Pele garrincha football igor fisunenko. How Garrincha became a Brazilian folk hero

Igor Sergeevich Fesunenko

Pele, Garrincha, football ...

is it brazilian football the best in the world?

Famous Brazilian coach and journalist Joan Saldanha (left) talks to Igor Fesunenko.

Joan Saldanha, September 1969

In truth, we Brazilians believe that this is the case. Alas, the problem is that the British, Italians, Hungarians, Argentines and, possibly, the Soviet fans evaluate football in the same way in their countries. There is nothing wrong with this contradiction. Thanks to this way of thinking, everyone strives to improve, and this is only for the benefit of football.

Is Brazilian football unique, different from the football of other countries? Yes. Undoubtedly. Basically, each country has its own special football, even when it uses generally accepted tactical systems. The same thing happens here that we see in music: the notes are the same, the orchestra's instrumentation is also the same, but each country has its own national music. Football of each country also has its own national characteristics.

However, the difference between Brazilian football and the football of other countries is determined not only by this most important principle. But also the fact that we have a number of conditions that do not exist or do not yet exist in other countries.

What are they?

First of all, football in Brazil is not just a kind of folk art. It is something much more: a passion for the people. In England, for example, football is very fond of. But along with this they love rugby, and cricket, and other sports. In Brazil, although sports other than football are practiced, their lot is small and empty stadiums.

It is because of this passion for football that the Maracanã stadium was built for 200 thousand spectators. "Morumbi" in Sao Paulo, which comes into operation this year, will accommodate 180 thousand fans. In Porto Alegre football club of this state "Internationale" has built a stadium for 110 thousand spectators, "Mineiran" in the state of Minas Gerais accommodates 130 thousand people.

And in Aracaju - a small town in the north-east of the country with a population of two hundred thousand, a town isolated from other cities and towns - a stadium for 50 thousand fans was built, and at the opening holiday a huge number of those who wanted to get into the stands.

But perhaps the most curious curiosity that demonstrates what the passion for football has reached in Brazil took place in my province, in Rio Grande do Sul, in the town of Eresim, which has set a world “record”. Here is how it was. In the neighboring town of Passo Fundo, they dared to expand their stadium. The venerable citizens of Ereshim felt outraged, it was a challenge, damn it! ... The venerable city fathers, fans, players gathered and organized a fundraising campaign for the construction of the largest stadium ... in the north of the Rio Grande do Sul! In the course of this campaign, a grandmother's denture was even sold. But the stadium was built! 45 thousand spectators will be able to admire their favorite football from its stands. It is only necessary to take into account that the population of the town of Ereshim is somewhere around 30 thousand inhabitants. And that there are no other settlements nearby Ereshim. The nearest one is about six hours away in a fairly fast car ...

Honestly, I don't know any other country where people are so fond of football! But I have visited 62 countries ...

In second place, I would put the climatic and geographical conditions of our country, which make it easier to play football. We can play football all year round... January to December. Our geographic and climatic conditions are extremely favorable for physical development players. Their muscles are flexible, and muscle warming occurs in our climate by itself ...

Thirdly, I would like to note that our players start playing football very early ... In general, a Brazilian child grows up very quickly in terms of his development and living conditions. Our boy, at the age of fifteen, is faced with the concerns of adults. And in Europe, a fifteen-year-old boy still wears short pants and goes to school /. Of course, this has both positive and negative consequences.

The upbringing of our player, his formation gives rise to all conceivable vices and virtues. When he comes to the club, it is often impossible to change him. It can be argued that sometimes our best stars lose a goal because they prefer a beautiful game trick to it. I don't know if this is good or bad. Garrincha was just that. Would it be correct to try to remake it?

Pele is like that. He enjoys the opportunity to make the goal as beautiful as possible, even if it sometimes makes him lose a goal situation. But Tostao - this one is already different. He plays simply, has an amazing sense of community and is also an outstanding player. I was Garrinchi's coach for many years at Botafogo and decided the best thing to do was not try to re-educate him. And I do not regret it. I tried to understand him, to use him as a partisan, helping a regular, well-organized military unit, a partisan who acts in his own ways and methods, different from others, but also useful and necessary.

