Zizinho

Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho (; 14 September 1921 – 8 February 2002), was a Brazilian footballer 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, with an 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. He was Pelé's idol, and is often considered one of the best Brazilian men's footballers of the pre-Pelé era.

Career Born at Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, he played for Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo FC, Audax Italiano of Chile among others teams. He is considered the first idol of Flamengo, club that he defended - winning the state championships in 1942, 1943 and 1944 - until he was transferred just before the start of 1950 World Cup to Bangu. In São Paulo he won the state championship in 1957 being extremely important and becoming an idol.

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."

Career statistics Club

ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueFriendly Torneio Rio–São PauloOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsFlamengo1940Campeonato Carioca0-9—-3—-519411-12——-4-119421-11——-1-1419433-7——---3619441-8——-1-2919453-12———-2619466-0———-719470-1———-2219484-16——---1919490-7——---2219500-0—-1---22Subtotal191728846318146Bangu1950Campeonato Carioca00-9—-0-2-9195100-17—-5-1-1195200-15—-1—-1195300-4—-6—-1195400-4———-1195500-4——-1-1195600-8———-1195700-4———-1Subtotal--14765---12-4283124São Paulo1957Campeonato Paulista00-6—-0—-5195800-13—-3—-1Subtotal--3519---3--6727São Bento de Marília1959Campeonato Paulista Série A2009200—---2Uberaba1960Campeonato Mineiro0010100—---1Audax Italiano1961Chilean Primera División163—00—---3Career total163373175-19-23-303

International YearsGamesGoals 194252194300194400194594194676194700194800194975195073195100195200195351195400195512195675195762Total 54 30

DateVenueScoreOpponent Goal(s)Competition1. 14 January 1942 Centenário, Montevidéu 6–1 0 1942 South American Championship2. 17 January 1942 Centenário, Montevidéu 1–2 03. 21 January 1942 Centenário, Montevidéu 2–1 04. 31 January 1942 Centenário, Montevidéu 5–1 15. 5 February 1942 Centenário, Montevidéu 1–1 16. 21 January 1945 Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago 3–0 0 1945 South American Championship7. 28 January 1945 Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago 2–0 08. 7 February 1945 Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago 3–0 09. 14 February 1945 Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago 1–3 010. 21 February 1945 Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago 9–2 211. 28 February 1945 Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago 1–0 012. 16 December 1945 Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo 3–4 1 Copa Roca 194513. 20 December 1945 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 6–2 114. 23 December 1945 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 3–1 015. 5 January 1946 Centenário, Montevidéu 3–4 1 Copa Rio Branco 194616. 9 January 1946 Centenário, Montevidéu 1–1 017. 16 January 1946 Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires 3–0 1 1946 South American Championship18. 23 January 1946 Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires 4–3 019. 29 January 1946 Estadio Libertadores de América, Avellaneda 1–1 020. 3 February 1946 Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires 5–1 421. 10 February 1946 Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires 0–2 022. 3 April 1949 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 9–1 1 1949 South American Championship23. 10 April 1949 Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo 10–1 224. 13 April 1949 Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo 2–1 125. 24 April 1949 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 7–1 026. 30 April 1949 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 5–1 127. 8 May 1949 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 1–2 028. 11 May 1949 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 7–0 029. 6 May 1950 Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo 3–4 1 Copa Rio Branco 195030. 14 May 1950 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 3–2 031. 17 May 1950 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 1–0 0– 4 May 1950 Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro 6–4 Combinado Grenal 1 Friendly 32. 1 July 1950 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 2–0 1 1950 FIFA World Cup33. 9 July 1950 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 7–1 034. 13 July 1950 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 6–1 135. 16 July 1950 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 1–2 036. 1 March 1953 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 8–1 0 1953 South American Championship37. 15 March 1953 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 1–0 038. 19 March 1953 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 0–1 039. 23 March 1953 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 3–2 140. 27 March 1953 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 1–2 041. 13 November 1955 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 3–0 2 Taça Oswaldo Cruz 195542. 12 June 1956 Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção 2–0 0 Taça Oswaldo Cruz 195643. 17 June 1956 Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção 5–2 244. 24 June 1956 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 2–0 1 Taça do Atlântico de 195645. 1 July 1956 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 2–0 0 Friendly46. 8 July 1956 El Cilindro, Avellaneda 0–0 0 Taça do Atlântico de 195647. 5 August 1956 Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro 0–1 0 Friendly48. 8 August 1956 Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo 4–1 2 Friendly49. 13 March 1957 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 4–2 0 1957 South American Championship50. 21 March 1957 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 7–1 151. 24 March 1957 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 9–0 152. 28 March 1957 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 2–3 053. 31 March 1957 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 1–0 054. 3 April 1957 National Stadium of Peru, Lima 0–3 0

Honours

Club Flamengo Campeonato Carioca: 1942, 1943, 1944

São paulo Campeonato Paulista: 1957

International FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1950 South American Championship: 1949 Taça do Atlântico: 1956 Roca Cup: 1945 Copa Rio Branco: 1950 Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1955, 1956

Individual FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1950 FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1950 Torneio Rio-São Paulo Team of the Tournament: 1952, 1953 IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (4th place)IFFHS' Century Elections IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century (10th place) Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame

Records South American Championship / Copa América all-time top goalscorer: 17 goals (shared with Norberto Méndez)

Manager Brazil Olympic Pan American Games: 1975

References

External links

Profile at cbf.com.br Craque Imortal