Former Brazilian national team player Brito has died. The announcement was made by the Brazilian Football Confederation and the family of the 1970 World Cup champion. According to the statement, the former defender passed away on Thursday at the age of 86.
“Brito has left us as one of the greatest defenders in the history of Brazilian soccer. His contribution to the 1970 World Cup victory will remain unforgettable to us all,” said the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Samir Xaud. “I pay my respects to this idol of our country. May his fighting spirit serve as an inspiration to our players participating in the World Cup.”
Brito played soccer successfully for many years but never left the South American continent. He won numerous titles, but the undisputed highlight was winning the 1970 World Cup. Brito was a regular starter during the tournament and played in every match; even in the final against Italy (4-1), the man wearing the number 2 jersey delivered an impressive performance.
45 international appearances for the record-holding world champions
In total, Brito made 45 international appearances for the record-holding world champions between 1964 and 1972—he participated in two World Cups, in 1970 and previously in 1966 during the World Cup in England, where he played once. He did not score a single goal for Brazil. Due to his physical presence, he was nicknamed “Hercules.”
His club career reads like a who’s who of South American soccer: Vasco da Gama, Internacional Porto Alegre, Flamengo Rio de Janeiro, Cruzeiro Belo Horizonte, Botafogo, Corinthians São Paulo, and Athletico Paranaense are all listed in his resume. He ended his career at the advanced soccer age of 40 in 1980.
The Brazilians’ World Cup opener was overshadowed by the death of the world champion. The Seleção kicks off this year’s World Cup on Sunday at midnight Central European Summer Time in East Rutherford near New York with a tricky opening match against African champions Morocco. The South Americans’ other group stage opponents are Haiti on Saturday, June 20 (2:30 a.m.) and, to conclude the group stage, Scotland on Thursday, June 25 (12:00 a.m.).
