Jair Da Rosa

1938 Barra Mansa (BRE) 32 matches, 20 goals

1938/42 Madureira (BRE) 58 matches, 43 goals

1943/46 Vasco da Gama (BRE) 193 matches, 62 goals

1947/49 Flamengo (BRE) 88 matches, 60 goals

1949/55 Palmeiras (BRE) 248 matches, 74 goals

1956/60 Santos FC (BRE) 176 matches, 116 goals

1961 São Paulo (BRE) 60 matches, 37 goals

1962/63 Ponte Preta (BRE) 87 matches, 52 goals

With the National Team :

39 caps, 22 goals

(Friendly matches: 2 caps, 3 goals)

(World Cup: 5 caps, 2 goals)

(Copa America: 18 caps, 13 goals)

(Copa Roca: 4 caps, 1 goal)

(Copa Rio Branco: 10 caps, 3 goals)

1st cap: March 5, 1940 against Argentina (1-6)

Last cap: January 29, 1956 against Paraguay (0-0)

Jair Da Rosa Pinto

Born on March 21, 1921 in Quatis (BRE)

Died on July 28, 2005 in Rio de Janeiro (BRE)

Brazilian, Left winger, Attacking-midfielder, 1m68

Nickname: Jajá

Jair Da Rosa was born on March 21, 1921 in Quatis, Brazil. He played in the local club Barra Mansa and followed in the footsteps of his big brother, Vasco De Gama legend Orlando. He made his professional debut in 1938, at the age of 18.

Being rejected by Vasco de Gama, the player did not give up and joined the Madureira club in 1938, where he became one of the greatest hopes of Brazilian football. Able to play left-winger or inside-left, he quickly made a name for himself, particularly for his great finishing quality and his powerful strikes.

It was at the inside-left position that the player would gradually climb the ladder of Brazilian football, technical and endowed with an extraordinary vision of the ball, he would finally sign with Vasco De Gama in 1943.

At Vasco de Gama, Jair Da Rosa would join one of the best teams of his time. With his fast and precise dribbling, he would show real leadership through his talent. Alongside Zizinho, Tesourinha, Ademir de Menezes and Heleno de Freitas, he would become one of the best players in the world.

With this Dream-team, Vasco de Gama would win the 1945 Carioca championship while being undefeated. Jair Da Rosa was then the driving force of this team. Unfortunately, the year 1946 would be much less good for the player and the team.

And in 1947, the player will join Flamengo in one of the most mysterious transfers in the history of football with undisclosed transfer amounts. Vasco De Gama fans will be furious to see one of their best players leave for one of their rivals.

At Flamengo, the player's goal was to become Zizinho's main rival in terms of level. Individually very successful, he will not win a single trophy with Flamengo. The example of his incredible level is a friendly match against Arsenal, the player will humiliate the opposing defense and score a double, easy 3-1 victory for Flamengo over Arsenal.

This match will also be at the origin of the use of numbers on the jerseys of Brazilian clubs, because that is what Arsenal was already doing, and it will become a norm from that year. Despite his incredible performances, the player will be expelled from the club, the fault of an unfortunate episode in his career.

During a match between Vasco De Gama and Flamengo, the player who had the chance to score the 3-0 goal missed the unmissable goal, Ary Barroso, a great Brazilian journalist of the time, went so far as to accuse the player of having received a bribe to not score. Vasco de Gama made a comeback, winning the match 5-2.

At the end of 1949, Jair Da Rosa joined Palmeiras, playing in a series of prestigious clubs. This would be the best choice of his career, as he dazzled fans with his talent and won several trophies. In total, he played 248 matches for 74 goals.

In 1956, he joined Santos FC, which was becoming one of the best clubs in the world. Jair De Rosa was then 35 years old and, as a veteran, he brought the necessary experience to the club to move up a gear. He would also be one of Pelé's mentors at the start of his career.

Positioned in midfield, Jair Da Rosa would show that despite his age he was still one of the best players on the planet. He became the conductor of this Brazilian team and led the club to 3 São Paulo Championship titles, in 1956, 1958 and 1960.

In 1960, he left Santos FC and in decline, although still sumptuous, he joined São Paulo at 39. He established himself there and proved his exceptional longevity. He continued to play football until 1963, when he retired at the age of 42.

Jair Da Rosa began his international career in 1945, during a Copa America match against Bolivia, after a convincing performance, he became a regular starter for the national team. He became a legend of Brazilian football during the 1949 Copa America during which he scored 9 goals and won the tournament.

With his incredible talent, he was considered one of the best players present at the 1950 World Cup, reaching the final, the coronation is so close and yet so far, this final will be a national drama, one of the greatest disappointments in the history of this sport.

After the competition, he lost his place in the national team and will play a few matches until 1956. In total, he will have played 22 goals in 39 matches for Brazil. Moreover, Jair Da Rosa will be considered the first great number 10 of the Brazilian selection, a selection that will have seen a bunch of stars wear this number of which he will have been the first legend.

- Top scorer of the Copa America in 1949 (9 goals)

- Named in the typical team of the tournament of the World Cup 1950

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