Perhaps I am not impartial enough to talk objectively about football, which I am passionately in love with. I can make a lot of mistakes in my estimates. Hence the importance of the work of Igor Fesunenko, who studies our football, our mistakes and our achievements, with great interest and enthusiasm. Fesunenko is a calmer observer than we are, and therefore he can greatly help us with his work. I hope it will enjoy the success it deserves.

One, but a fiery passion (instead of an introduction)

The Brazilian newspaper A Newspaper once well said what Brazilian football is and what place it occupies in the life of this country, commenting on the performance of its compatriots at the French stadium as follows: “The visit of our football 'stars' is important primarily because thanks out of 35 thousand Frenchmen who attended the match, at least 30 thousand finally learned that somewhere there was a country called Brazil. As for the other five thousand, they were able to discover that the loincloth is no longer the most elegant and fashionable outfit in Brazil ... "

Indeed, many people today know Brazil primarily as a country of football, where the great, legendary “king” Pele reigns ... And it should be admitted that these ideas are not so far from reality.

There is probably not one among the 90 million Brazilians who has never kicked a ball in his life. As you know, all ages are submissive to love. Love for football - even more so. This year in Porto Alegre a unique match of veterans took place, the youngest of whom was ... 60 years old, and the oldest - 84! The old men took to the field not to joke: they did a great job, playing with a score of 3: 3.

Agree that six goals are not always seen in the matches of young masters!

However, the athletic performance of the frisky grandfathers was blocked in another, no less unusual competition, held on the opposite end of Brazil - in the Amazon jungle. In the village of San Marcos, a team of Indians of the Shavantes tribe defeated a team of students from the capital, who came to the area with a scientific expedition, with a score of 15: 0. And not long before that, the brave Chavantes defeated with a score of 4: 1 a team of their spiritual mentors: monks from the Salesian mission, converting Indians to the Catholic faith and at the same time rummaging around the Amazon in search of oil, ores and other minerals.

When the time came to celebrate the anniversary of the new constitution in the state of Rio de Janeiro, the main ceremony of the festive celebrations was Soccer game between teams in which deputies of two rival parliamentary factions played. The newspaper Coraio da Manya, which reported this on the eve, wrote not without malice: “The spectators who will come to the stadium only to find out whether the honorable deputies will be able to prove themselves even worse on the football field than in politics will get the most pleasure from the match. ... "

There is a small village of Kurupaiti in the state of Guanabara, which now has 911 inhabitants. For many years (none of the residents remember when this custom was born) every Sunday almost the entire population, after the morning mass, goes to a traditional match between two teams bearing beautiful names: "Elite" and "Henrietta". From first to last minute loudspeakers placed on the streets of the village give detailed information about all the vicissitudes of the battle. This is done so that those who could not and will never be able to come to the stadium could watch the match. And there are many of them in Kurupaiti. Because all the inhabitants of this town - the prefect, the shoe shiner, and ... the football players - are terminally ill. Kurupaiti is a leper colony ...

Could celebrate its 80th birthday on Tuesday greatest footballer, whom experts put above the King of football, Pele. It is about the Brazilian magician Garrinche. From this name alone, Brazilian fans once came to a sacred awe. He could have made an outstanding career, but he died in poverty. RBC-Sport recalls how Garrincha's ascent to the football Olympus began.

Stanislav Kuptsov

On Tuesday, the greatest footballer could have celebrated his eightieth birthday, whom experts put above the King of football, Pele.

We are talking about the Brazilian magician with Indian roots Garrinche. From this name alone, fans once came in awe. He could have made an outstanding career, but he died in poverty.

If someone saw Garrincha in last years life, then I would never have believed that this man, barely able to stand on his feet, spent almost all free time in bars and seeing not the beauties of life, but the muddy bottom of another glass of whiskey, suffering from cirrhosis of the liver and nervous diseases, for many years drove thousands of stadiums crazy, with the help of one trick he could make circus clowns out of the strongest football defenders, knew how to score goals, after which even the goalkeepers showed the Brazilian thumb realizing that no one in their place could have deflected this cannon shot.

Behind the coffin, in which Garrincha finally found his rest, was a procession of three hundred thousand people. Many could not hold back their tears. Brazil said goodbye to perhaps the best footballer in history, whom it could not save, could not pull out of the abyss, did not provide assistance to an unfortunate person in need of financial support, did not find qualified doctors for him.

