Brazilian legend Pelé has named Zizinho as his footballing idol and his biggest influence as a child. In FIFA.com’s Idols of the Idols series, Pele named the Flamengo and São Paulo forward as his childhood idol.
“Zizinho was the player I admired the most,” said Pele, “He was fabulous. Everything about his game, whether it was his passing, shooting or positioning, was just spectacular. He was the complete player. He could play in midfield or up front.
“He could score. He was good on the ground and in the air and he could dribble better than anyone. He was a battler too. Whenever things got tough out there, he always stood tall.” Zizinho was a starting member of the Seleção side that famously lost the 1950 World Cup Final to Uruguay in the Maracanã. He died in February 2002, aged 80.
