This day in history

Brazilian football great Pele scores his 1,000th professional goal in a game against Vasco da Gama in Rio de Janeiro’s Maracana stadium.

It was a major milestone in an illustrious career that included three World Cup victories. Pele, arguably the greatest player to ever take the field, possessed an uncanny ability to anticipate the movements of his opponents and team mates. In 1974, he signed a $7 million contract with the New York Cosmos and did much to promote football in the United States.

He retired in 1977 after leading the Cosmos to the league championship. During his career, he scored 1,281 goals in 1,363 games.

Former Russian spy Aleksander Litvinenko is admitted to hospital after being poisoned. Litvinkenko eventually dies and police try to unravel the conspiracy behind his death.

The President of Egypt Anwar Sadat becomes the first Arab leader to visit the State of Israel.

Red Army under General Georgi Zhukov launches Operation Uranus, the Soviet counteroffensive against the Germans at the Battle of Stalingrad.

In Britain, Alfred Tennyson is appointed Poet Laureate.