Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho (Portuguese pronunciation:[ziˈzĩɲu]; 14 September 1921 – 8 February 2002), 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

ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueFriendlyTorneio Rio–São PauloOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Flamengo1940Campeonato Carioca0-9—-3—-5
19411-12——-4-1
19421-11——-1-14
19433-7——---36
19441-8——-1-29
19453-12———-26
19466-0———-7
19470-1———-22
19484-16——---19
19490-7——---22
19500-0—-1---22
Subtotal191728846318146
Bangu1950Campeonato Carioca00-9—-0-2-9
195100-17—-5-1-1
195200-15—-1—-1
195300-4—-6—-1
195400-4———-1
195500-4——-1-1
195600-8———-1
195700-4———-1
Subtotal--14765---12-4283124
São Paulo1957Campeonato Paulista00-6—-0—-5
195800-13—-3—-1
Subtotal--3519---3--6727
São Bento de Marília1959Campeonato Paulista Série A2009200—---2
Uberaba1960Campeonato Mineiro0010100—---1
Audax Italiano1961Chilean Primera División163—00—---3
Career total163373175-19-23-303

International

YearsGamesGoals
194252
194300
194400
194594
194676
194700
194800
194975
195073
195100
195200
195351
195400
195512
195675
195762
Total5430
DateVenueScoreOpponentGoal(s)Competition
1.14 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu6–1Chile01942 South American Championship
2.17 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu1–2Argentina0
3.21 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu2–1Peru0
4.31 January 1942Centenário, Montevidéu5–1Ecuador1
5.5 February 1942Centenário, Montevidéu1–1Paraguay1
6.21 January 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago3–0Colombia01945 South American Championship
7.28 January 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago2–0Bolivia0
8.7 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago3–0Uruguay0
9.14 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago1–3Argentina0
10.21 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago9–2Ecuador2
11.28 February 1945Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago1–0Chile0
12.16 December 1945Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo3–4Argentina1Copa Roca 1945
13.20 December 1945Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro6–2Argentina1
14.23 December 1945Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro3–1Argentina0
15.5 January 1946Centenário, Montevidéu3–4Uruguay1Copa Rio Branco 1946
16.9 January 1946Centenário, Montevidéu1–1Uruguay0
17.16 January 1946Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires3–0Bolivia11946 South American Championship
18.23 January 1946Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires4–3Uruguay0
19.29 January 1946Estadio Libertadores de América, Avellaneda1–1Paraguay0
20.3 February 1946Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires5–1Chile4
21.10 February 1946Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires0–2Argentina0
22.3 April 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro9–1Ecuador11949 South American Championship
23.10 April 1949Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo10–1Bolivia2
24.13 April 1949Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo2–1Chile1
25.24 April 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro7–1Peru0
26.30 April 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro5–1Uruguay1
27.8 May 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro1–2Paraguay0
28.11 May 1949Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro7–0Paraguay0
29.6 May 1950Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo3–4Uruguay1Copa Rio Branco 1950
30.14 May 1950Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro3–2Uruguay0
31.17 May 1950Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro1–0Uruguay0
–4 May 1950Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro6–4Combinado Grenal1Friendly
32.1 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro2–0Yugoslavia11950 FIFA World Cup
33.9 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro7–1Sweden0
34.13 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro6–1Spain1
35.16 July 1950Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro1–2Uruguay0
36.1 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima8–1Bolivia01953 South American Championship
37.15 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima1–0Uruguay0
38.19 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima0–1Peru0
39.23 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima3–2Chile1
40.27 March 1953National Stadium of Peru, Lima1–2Paraguay0
41.13 November 1955Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro3–0Paraguay2Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1955
42.12 June 1956Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção2–0Paraguay0Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1956
43.17 June 1956Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção5–2Paraguay2
44.24 June 1956Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro2–0Uruguay1Taça do Atlântico de 1956
45.1 July 1956Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro2–0Italy0Friendly
46.8 July 1956El Cilindro, Avellaneda0–0Argentina0Taça do Atlântico de 1956
47.5 August 1956Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro0–1Czechoslovakia0Friendly
48.8 August 1956Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo4–1Czechoslovakia2Friendly
49.13 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima4–2Chile01957 South American Championship
50.21 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima7–1Ecuador1
51.24 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima9–0Colombia1
52.28 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima2–3Uruguay0
53.31 March 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima1–0Peru0
54.3 April 1957National Stadium of Peru, Lima0–3Argentina0

Honours

Club

Flamengo

São paulo

International

Individual

Records

Manager

Brazil Olympic

External links

  • –FIFAcompetition record (archived)
  • (in Portuguese)