Hilderaldo Bellini

Who is Hilderaldo Bellini?

Hilderaldo Luís Bellini is a Brazilian footballer of Italian origin who played and was known in Brazil as one of the most solid Central defender.

During his career he played for Vasco da Gama, São Paulo FC and Atlético Paranaense, and he was the first Brazilian to lift the World Cup in 1958, in fact, he was the one who inadvertently introduced into World Cup history the gesture of lifting the winning trophy up high. He had done so to allow journalists to view the Jules Rimet trophy, and his photograph hoisting the trophy into the air became a symbol of triumph. He won another World Cup in 1962 and participated also at 1966 FIFA World Cup.

He was honored with a statue at the entrance of Maracanã, which depicts him lifting the trophy. At the end of his international career from 1957 to 1966 with Brazil he earned a total of 51 caps being the captain during the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden.