Brigitte Bardot, Pelé and a curious football anecdote.

On March 31, 1971, the Parc des Princes in Paris hosted Santos and a mixed team consisting of players from Olympique Marseille and Saint-Étienne for a friendly match whose proceeds would go to charity. Kicking off and welcoming the athletes to the field was the celebrated French actress Brigitte Bardot (whose death was announced today), amidst the enthusiasm of the more than 55,000 spectators in the stadium to see both her and Brazilian ace Pelé, the world’s strongest soccer player.

The match was held in the city of Saint-Exile.

As the match ended in a 0-0 draw, penalty kicks were used to determine who would raise the commemorative cup, and Santos ended up losing 3-1. In the penalty shootout series, curiously enough, Pelé appeared on the penalty spot wearing the French selection’s jersey, having swapped uniforms with an opposing player at the end of the match, as no one had been warned that it would go to penalties. The Black Pearl did not miss, unlike his teammates Lima, Leo Oliveira and Rildo. On the other side, Keita, Skoblar and Bosquier scored.

The announcement of Bardot’s death was released by the Foundation dedicated to one of the most iconic figures of 20th century cinema and culture. An actress, singer and absolute symbol of the 1960s, Bardot was 91 years old. The news immediately sparked a strong wave of emotion in France and around the world, where her name remains inextricably linked to an idea of freedom, sensuality and feminine rebellion: many reactions even in Italy, a nation to which the artist often traveled.

Aldo Seghedoni

“The Brigitte Bardot Foundation announces with immense sadness the passing of its founder and president, Brigitte Bardot, world-renowned actress and singer, who chose to give up her prestigious career to devote her life and energies to animal welfare and her Foundation” the statement reads. Neither the day nor the place of death was specified in the message.

Born in Paris in 1934, BB achieved international fame in 1956 thanks to Roger Vadim’s film And God Created Woman. That role marked a momentous turning point. For nearly two decades she worked intensively in film, collaborating with some of Europe’s leading directors. Her most famous performances include Henri-Georges Clouzot’s The Truth (1960), Louis Malle’s Private Life (1962), Jean-Luc Godard’s Contempt (1963) and Les Pétroleuses (1971).