He alone made millions happy, and millions could not make him happy alone. This is how it usually happens in life. Now you are at the peak of fame, and then everyone needs you. And as soon as the glory leaves, then the person, it turns out, is no longer needed.

Pele, who was directly told that you are worse than Garrinchi, did not come to the funeral. “I'm afraid of the dead, I'm afraid of a funeral,” he justified himself, but the excuses looked untenable.

The epitaph on the grave of Garrincha, who died at the age of 49, reads: "Here rests the one who was the joy of the people - Mane Garrincha".

Everything is known about Garrinch, his life is like an open book, in which there are many pages, and none of them can leave you indifferent. But I would like to separately recall how the rise of Brazilian talent began. For the first time, Garrincha wore the Brazilian national team jersey in the final stages of the World Championships at the 1958 World Cup, playing against the USSR national team.

Garrincha will now beat the footballer of the USSR national team. Photo thefcf.co.uk

But Garrincha might not have gone to Sweden. His relationship with football functionaries, coaches, masseurs - with everyone involved in the national team, was too difficult.

Thus, the coach of the Brazilian national team, Vicente Feola, became crimson with rage when Garrincha ... scored a goal against Fiorentina in a test match. He wanted to kick Garrincha out of the national team for this one offense. It was like this - Garrincha circled three defenders in a row and the goalkeeper, and when the gate was empty, he did not beat, waiting for the Fiorentina player Robotti to jump out on him, and after waiting, he dodged him with a clever feint and only then scored. Robotti could hardly stay on his feet - Garrinchi's feints turned his head.

Garrincha could have paid dearly for this goal, but it cost.

And yet he was forced to take an exam before the championship - to pass psychological tests. Garrincha treated the tasks of the "shrinks" with humor. He pretended that he could not distinguish a vertical line from a horizontal one, drew a man with a huge head, and as a result he was accused of infantility and called to be removed from the national team. The same thing happened with Pele.

Of course, both were summoned to the national team. What is the Brazilian national team if Pele and Garrincha do not play for it ...

The footballers of the Soviet team, of course, had already heard about Garrinch, and knew who should be patronized in the first place. Although a quick glance at the Brazilian left them conflicting feelings. It remained only to wonder how, with his physical data, Garrincha often became the best on the field. He was a small sprout, constantly stooped, spread his legs wide, and one of his legs was shorter than the other.

In addition, the footballers of the USSR national team were more confident than ever in their abilities. Two years ago, the Soviet team performed with triumph at the Melbourne Olympics, winning gold medals - in the final, in front of 100,000 spectators, a very strong Yugoslavia was beaten.

The authors of that victory came out to play against Brazil without trembling in the knees, but it arose by itself already in the first minute! The field seemed to be pierced by lightning, Boris Kuznetsov, the Dynamo defender, simply could not believe his eyes when Garrincha swept past him, dancing a samba with a ball, and then, having beaten Voinov and Krizhevsky, shot into the frame of the goal with such force that the ball returned to the center of the field.

“As soon as our match began, I quickly figured out who was who,” recalls Lev Yashin. “It immediately became clear to us that the highest praises for their skill do not contain a single drop of exaggeration. tricked Kuznetsov onto the grass, rushed with the ball along the edge and struck so that the ball, hitting the goalpost, flew into the central circle. "

In the second minute, Pele, with a sharp pass from Garrinchi, once again tested the strength of the frame of the Soviet gate, and in the third minute Vava, having received the ball from Garrinchi, opened the scoring. In just three minutes, the fans saw so much that sometimes you won't see in a whole match!

The same link, Vava - Garrincha, worked in the second half, and the Brazilian national team won with a score of 2: 0. But what is the USSR national team, all the participants of the Swedish World Cup got from the Brazilians, from the awkward Garrinchi, in whom, when he picked up speed and arranged dribbling, it was as if the devil was possessed.

Sweden under the furious blows of Garrinchi and the rest of the Brazilians in final match just fell apart like a rotten tree - 5: 2.

So the whole world learned about Garrinch. He will remain on stage for a long time and will be the best artist of that time.

