Quick Facts
| Intro | Brazilian footballer | ||||
| Was | Sports official Athlete Football player Association football player Association football manager | ||||
| From | Brazil | ||||
| Field | Sports | ||||
| Gender | male | ||||
| Birth | 14 September 1921, Rio de Janeiro, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||||
| Death | 8 February 2002, Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil (aged 80 years) | ||||
| Stats |
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Biography
Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho (Portuguese pronunciation: [ziˈzĩɲu]; 14 October 1921 – 8 February 2002), was a Brazilian football player, who played as an attacking midfielder for the Brazil national football team. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where he scored two goals. He was lauded as a complete player, renowned for his incredible array of offensive skills such as his dribbling, passing, and shooting ability with both feet, as well as his accuracy from dead ball situations and extraordinary vision.
Career
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 turned down last minute invitations by the CBF to join first the 1954 world cup squad and then the 1958 squad, citing on both occasions that it would be unfair on the player being dropped at the last minute 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."
Playing honours
Club
- Campeonato Carioca: 1939, 1942, 1943, 1944
International
- South American Championship: 1949
- Taça do Atlântico: 1956
- Roca Cup: 1945
- Copa Rio Branco: 1950
- Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1955, 1956
- FIFA World Cup Runner-up: 1950
- South American Championship Runner-up: 1945, 1946, 1953, 1957
Individual
- FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1950
- FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1950
- IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (4th place)
- IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century (10th place)
- Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
Records
- Copa América / South American Championship All-Time Top Scorer: 17 goals (shared with Norberto Doroteo Méndez)
