Zagallo was honored at FIFA The Best this Monday (15) after his death on January 5. The only four-time world champion in the history of football, the Alagoas native from Atalaia lifted the trophy as a player in the 1958 and 1962 World Cups, as coach of the 1970 National Team and as technical coordinator of the 1994 National Team, commanded by Carlos Alberto Parreira.
The entity presented a video with testimonials from Zagallo remembering his four achievements with Amarelinha.
At the awards ceremony held in London, England, two-time world champion Ronaldo Fenômeno commented on the loss of one of the greatest symbols of Brazilian and world football.
“Zagallo left a legacy of a passion for football, of a love for the Brazilian team that is difficult for us to copy and carry forward”, said the champion striker with Amarelinha in 1994 and 2002.
“I learned from him to love and respect our Brazilian team shirt,” he added.
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Zagallo decided not to continue professionally in football in 2011, at the age of 79. In 2012, the four-time champion suffered the biggest blow of his life – the death of his wife Alcina, to whom he had been married for 57 years. The two had five children. Superstitious, he said that Alcina was the ideal woman, as the sum of the letters in her name and his was equal to 13, a number he was grateful for as he considered it linked to luck, fortune and love.
Respect and affection for his longtime friends was another revealing aspect of Zagallo’s personality. In 2021, upon turning 90, he received a special message from Pelé. “We were once teammates. We were once opponents. I was once your player and you were my coach. But above all, we have always been great brothers. You are a leader, a mentor, an idol and a friend with a huge heart, who Brazilian football will never forget.”
