Zizinho

Midfielder, Football player

1921 – 2002

34

Who was Zizinho?

Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho, was a Brazilian football player, who played as an attacking midfielder or winger for Brazil's national team. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where scored two goals. He was lauded as a complete player, renowned for his incredible array of offensive skills such as dribbling, passing, shooting with both feet as well as dead ball ability and extraordinary vision.

Born at Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, he played for Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo FC, Audax Italiano of Chile among others teams. In Flamengo, he won state championships in 1942, 1943 and 1944.

In the 1950 World Cup he helped Brazil to progress to the final, but their surprise 2-1 defeat to Uruguay tarnished his reputation. Zizinho played a total of 53 times for his national team, scoring 30 goals.He twice turned down last minute invitation's by the cbd to join up with the 1954 & 1958 world cup squads citing the reason that it would be unfair on the player being dropped at the last second to make way for him.

Pelé always said that Zizinho was the best player he ever saw. "He was a complete player. He played in midfield, in attack, he scored goals, he could mark, head and cross."

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Born
Sep 14, 1921
Niterói
Nationality
  • Brazil
Lived in
  • Niterói
Died
Feb 7, 2002

Submitted
on July 23, 2013

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