Pele once broke Sylvester Stallone's fingers while filming movie

Football icon Pele once broke the finger of Hollywood superstar Sylvester Stallone with a penalty kick while filming a movie.

The Brazilian legend sadly passed away on Thursday evening at age of 82.

The three-time World Cup winner retired in 1977 with an outstanding record of 643 goals in 656 games.

The sport's first true global star, Pele bamboozled opposition players at will during the 1950s, 1960s and 1970s.

Many defenders simply didn't have a clue how to stop him - and fans around the world lapped it up!

His worldwide celebrity afforded Pele a number of opportunities outside of football following his retirement, including a role in the 1981 film 'Escape to Victory'.

Pele smiles at an appearance — LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Pele poses in front of Russell Young - Bicycle Kick as he launches Art, Life, Football at Halcyon Gallery on September 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images for Halcyon Gallery)

LONDON, ENGLAND - SEPTEMBER 22: Pele poses in front of Russell Young - Bicycle Kick as he launches Art, Life, Football at Halcyon Gallery on September 22, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Mary Turner/Getty Images for Halcyon Gallery)

Set during World War Two, the movie told the fictional story of a group Allied prisoners of war who agreed to play a football match against a Nazi team as part of a planned escape attempt.

To help the football scenes appear as realistic as possible, a host of big-name players from the period were cast in the film for the project - including Bobby Moore, Ossie Ardiles and Pele.

At one point, the script called for Pele's character - Corporal Luis Fernandes - to take a penalty in training against Stallone, who played goalkeeper Robert Hatch.

Football - World Cup Draw, New York USA 8/12/91

Brazil legend Pele kisses the FIFA World Cup trophy

Mandatory Credit: Action Images / David Jacobs

Although Stallone would have been fully aware of how true-to-life director John Huston wanted the football elements of the project to be, he apparently badly underestimated just how hard Pele could hit a ball!

"What a butt-kicking I got! I still have a broken finger from trying to block a penalty by Pele," the Rocky star recalled when speaking to the BBC back in 2013, via The Sun.

"He put on a pair of World War II shoes, which were steel-tipped, and the ball was like a cannonball - it was twice as thick and heavy as footballs are today.

ACAPULCO, MEXICO - JANUARY 25: Sylvester Stallone is interviewed before attending a private dinner to celebrate the 9th Annual Acapulco Film Festival on January 25, 2014 in Acapulco, Mexico. (Photo by Steve Jennings/Getty Images for Leisure Opportunities)

"He was telling me he was going to take a shot and I thought 'It's soccer, what's the big deal? It's easy.'

"He came to take one penalty shot and he told me exactly where he was going to put it, so I stood there but the ball still flew past me before I could move."

Stallone went on to admit that the experience had given him 'a new kind of respect' for the beautiful game.

"He put it literally right where he had said. He did it again, and it ripped through the back of the net and broke a window in the barracks where we were filming. I went 'Are you kidding me?' I found a new kind of respect."

You can check out a clip of Stallone and Pele from the movie itself below.

Video: Pele starring alongside Sylvester Stallone in Escape to Victory

Pele reportedly felt awful about injuring Stallone, but later reflected on how grateful he was for the experience of working on the project.

"It is an emotion when I see those images again. I hold back so as not to cry, I say thank you."

Stallone pays tribute to 'Pele The Great'

Following the news of Pele's passing, Stallone shared a picture of himself and the Brazilian hero on Instagram, together with the caption: "PELE THE GREAT! Rest in peace! This was a good man."