João Ramos do Nascimento

Who was João Ramos do Nascimento?

João Ramos do Nascimento was a Brazilian football attacking centre forward player nicknamed Dondinho, and was the father, mentor and trainer of Brazil legend Pelé. During his own playing career, Dondinho played for a number of small clubs including and had an oportunity to play for Atlético Mineiro, but didn't make an impression. He managed to become a prolific scorer for Bauru, with whom he won the Campeonato do Interior in 1946. He also scored five goals with his head in one match, which Pelé always aspired to beat, but was never able to, thus still remains an unofficial world record.

For the Brazil Under-20s team, he was a constant scorer because he scored at least two goals every game he played. Dondinho played his first professional game for the senior team on his 19th birthday, 2 October 1936, scoring a hat-trick in a friendly against Yugoslavia. He earned 6 caps but scored 19 international goals, including 5 in a match against Malta, including a long shot from the halfway line which flew over the goalkeeper as he was outside the box in the 90th minute.

He had to retire due to ligament damage, then took the job of hospital cleaner where Pelé gave as much help as he could. While they were working in the ward, Dondinho would reminisce about the famous players he had faced, and talk about his own older brother, who had shown extraordinary promise as a footballer but died at 25. He died on 16 November 1996 in São Paulo.