Quarentinha

Who was Quarentinha?

Waldir Cardoso Lebrêgo, best known as Quarentinha was a Brazilian football player. He played as a striker/forward and was notable for his fearsome left foot.

In his career he played for Paysandu, Vitória Bahia, Botafogo, Bonsucesso, and from 1965 to 1968 close his career in Colombia with América de Cali, Unión Magdalena Santa Marta, Club Deportivo Cali and Atlético Júnior Barranquilla.

He won four Bahia State League, three Rio de Janeiro State League, two Rio - São Paulo Cup, one Mexico Tournament and one Paris Tournament. He was also the top goalscorer for three consecutive years in Rio Leagues.

For the Brazil national football team he won 11 international caps from 1960 to 1963, scoring 11 goals. No-one in the history of Brazilian football has a better goal average. Quarentinha also played six friendly games for Brazil in which he scored six additional goals. His greatest regret was to be left out of the Brazilian squad that defended the World Championship crown in Chile in 1962. On May 12, 1963 he was in the squad at San Siro Stadium, in a match against Italy, Pelé's only game played in Italy. He never played in FIFA World Cup and died at 62.