The Triumph and Tragedy of
Brazil's Forgotten Footballing
Hero, he lost his virginity to
a goat.[9] His father was an
alcoholic, drinking Cachaça
heavily, a problem which
Garrincha would inherit.[8] He
had several birth defects: his
spine was deformed, his right
leg bent inwards and his left
leg six centimeters shorter
and
more

The Triumph and Tragedy of
Brazil's Forgotten Footballing
Hero, he lost his virginity to
a goat.[9] His father was an
alcoholic, drinking Cachaça
heavily, a problem which
Garrincha would inherit.[8] He
had several birth defects: his
spine was deformed, his right
leg bent inwards and his left
leg six centimeters shorter
and curved outwards, all of
which did not impede him to
play football at the top
level, due to his skills at
ball control and dribbling, as
well as his effective shot
with either foot -- an example
of which are the goals in
World Cups against England in
1962 and Bulgaria in 1966. He
had the ability to turn on
himself at top speed, which he
used to great effect. The
numerous attacks and goal
opportunities he generated
from individual plays
primarily on the right wing
would often end on an accurate
pass to a teammate in position
to score, as occurred in the
first two of Brazil's goals in
the 1958 World Cup final, and
the second goal against Spain
in the 1962 tournament.

The success he had on the
football pitch had great
contrast with his personal
life. He drank heavily
throughout his adult life, and
was involved in several
serious road accidents,
notably a crash into a lorry
in April 1969 which killed his
mother-in-law.[10] He was
married twice, first to Nair
Marques in 1952 (they
separated in 1965), a factory
worker from Pau Grande with
whom he had eight daughters,
and second to Elza Soares, a
samba singer whom he married
in an unofficial ceremony in
March 1966; they separated in
1977. As Soares had also
married before, the Brazilian
press were sour on the
marriage.[8] He had other
significant affairs, including
one with showgirl Angelita
Martinez,[11] and he is known
to have fathered at least 14
children.[3]

Garrincha died aged 49 of
cirrhosis of the liver,[4]
after a series of financial
and marital problems.
Seemingly, he was a forgotten
hero - his last years had been
unhappy and obscure - but his
funeral procession, from the
Maracanã to Pau Grande,
drew thousands of fans,
friends and former players to
pay their respects. His
epitaph reads 'Here rests in
peace the one who was the Joy
of the People -- Mané
Garrincha.'[3] A multi-use
stadium in Brasilia,
Estádio Mané Garrincha,
is named after him.

His career was presented in
the 1962 film Garrincha,
Alegria do Povo,[12] and in
2003, another movie, called
Garrincha - Estrela
Solitária ('Lonely Star'),
based in Ruy Castro's book,
depicted his life on and off
the field.[13]

Category Autos & Vehicles

Tags garrincha, Pele, Brazil, best, ever, great, soccer, futbol, futebol, gol, goal, score, copa, el, diez, maradona, ronaldinho, gaucho