Thread by @BrasilEdition, Today, Mané Garrincha, the second best Brazilian footballer of all time would’ve [...]

Today, Mané Garrincha, the second best Brazilian footballer of all time would’ve turned 87 years old. But who is Garrincha?

A beautiful yet heartbreaking story

290 Career goals

x2 FIFA World Cup
x3 Campeonato Carioca
x1 Ballon d’Or (New winners)

1x FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1x FIFA World Cup Golden Boot
2x FIFA World Cup All-Star Team
1x FIFA World Cup All-Time Team
1x Campeonato Brasileiro MVP

One of the very best.

World Soccer World XI - 1962
World Team of the 20th Century
IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (#2)
IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century (#4)
IFFHS World Player of the 20th Century (#8)
World Soccer's Greatest Players of the 20th century (1999): #20

He was born on October 28, 1933 in Magé, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He played for many clubs such as, Serrano, Corinthians, Flamengo, Atlético Junior, Olaria & Botafogo where he is heavily idolized.

His nickname was “O Anjo das Pernas Tortas” (The Angel with crooked legs). Garrincha gained this nickname due to the structure of legs which got worse & worse with horrible knee injuries. Multiple injections were giving to his knees in hope to keep his magic alive.

He was born with his right leg 6 centimetres shorter than his left, also his left leg turned outwards and his right turned inwards, leading one doctor to certify him as crippled as a child. His spine was also deformed.

Scouts all over Brazil knew of him, and he was something of a legend between them. Many refused to believe the stories about him until seeing him.

One said, “There is an unknown player who lives in the woods, has bent legs, is totally un-markable and dribbles like the devil."

Garrincha is regarded by many as the best dribbler of all time. Some Brazilians even argue that he was better than Pelé back in the day.

In the 1962 World Cup, Pelé picked up an injured in the second game resulting in Garrincha leading Brazil to their 2nd world title while being the main man. One of the best World Cup campaigns of all time.

World Cup Golden ball winner
World Golden boot winner
World Cup XI

Garrincha & Pelé formed one of (if not the best) duos the history of football has ever seen.

They NEVER lost a game when playing together.

40 Games
36 Wins
4 Draws
55 Goals scored together
(44 Pelé & 11 Garrincha)

Unbeatable

Garrincha & Pelé formed one of (if not the best) duos the history of football has ever seen.They NEVER lost a game when playing together.40 Games36 Wins4 Draws55 Goals scored together(44 Pelé & 11 Garrincha)Unbeatable

Not just a dribbler. His crossing abilities and dead ball skills are also among the best football has ever witnessed. He might be one of the most underrated players in the history of the game.

He is credited for inspiring the first bullfighting chants of “olé” to be used at football grounds thanks to the magic his dazzling feet would produce at the Maracanã when playing for Botafogo.

Garrincha had 13 kids within 4 different relationships. Despite being married, Garrincha fell in love & married very famous Brazilian singer, Elza Soares for 16 years who is still alive & active in her career (90 years old).

Unfortunately, Garrincha followed in the steps of his father & developed alcoholism which ultimately cut his career short. Garrincha got into a bad car crash which resulted in the death of his mother-in-law. He developed severe depression which seen his alcohol abuse skyrocket

1 year after his divorce with Elza, on January 20, 1983, Garrincha passed from cirrhosis. Thousands of Brazilians gathered in the streets of Rio to mourn the loss of their biggest footballing legend. His only son with Elza, Garrinchinha also died in a car crash 3 years after.

Garrincha now has a stadium named after him, Estádio Mané Garrincha. The home teams locker room in the Maracanã stadium is also now named Garrincha.

"He's a phenomenon, capable of sheer magic. It was difficult to know which way he was going to go because of his legs and because he was as comfortable on his left foot as his right, so he could cut inside or go down the line and he had a ferocious shot too."

—Mel Hopkins

“When he was in form, the pitch became a circus. The ball became an obedient animal, and the game became an invitation to party. Garrincha would shield his pet, the ball, and together they would conjure up some wonderful tricks that would have the spectators in stitches. (1/2)

He would hop over her, and she would bounce over him. Then she would hide before he would escape only to find her already running in front of him. Along the way, his pursuers would crash into each other in their attempts to stop him.” (2/2)

—Eduardo Galeano

“He put the first ball he touched straight between my legs. A lot of people thought I would be offended but they were wrong. I told the directors there and then that they had to sign him.”

—Nilton Santos after facing Garrincha during his trial

“Garrincha is a genius that a lot of people forget about. Not even Pelé was better than Garrincha.”

—Rivellino

“Pelé or Garrincha? Until this day I do not know played better football. I played with both & played against both”

—Gérson

“I doubt that there was a left-back who slept soundly. I slept thinking about the duel with Mané.”

—Altair, ex Fluminense left-back

“I have never seen such great humility. When we were both on the pitch, Brazil would not lose.”

—Pelé

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