He was named best player at Sweden 1958 ahead of Garrincha and Pele
The midfielder died 20 years ago today
“We have to do something,” Didi whispered to his friend and Botafogo team-mate in the dressing room. Nilton Santos nodded agreeingly.
It had taken six editions for the FIFA World Cup™ to witness a goalless draw. It left Brazil, who shared it with England, humiliated and afraid.
Didi and Nilton Santos had been dumped out of Switzerland 1954 by Hungary. Now they faced another formidable European force, the soon-to-be maiden UEFA EURO winners Soviet Union, in a must-win final group game.
Didi was pushing 30; Nilton Santos three years older. It was, they felt, their last chance.
31 Jan 2021 - 17:11
The Peninsula
Doha: The eyes of the football world will soon be on the Middle East for the first major tournament of the year. The FIFA Club World Cup Qatar 2020 will be held from 4-11 February after the annual competition was delayed by two months due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The top clubs from five of football’s six continental confederations will join host nation representatives Al Duhail SC in determining who will be crowned the world’s best. Auckland City FC, who were nominated to represent the Oceania region at Qatar 2020, withdrew from the competition because of COVID-19 quarantine measures required by authorities in New Zealand.