Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade (born 25 January 1947), generally known as Tostão (), is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward or attacking midfielder and was a physician.
Tostão was an intelligent, hardworking and prolific left-footed forward, who was known for his creativity and technical skills, and was considered one of the best players in the world in his prime and arguably the best player in the world in the early 70s alongside Cruyff before health problems forced his early retirement. Tostão was widely considered at the time the second best or even the best Brazilian player in the late 60s alongside Pelé, even ahead of other stars that would be part of the legendary 1970 Brazil squad. He played most of his 11-year career with Cruzeiro.
Tostão represented Brazil in two World Cups, winning the tournament in 1970. He formed a lethal offensive partnership with Pelé in the national team.
Football career Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Eduardo Andrade received, like the vast majority of Brazilian footballers, a nickname early into his football career, being dubbed 'Tostão' ('little coin'). Legend has it that as a six-year-old school boy he netted 47 goals in one game for his primary school football team.
Tostão made his professional debut aged only 15, for local América Mineiro, returning after two years to Cruzeiro, where he had started his youth career. Although being a centre midfielder, he was crowned the Campeonato Mineiros topscorer on three consecutive occasions, the first in 1966, and left the club as its all-time scorer, with a total of 249 goals.
In the 1970 FIFA World Cup, improvised as a forward, Tostão scored two of his 32 goals for Brazil, and assisted four, as the national team won its third trophy, whilst finding the net on 19 occasions. The previous year, after being hit in the face by a ball during a match against Corinthians, he suffered a detached retina from which he never fully recovered. In April 1972, he signed for Vasco da Gama for a then record fee in the country but, after good overall displays, was forced to retire from the game at only 27, after his sight problems resurfaced, despite attempts at corrective surgery.
Weary of football and fame, Tostão became a medical doctor, but ultimately rejoined the footballing world, working as a journalist and pundit on TV and writing for newspapers and magazines.Robinho career at crossroads; BBC Sport, 20 December 2004Controversy on the road to 1,000; BBC Sport, 21 March 2007
Style of play Tostão was, due to his relatively small stature and slender frame, not particularly skilled in the air; in spite of his lack of pace, strong physical attributes, or long-range shooting abilities, however, he was a mobile, intelligent, and hard-working footballer, who stood out throughout his career due to his anticipation and timing in the penalty area, which made him a prolific goalscorer. A predominantly left-footed player, in his prime, he was considered one of the best players in the world, and was known for his technique, balance, and dribbling skills, while also contributing with many assists thanks to his vision, creativity, precise passing and playmaking abilities, as well as his work-rate, which often saw him drop back into midfield in order to retrieve the ball and start attacking plays. He was also known for his ability to disorient defenders and get onto the end of passes or create space for teammates with his movement and runs off the ball, which saw him act in a role which was essentially functioning as a precursor of the modern false 9 role with Brazil during the 1970 World Cup, despite being deployed as a centre-forward on paper. Due to his versatility and wide range of skills, he was capable of playing in several attacking and midfield positions including as an attacking midfielder, as a second striker, as a left winger, or even as an out-and-out striker.
Career statistics International goals
Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition 1. 5 June 1966 Mineirão, Belo Horizonte, Brazil 2–1 4–1 Friendly 2. 3–1 3. 8 June 1966 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2–0 3–1 Friendly 4. 30 June 1966 Ullevi, Gothenburg, Sweden 1–0 3–2 Friendly 5. 3–1 6. 15 July 1966 Goodison Park, Liverpool, England 1–1 1–3 1966 FIFA World Cup 7. 9 June 1968 Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo, Brazil 1–0 2–0 1968 Copa Río Branco 8. 16 June 1968 Neckarstadion, Stuttgart, West Germany 1–2 1–2 Friendly 9. 20 June 1968 10th-Anniversary Stadium, Warsaw, Poland 3–2 6–3 Friendly 10. 4–2 11. 25 June 1968 JNA Stadion, Belgrade, Yugoslavia 2–0 2–0 Friendly 12. 30 June 1968 Estádio da Machava, Lourenço Marques, Mozambique 2–0 2–0 Friendly 13. 17 July 1968 Estadio Nacional de Lima, Lima, Peru 3–0 4–0 Friendly 14. 6 November 1968 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil FIFA XI 3–0 4–0 Friendly 15. 9 April 1969 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2–1 2–1 Friendly 16. 12 June 1969 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1–1 2–1 Friendly 17. 6 August 1969 Estadio El Campín, Bogotá, Colombia 1–0 2–0 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification 18. 2–0 19. 10 August 1969 Estadio Olímpico, Caracas, Venezuela 1–0 6–0 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification 20. 3–0 21. 4–0 22. 21 August 1969 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1–0 6–2 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification 23. 2–1 24. 24 August 1969 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1–0 6–0 1970 FIFA World Cup qualification 25. 2–0 26. 3–0 27. 14 June 1970 Estadio Jalisco, Guadalajara, Mexico 2–0 4–2 1970 FIFA World Cup 28. 3–1 29. 30 September 1970 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 2–0 2–1 Friendly 30. 14 July 1971 Maracanã Stadium, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil 1–0 1–0 Friendly 31. 31 July 1971 Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1–1 2–2 1971 Roca Cup 32. 26 April 1972 Estádio Beira-Rio, Porto Alegre, Brazil 2–0 3–2 Friendly
Honours Cruzeiro Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1966 Campeonato Mineiro: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969Brazil FIFA World Cup: 1970 Independence Cup: 1972Individual''' Bola de Prata: 1970 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top scorer: 1970 (12 goals) South American Footballer of the Year: 1971 IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century: 5th place IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century: 13th place World Soccer'': The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame
References
External links
International appearances; at RSSSF Legendary Football Players - Tostão