Garrincha at the 1958 World Cup. Photo thefcf.co.uk

Do you want to see how one person beats eight opponents and puts the ball into the goal with a heel kick? Go to the match with Garrinchi. Do you want to look at the brightest football technique, from which the best defenders of the planet complain about dizziness? Go to the match with Garrinchi. Do you want to see the game best football player the world? Go to the match with Garrinchi.

What a pity that Garrincha never said his last football word - alcohol and smoking, an addiction to an easy, pompous life, a passion for love affairs and gambling interfered. If Garrincha lived only football, who knows, perhaps now no one would argue about who is the best of the best - Pele or Maradona ... Because the best would not have scored more than a thousand goals Pele, not Maradona with his "God's hand" , but the stooped, swaying, little football genius of Garrincha.

In response to a question about what, in his opinion, is the main shortcoming of the team, Saldanha replied: "The players are tired. But if I have at least three months of time, I can create with these players a car that can return Brazil the Jules Cup Rome… “In general, the Brazilians were pleased with the preparation for the qualifying games of the next world championship. We are satisfied with the players, happy with the coach and even with the fight: “We have defeated Peru three times,” wrote one of the newspapers. “Twice on the football field and once in the ring ... This episode emphasizes our fighting spirit and readiness to meet any provocations at the future championship in Mexico City ".

So, the point is put at the end of the last chapter. The book is finished. And now, in accordance with the unshakable canons and traditions of journalism, the author must summarize.

Honestly, I don't want to do this. It seems to me that the reader himself will be able to do this analytical operation and figure out what's what. And besides, I have no time left for "generalizing the material" and "drawing conclusions": two days later the diplomatic mail leaves from here, from Rio de Janeiro, with which the manuscript is to be sent to the publishing house. Otherwise, the book will not be published for the World Cup in Mexico City.

But still, running through the pages of the manuscript at the end, I involuntarily think: what to say in conclusion?

I would like to say a lot. For example, about the brilliant performances of the Saldanha pets in the qualifying games of the World Cup, when in one month they won six wins in six matches, defeating the teams of Colombia, Paraguay and Venezuela with a total score of 23: 2.

These matches were not easy walks. They took effort and sacrifice. Pele, for example, had to interrupt his participation in the filming of the telenovela "Aliens". And the directors, in turn, were forced to urgently kill the writer Plinio Pompeu, whose role was played by the "king".

However, Pele's misadventures did not end there. The match in the capital of Paraguay, Asuncion, took place in an atmosphere of unbridled hooliganism of the audience: everything flew on the field that could be tucked under the arm of an enraged tor-side. Bottles, stones, firecrackers, pieces of wood ... One of the stones hit Pele in the head. Ten days later, he "took revenge" on the Paraguayans: in the last match against the national team of this country, played at the "Maracan", Pele scored the only goal. This goal put the Brazilian team among the sixteen finalists in Mexico City and turned Brazil into the arena of a grandiose carnival that lasted all night ...

One could say about Tostao's brilliant game. He was moved from the left flank to the center of attack by Saldanha and scored ten goals in six matches! One could talk for a long time about the sensational combinations of Pele, Jairzinho, Edu, about the creative genius of the midfield Gersone ...

Or that the defenders of the national team did not play as confidently as expected ... But all this, in general, can add little to what has already been said.

Saying goodbye to the manuscript, I want to philosophize a little. I ask myself: have I thickened the colors, have I gone too far, talking about the behind-the-scenes machinations, about the "dungeons" of Brazilian football? About the arbitrariness of kartol, about the ruthless exploitation of players, about the lack of elementary organization in Brazilian football, about primitivism coaching, found even in the big clubs of the Brazilian "capitals" - Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo, Belo Horizonte? ... I foresee that some of the readers frowned in displeasure, reading, for example, the chapters "Sad accounting of football" or stories about coaches , about "Santos" and "San Cristovan". And they shrugged their shoulders, addressing the author of the book: "Well, you, brother, have painted the passions-muzzles! But the Brazilians are two-time world champions! How could they achieve this, if things are so bad for them?"

If any of the readers really have such thoughts, I can answer as follows. Brazilian football has won its outstanding victories and has earned everyone's respect and admiration not because of, but in spite of its primitive organizational structure, its chaotic internal structure based on the exploitation of players in the name of club profits. The remarkable skill of the football players, nurtured in the field of popular love for this sport, allowed and allows them to achieve success, despite incredible difficulties, corruption, and dirty machinations of football dealers. And if Brazilian football were free from these monstrous chains, it would surely surprise the world with even more brilliant victories.

