16, 2013
    Pele receives photographs from when his Brazilian team Santos played Al Nasr in Dubai in 1973. Afsal Sham / Al Ittihad / January 16, 2013