Quarentinha

1950/53 Paysandu (BRE) / games, 9 goals

1953/54 Vitoria (BRE) / games, 15 goals

1954/56 Botafogo (BRE)

1956 Bonsucesso (BRE)

1956/65 Botafogo (BRE) 417 games, 313 goals

1965 America de Cali (COL)

1966 Union Magdalena (COL) 39 games, 26 goals

1967 Deportivo Cali (COL) 39 games, 11 goals

1968 Junior Baranquilla (COL) 29 games, 7 goals

With the National Team :

13 caps, 14 goals

(Friendly matches: 10 caps, 11 goals)

(Copas Oswaldo Cruz: 2 caps, 1 goal)

(Copa Bernardo O'Higgins: 1 cap, 2 goals)

1st cap: September 17, 1959 against Chile (7-0)

Last cap: May 22, 1963 against Germany (3-0)

unofficial: 1 cap, 2 goals

Waldir Cardoso Lebrêgo

Born September 15, 1933 in Belem (BRE)

Died February 11, 1996 in Rio de Janeiro (BRE)

Brazilian, left winger

Nickname: Quarentinha

Quarentinha was born in 1933 in Belém, one of the poorest places in Brazil. A country that was still underdeveloped and not blessed with weather conditions. Born Waldir Cardoso Lebrêgo, he came from a poor family, the son of a former footballer from the 1940s.

He started playing football when he was still very young and inherited his father's name as well as his super-powerful shot. At the end of the 1940s, he was spotted by the Paysandu club. Very technical, he impressed with the quality of his left-footed game but also with his ability to dribble to perfection, a technique that he perfected in the streets and on dirt pitches. His ability to stand out very quickly pushed Paysandu, in 1950, to offer him a first professional contract, which he accepted.

From 16 to 19 he played for the Paysandu club, but in 1953, he signed for Vitoria and scored a few goals. Still too young and inexperienced, he was not called up for the 1954 World Cup. The turning point in his career was his transfer to Botafogo in 1956 when he was only 23 years old. He stayed with the club for 9 years, becoming one of the best players in the club's history. In 417 games in the Botafogo jersey, he scored 313 goals, all while playing as a left winger! He is still Botafogo's top scorer today.

During this period, he was logically called up to the Selecao, where he played his first game against Chile in a 7-0 victory. It was the beginning of a short adventure, in fact, despite notable individual performances, 13 matches and 14 goals (always as a left winger), he missed the 1958 and 1962 World Cups. An eternal disappointment for the player who had the level to be in this Brazilian team or even a starter.

After his time at Botafogo, Quarentinha continued his career in Colombia in particular. During the four years following his departure from the Rio club, he wore the jersey of four Colombian clubs, then returned to retire in Brazil. His record was consequently enriched by a few local titles.

His club career, among the most beautiful in Brazilian football, contrasts with that of the national team. Nevertheless, even today, Quarentinha's left foot remains a model for many young Brazilian left-handers. And despite a relatively skinny physique, he had the privilege of playing with the two greatest. Teammate of Garrincha at club level and of Pelé at national level, this also perhaps explains why we have forgotten Waldir Cardoso Lebrêgo a little.

- Top scorer of the Rio Championship in 1958 (20 goals), 1959 (25 goals) and 1960 (25 goals) (Botafogo)

- Top scorer of the Rio-São Paulo tournament in 1960 (11 goals) (Botafogo)

Homepage