Nílton Santos

1948/64 Botafogo (BRE) 721 matches, 11 goals

With the National Team :

75 caps, 3 goals

(Friendly matches: 25 caps)

(World Cup qualifiers: 6 caps)

(World Cup: 15 caps, 1 goal)

(Copa America: 12 caps, 1 goal)

(Pan American Games: 5 caps)

(Copa Rio Branco: 3 caps)

(Copa Oswaldo Cruz: 4 caps, 1 goal)

(Copa Bernardo O'Higgins: 2 caps)

(Atlantic Cup: 3 caps)

1st cap: April 17, 1949 against Colombia (5-0)

Last cap: June 17, 1962 against Czechoslovakia (3-1)

Unofficial: 10 caps

Nílton Dos Reis Santos

Born on May 16, 1925 in Rio de Janeiro (BRE)

Died on November 27, 2013 in Rio de Janeiro (BRE)

Brazilian, Left-Back, 1m80

Nickname: The Encyclopedia

Nílton Santos was born on May 16, 1925 in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. He discovered football quite late, after a stint in the air force in 1945, during which his commander organized a trial for him at Botafogo. Santos finally began his career in 1948, when he was already 22 years old.

Reassigned to the position of left-back, he was not thrilled with the idea of ​​playing in this position, but he was forced to do so by the president and the coach of the club who both thought they had found a player with extraordinary defensive qualities.

Nílton Santos will then revolutionize his position, he makes the full-back position much more offensive, chaining forward runs. Nicknamed "The Encyclopedia" for his in-depth knowledge of football, players and tactics, he is a very good defender with both feet who excels both defensively and offensively.

In the Botafogo club, the left defender participates fully in his team's offensive play and often takes the left winger position as he is so high on the pitch. Towards the end of his career, he will notably form a magnificent duo with the legend Mário Zagallo.

Playing 16 years in professional football with Botafogo, he wins many trophies and is one of the greatest legends in the history of the club. Mentor of Garrincha, it is said that Garrincha never drank alcohol in the presence of Santos despite his alcoholism. The small winger considered the defender as his spiritual "big brother".

The last match of Santos' career took place on December 16, 1964, against EC Bahia. In total, he played 721 matches for Botafogo, scoring 11 goals, at a time when defenders scored very, very few goals.

Santos had a magnificent history with the Brazilian national team, he began his international career in 1949, during the Copa America which he won and then he experienced the drama of the "Maracanazo" of the 1950 World Cup at home.

But he continued to be selected thereafter and participated in the 1954 World Cup, he also received a red card during the famous "Battle of Bern", the most violent match in the history of the World Cup, a match between Brazil and Hungary.

Selected for the 1958 World Cup, he was exceptional there, he also scored a goal against Austria. This goal is also legendary: after 4 minutes, in the second half, the left-back seizes the ball and accelerates on his side. Instead of passing the ball to a midfielder, he sinks into the Austrian flank. This is where history gets involved. Coach Vicente Feola jumps up on his bench. "Volta, Nilton! Volta!" ("Come back!"). He continues to advance. A one-two with Altafini who passes it to him on the left side of the Austrian 16-meter line: a ball chipped over the Austrian goalkeeper and goal! Brazil then leads 2 goals to 0 and will win the game 3 goals to 0.

This match coincides with the time when we began to describe full-backs as offensive and technical. In this idea, he forms with Djalma Santos one of the, if not the best pair of full-backs in the history of football. Part of the 1958 World Cup All-Star Team, he was also part of the team that won the 1962 World Cup, at the age of 37. In total, he played 75 matches for Brazil between 1949 and 1962 and retired from football in 1964, at the age of 39.

- Named to the 1958 World Cup Team of the Year

- Named to the FIFA 100

- Named to the World Team of the 20th Century

- Named to the South American Team of the 20th Century

- Voted among the "legends" of football by Golden Foot in 2009

- Inducted into the Brazilian Football Hall of Fame

- Brazilian Championship Tribute Award in 2007

- Named Honorary Citizen of Brasilia in 2013

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