I am deeply convinced of this. And I am not afraid of being accused of exaggeration when I say that Brazilian football is great football. But not because of the titles won by the teams of this country in all kinds of tournaments! Titles are just an external reflection of the essence, they are bright stickers, nothing more ... I call Brazilian football great because I believe that in the bright work of such ball wizards as Garrincha, Pele, Tostao, Edu, Gerson and hundreds, thousands, dozens thousands of others, the soul of the Brazilian people, its amazing creative, creative abilities, its talents find expression ...

Brazilian football in the camera lens

Pele ... Gooooool !!!

1958 year. The King of Sweden presents the Jules Rime Cup to the Brazilian national team. The far left is Zito.

"In the village of San Marcos, the team of the Shavantes Indians defeated the team of the capital's students with a score of 15: 0 ..." (An episode from this match).

The opening of the new stadium "Beira Rio" in Porto Alegre ended with a football match that turned into one of the most scandalous fights in the history of Brazilian football.

The players of the Palmeiras club (Sao Paulo) are violently arguing with the referee Arnaldo Cesar Coelho.

Armando Márquez is the No. 1 Brazilian referee.

Armando Márquez sends Pele off the field.

Two-time champion the world of Jalma Santos.

The famous Tostao is the main “artilleiro” of the Brazilian national team in 1969.

Veterans Jalma Santos and Belini in the Atletico team (Curitiba), 1968.

Tostao and Jairzinho cheer as they celebrate another goal for the Brazilian national team.

Felix is the Brazilian goalkeeper who replaced the famous Gilmar.

Sweden, 1958 World Cup. Pele just scored a goal against Wales. The goal that Pele still considers the most important, the most beautiful goal in his football biography... This goal led the Brazilian national team to the semi-finals.

No techniques which the "king" could not do.

World Championship 1966. Portuguese defenders barbarously mutilate Pele.

Liverpool tragedy: Pele is injured in the match against Portugal.

Another goal of the “king”.

Pele and Garrincha. Two friends, two destinies ...

World Championship 1958. "Premiere" Garrinchi in the match against the USSR national team.

And two are not enough to restrain Manet ... The match between the national teams of Brazil and England at the 1962 World Cup in Chile.

Garrincha (with his daughter) tells the story of his disqualification.

1968 year. Ten years later ... Garrincha at the memorial plaque at the Maracanã stadium, erected in honor of the victory at the 1958 World Cup. In the photo on the right: in the town of Pau Grande, a bar named after Garrinchi has closed.

World Championship 1962. Garrincha in the match against the home team - the national team of Chile.

Garrincha in training, 1968.

November 1968. Garrinchi's sensational return to Flamengo v Vasco da Gama.

Garrincha in training on the eve of his return, 1968.

Famous Brazilian coach and journalist Joan Saldanha (left) talks to Igor Fesunenko.

Joan Saldanha, September 1969

What are they?

It is because of this passion for football that the Maracanã stadium was built for 200 thousand spectators. "Morumbi" in Sao Paulo, which comes into operation this year, will accommodate 180 thousand fans. In Porto Alegre, the football club of this state "Internationale" has built a stadium for 110 thousand spectators, "Mineiran" in the state of Minas Gerais can accommodate 130 thousand people.

Honestly, I don't know any other country where people are so fond of football! But I have visited 62 countries ...

In second place, I would put the climatic and geographical conditions of our country, which make it easier to play football. We can play football all year round. January to December. Our geographic and climatic conditions are extremely favorable for the physical development of the players. Their muscles are flexible, and muscle warming occurs in our climate by itself ...

One, but a fiery passion (instead of an introduction)

Indeed, many people today know Brazil primarily as a country of football, where the great, legendary “king” Pele reigns ... And it should be admitted that these ideas are not so far from reality.

Agree that six goals are not always seen in the matches of young masters!

