Silva attended a top-spin shot from distance which bounced off the goalpost, after which also had a chance but Pagliuca was able to stop the ball.
Pele scored a hat-trick becoming the youngest player in the World Cup history to do so.
Jairzinho, Rivelino, Gerson and Carlos Alberto were among those who drove their country to glory and the final was yet another one-sided affair as Brazil demolished a stunned Italy.
Four years later the competition headed to France and after an impressive set of opening results, the defending champions beat an emerging Hungary 4-2 in the final.
Belgium and Portugal are each at 12-1.
However, Amarildo made the opposition keeper, Viliam Schrojf, pay for his error within two minutes and brought back Brazil on level terms.