Zizinho


Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho, was a Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder for the Brazil national football team. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where he scored two goals. He was lauded as a complete player, with an array of offensive skills such as his dribbling, passing, and shooting ability with both feet, as well as his accuracy from dead ball situations and extraordinary vision. He was Pelé's idol, and is often considered one of the best Brazilian men's footballers of the pre-Pelé era.

Career

Born at Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, he played for Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo FC, Audax Italiano of Chile among others teams. He is considered the first idol of Flamengo, club that he defended - winning the state championships in 1942, 1943 and 1944 - until he was transferred just before the start of 1950 World Cup to Bangu. In São Paulo he won the state championship in 1957 being extremely important and becoming an idol.
In the 1950 World Cup he helped Brazil to progress to the final, but their surprise 2–1 defeat to Uruguay tarnished his reputation. Zizinho played a total of 53 times for his national team, scoring 30 goals. He turned down last minute invitations by the CBF to join first the 1954 World Cup Squad and then the 1958 squad, citing on both occasions that it would be unfair on the player being dropped at the last minute to make way for him.
Pelé always said that Zizinho was the best player he ever saw. "He was a complete player. He played in midfield, in attack, he scored goals, he could mark, head and cross."

Career statistics

Club

International

DateVenueScoreOpponentGoalCompetition
1.14 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu6–101942 South American Championship
2.17 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu1–201942 South American Championship
3.21 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu2–101942 South American Championship
4.31 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu5–111942 South American Championship
5.5 February 1942Centenário, Montevidéu1–111942 South American Championship
6.21 January 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago3–001945 South American Championship
7.28 January 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago2–001945 South American Championship
8.7 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago3–001945 South American Championship
9.14 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago1–301945 South American Championship
10.21 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago9–221945 South American Championship
11.28 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago1–001945 South American Championship
12.16 December 1945Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo3–41Copa Roca 1945
13.20 December 1945Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro6–21Copa Roca 1945
14.23 December 1945Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro3–10Copa Roca 1945
15.5 January 1946Centenário, Montevidéu3–41Copa Rio Branco 1946
16.9 January 1946Centenário, Montevidéu1–10Copa Rio Branco 1946
17.16 January 1946Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires3–011946 South American Championship
18.23 January 1946Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires4–301946 South American Championship
19.29 January 1946Estadio Libertadores de América, Avellaneda1–101946 South American Championship
20.3 February 1946Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires5–141946 South American Championship
21.10 February 1946Estadio Monumental, Buenos Aires0–201946 South American Championship
22.3 April 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro9–111949 South American Championship
23.10 April 1949Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo10–121949 South American Championship
24.13 April 1949Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo2–111949 South American Championship
25.24 April 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro7–101949 South American Championship
26.30 April 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro5–111949 South American Championship
27.8 May 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro1–201949 South American Championship
28.11 May 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro7–001949 South American Championship
29.6 May 1950Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo3–41Copa Rio Branco 1950
30.14 May 1950Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro3–20Copa Rio Branco 1950
31.17 May 1950Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro1–00Copa Rio Branco 1950
–4 May 1950Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro6–4Combinado Grenal1Friendly
32.1 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro2–011950 FIFA World Cup
33.9 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro7–101950 FIFA World Cup
34.13 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro6–111950 FIFA World Cup
35.16 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro1–201950 FIFA World Cup
36.1 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima8–101953 South American Championship
37.15 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima1–001953 South American Championship
38.19 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima0–101953 South American Championship
39.23 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima3–211953 South American Championship
40.27 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima1–201953 South American Championship
41.13 November 1955Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro3–02Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1955
42.12 June 1956Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção2–00Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1956
43.17 June 1956Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção5–22Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1956
44.24 June 1956Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro2–01Taça do Atlântico de 1956
45.1 July 1956Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro2–00Friendly
46.8 July 1956El Cilindro, Avellaneda0–00Taça do Atlântico de 1956
47.5 August 1956Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro0–10Friendly
48.8 August 1956Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo4–12Friendly
49.13 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima4–201957 South American Championship
50.21 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima7–111957 South American Championship
51.24 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima9–011957 South American Championship
52.28 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima2–301957 South American Championship
53.31 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima1–001957 South American Championship
54.3 April 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima0–301957 South American Championship