When it was time for the state of Rio de Janeiro to celebrate the anniversary of the new constitution, the centerpiece of the festive celebration was a soccer match between teams of parliamentarians from two rival parliamentary factions. The newspaper Coraio da Manya, which reported this on the eve, wrote not without malice: “The spectators who will come to the stadium only to find out whether the honorable deputies will be able to prove themselves even worse on the football field than in politics will get the most pleasure from the match. ... "

Manuel Francisco dos Santos, or simply Garrincha, lived his life without thinking about tomorrow. He achieved everything one could dream of, but ended his life in poverty, barely finding the money to pay for a rented house ...

Dick Rowe, the head of Decca Records, became famous only for the fact that at one time he refused to sign a contract with the legendary Beatles, when they had not appeared anywhere else. Thus, the first recording of the Liverpool quartet was recorded at the Parlophone studio, which was owned by EMI. As a result, despite the presence of contracts with such giants of classic rock as Pink Floyd, Queen and Deep Purple, it was the fact of the opening and recording of The Beatles that became business card record organization for all time.

Unfortunately, history is silent about the names and surnames of those people who once put an end to the Garrinch. Coming to the show in Flamengo, Fluminense, Vascu da Gama and even the most modest San Cristovan, Manet was repeatedly refused. Unfortunately, further development events did not answer the question of whether it was for the better. At the same time, the functionaries argued their convincing "no" by the poor proportionality of the player. The "experts" were not satisfied with Manet's defects, which consisted in the fact that his left leg was shorter than the right one by six centimeters.

A year after his puncture, Dick Rowe had a chance to rectify the situation. He doubted for a long time, because he did not want this at all, but still signed a debut contract with the Rolling Stones. But there were plenty of flaws in the band - these "crazy", both with their music and their appearance / behavior / communication style, challenged the Beatles and the whole "sugary" society. The aforementioned clubs from Rio de Janeiro could bite their elbows - in 1953 Garrincha for 500 cruzeiro, moving from the amateur Pau Grande, became a full-fledged player of Botafogo. First as a player and then as a legend.

Garrincha is considered the best right-handed hitter in football history. But here, too, chance played into the hands of the player. Once Manet, who in Pau Grande is used to playing the center forward, was asked to move to the right flank. The footballer, whom on that day the coach of the team Carlos Pinto preferred to see in the center instead of Garrinchi, history will probably not name either.

Later, when Garrincha established himself in Botafogo, Main coach Panthers João Saldanha gave his players the following directive before the games: "Do you see this piece of the field? - From our penalty area to the opponent's goal. I do not allow any of you to meddle here, on the right flank. This is Garrinchi's area of responsibility, everyone else should play in the central zone. And to the left. Manet's flank - not a step! I give him full carte blanche, let him do whatever he wants there. Your task is to wait for him to pass and shoot on goal. "

In Brazil, many continue to count best player in the history of the national team to Garrinch. Pele, who was a goal-scoring machine, could only dream of the kind of technique that Manet owned. It was common for Garrinchi to pick up the ball in midfield, wind up three or four opponents, and then make an assist pass or score a goal.

That is how he went through his screening in Botafogo! In a test test match, Garrinchi's rival on the touchline was Brazilian left-back Nilton Santos. And the hero of this story literally disgraced the legend by throwing the ball between his legs several times. Later, an impressed Santos told club bosses: "If this guy ends up in another club, I won't be able to sleep well. But if we sign him, then defenders of other clubs won't be able to sleep."

The story of Garrinchi's goal against Fiorentina in a friendly match for Celesao became famous. Twisting three Italian defenders and the goalkeeper, Manet stopped at the goal line and froze. He sent the ball into the net only when he beat back defender Enzo Robotti again. They say that for such an initiative, the head coach of the Brazilian national team, Vicente Feola, wanted to expel the player from the team, because some of its players, led by the captain Bellini, condemned such actions of the player.

As it turned out, Manet appreciated Botafogo only in words. Financially, the leaders of the club did not want to confirm this. Taking advantage of the player's naivety, they deliberately lowered his salary. Very often Garrinche, foolishly, had to sign a blank form in advance. As a result, he sometimes received a salary that was less than the salaries of some substitutes! And health problems in the club were assigned to the footballer himself, disowning the financing of an expensive operation. As a result, in a certain period Garrincha received money only for the matches played, in which he played "injections." And only ten years after playing for the club, already being a two-time world champion, the player's wife, Elza Suarez came up with the idea to demand from the management of Botafogo an increase in the salary for her husband.

