Brazil honours 1958 World Cup heroes

By Raymond Colitt

BRASILIA (Reuters) - Brazil honoured the great Pele on Thursday and the other eight surviving players from its maiden World Cup triumph in 1958, a victory that put the nation on the soccer map and paved the way for four more titles.

President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva gave the nine men medals of honour at a banquet dedicated to their 5-2 final victory over hosts Sweden 50 years ago.

"You helped us understand ... we could make Brazil a winner," Lula told the players at the ceremony.

Brazil, the most successful soccer nation with five World Cup titles, is now in a footballing trough with coach Dunga's men fifth in regional qualifying for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa.

Dunga was jeered after the team stuttered to a 0-0 draw with Argentina last week and he has come under pressure to resign following a run of poor results.

Keen on remembering better days, television and newspapers have been running specials on the anniversary celebrations.

Long obsessed with the 'beautiful game', Brazilians can also now boast about being a major emerging market with growing diplomatic clout.

But before securing its first World Cup, Brazil was a sleeping giant.