Leônidas da Silva

Leônidas da Silva was, probably, the first big star of the professional era in Brazilian soccer. Four times champion for Botafogo, already as a professional.

Leônidas was the son of "Dona" Maria and "Sr." Manoel Nunes da Silva. In his childhood he used to a fan of Fluminense, echanted he was with this tricolor champion of 1917, '18 and '19.

Know as the "Diamante Negro (Black Diamond)" or "Homem Borracha (Rubber Man)", Leônidas started his carrer in 1930, in São Cristovão from Rio. In 1932, with only 19 years old, he arrived the "selecção" due to his hability with the ball. He scored two goals in his debut for the Brazilian team.

In 1933, he went to Uruguay to play for Peñarol. After a year he was back in Brazil to play for Vasco da Gama, club he helped to win the "carioca" championship in 1934. His first major competition with the "selecção" jersey was the 1934 World Cup in Italy. Brazil campaign was awful, loosing their first game, being Leonidas the scorer of the only goal of Brazil in the competition.

In 1938, he was the striker of Brazil, scoring 8 goals, including 4 against Poland, making him the first player in World Cups to score 4 goals in only one game. Brazil managed his best participation in World Cups ever, standind in the 3rd position. Leônidas was elected the best player of that year's World Cup.

In all the clubs he played he managed to achieve success. Botafogo, Flamengo and Vasco da Gama were some of the clubs were he was successfull, mainly in Flamengo.

The Bicycle Kick

In 1942 he moved to São Paulo and acted in "São Paulo Futebol Clube". He was 5 times champion for "São Paulo", becoming one of the greatest idols of the "Paulista" club having a tribute at their headquarters with a replica of a bicycle kick, a kick that he proclaimed to invent and he first executed in the 24th of April 1932, in a match between "Bonsucesso" and "Carioca".

During the World War II, the 1942 and 1946 World Cups were cancelled, harming players like Leônidas da Silva, who never had the chance to be known and recognized around the World.

After quiting his soccer career in 1951, Leônidas maintained himself connected to soccer, first as the president of São Paulo and later as a sport commentator, being known as a direct and polemic one. He won seven radio prizes before his career had to be interrupted due to Alzheimer disease. For thirty years he lived in a house for aged people untill his death in the 24th of January 2004.

A biography was launched in 1999, called "O diamante eterno: Biografia de Leonidas da Silva" and his life is going to be pictured on movie.

References: Wikipedia, CBF