Garrincha made a name for himself just the same in the Brazilian national team. With Manet as part of Celesao, she left the field defeated only in one case - at the English World Cup-1966 after the match with the Hungarians, and this was Garrinchi's last match for Brazil. Charlie Chaplin of football, as he was nicknamed, showed himself already at the 1958 World Cup in Sweden. Having missed the first two meetings with the British and Austrians, Garrincha approached the mentor Feola and delivered an ultimatum. "Either you put me on a game with the USSR, or my legs will no longer be in the national team." Feola got scared - and until the end of the tournament, at the base of Celesao, on the right edge of the attack, it was not the main Joel who acted earlier, but Garrincha. Having left the group from the first place, before the final, Brazil did not meet worthy rivals, and already in decisive match did not leave a stone unturned from the hosts of the tournament - the Swedes. Since then, Manet could begin to feel like a star of world magnitude, although he still continued to be in the shadow of Pele.

The next world championship changed everything. When Pele is called "the king of football", listing all his titles and records, for some reason they forget to mention that in 1962 Brazil won the tournament with little or no reason. In the second group match with Czechoslovakia, Pele was injured and dropped out before the end of the competition. When Pele dropped out, it was Garrincha who became the leader who led Celesao to win the gold medals. Already in the playoffs in the matches with England and Chile Manet issued a double, after which the Chilean newspaper Mercurio asked the question: "From which planet is Garrincha?"

By the way, a funny situation happened with the Garrinches in the game against Chile. Already with the score 4: 2 in favor of the ball wizards in the 83rd minute, Mexican referee Arturo Yamasaki Maldonado removed Manet from the field for allegedly hitting the Chilean Rojas. In fact, it was the theater of one actor on the part of Rojas, because Manet only touched his abuser as a joke. This episode caused a lot of controversy, since the coca was the opportunity for Garrinchi to participate in the World Cup final.

Brazilian Prime Minister Tancred Nevis had to sort out all this mess, who in a telegram to the Chilean government asked not to disqualify the player. Moreover, the Chileans themselves laughed at the removal, and Rojas and Garrincha shook hands after the theatrical episode. As a result, a special commission had to be convened to make a decision. Joao Havelange brought the linesman of that meeting, the Uruguayan Esteban Marino, to testify, who told the "jury" how things were in reality. With five votes for and two against, the commission recognized the arbitrator's decision as an error.

Garrinche failed to score in the final, but his team defeated the Czechoslovak national team with a score of 3: 1 and for the second time in a row won the Goddess Nika's Cup.

The 1966 World Cup in England was Manet's biggest disappointment. By then tortured by injuries and extra pounds Garrincha did not show even a hundredth part of his best form. Avelange "pushed" the player into the tournament itself, who thus wanted to express his personal gratitude to the player. Manet did not stick and club career... He began to change places of deployment like gloves, and, as a rule, when signing a contract with the Garrinches, the clubs pursued mercantile goals. So, the leadership of Corinthians did not hide that Manet's signing was a cunning commercial move that was supposed to return the fans to the stadium.

Garrincha ended his career touring Europe as part of amateur teams. In 1970, he had a chance to sign a contract with Benfica, but just in that season, the Portuguese league imposed a ban on signing legionnaires, and Manuel Francisco dos Santos had to return to his homeland, to the humblest Olaria.

Despite the fact that in his entire life Garrincha managed to become a father for at least fourteen children, his last years cannot be called happy. Having spent all his money on drink, he lived in poverty. Even Manet no longer had his own apartment - he had to rent a house in the Bangu district of Rio de Janeiro. Garrincha died from the same disease that his father knew how to deal with - from cirrhosis of the liver, pulmonary edema and disorders of the nervous system.

"You can imagine returning on Saturday night in your hometown David Beckham to play soccer with your friends? You went to see him play because you knew he would entertain you. ”This is how Andrew Downey described Garrincha, who translated Rui Castro's book“ The Lone Star ”from Portuguese into English. At the funeral of“ the great lame "a lot of people gathered. It could not be otherwise. Even when Manet lost his form and scored excess weight, spectators burst into the stadium and set attendance records. The people's player - this is how he was remembered in Brazil. A player who is revered in Brazil itself more than Pele himself.