Tostão

Lore & Background

Tostão was an intelligent, hardworking and prolific left-footed forward, known for his creativity and technical skills. He was considered one of the best players in the world in his prime and arguably the best player in the world in the early 70s alongside Cruyff before health problems forced his early retirement. He played most of his 11-year career with Cruzeiro. Tostão represented Brazil in two World Cups, winning the tournament in 1970, and formed a lethal offensive partnership with Pelé in the national team.

Reader's Guide

Born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Tostão made his professional debut aged only 15 for local América Mineiro, returning after two years to Cruzeiro, where he had started his youth career. Although being a centre midfielder, he was crowned the Campeonato Mineiro top scorer on three consecutive occasions, the first in 1966, and left the club with a total of 249 goals. In the 1970 FIFA World Cup, improvised as a forward, Tostão scored two of his 32 goals for Brazil, and assisted four, as the national team won its third trophy.

The previous year, after being hit in the face by a ball during a match against Corinthians, he suffered a detached retina from which he never fully recovered. In April 1972, he signed for Vasco da Gama for a then record fee in the country but, after good overall displays, was forced to retire from the game at only 27, after his sight problems resurfaced, despite attempts at corrective surgery. Weary of football and fame, Tostão became a medical doctor, but ultimately rejoined the footballing world, working as a journalist and pundit on TV and writing for newspapers and magazines.