Vavá

Brazilian striker who scored in two consecutive World Cup finals.

Edvaldo Izidio Neto (12 November 1934 – 19 January 2002), commonly known as Vavá, was a Brazilian professional footballer who is widely considered to be one of the greatest strikers of his generation. Nicknamed "Peito de Aço" (Steel Chest), he most notably played for Vasco da Gama, Atlético Madrid, Palmeiras and the Brazil national team.

Quick Facts

Full name: Edvaldo Izídio Neto
Born: 12 November 1934
Birthplace: Recife, Brazil
Died: 19 January 2002
Place of death: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Position: Striker
Total caps: 697
Total goals: 298

Lore & Background

Vavá started his career with Sport Recife from 1949 to 1950. Between 1958 and 1961, he played for Atlético Madrid, moving abroad for the first time. He finished his career with Potuguesa de Desportos in 1970. He earned twenty caps with the Brazil national team between 1955 and 1964, scoring a total of fifteen goals.

On 13 November 1955, he debuted in a match against Paraguay. Vavá was part of the team that won both the 1958 and 1962 FIFA World Cups, in which he scored five and four goals respectively. He was a joint-recipient of the 1962 World Cup Golden Boot. Vavá scored in the World Cup finals of both 1958 (twice) and 1962 (once), thus becoming the first player to score in two consecutive World Cup finals.

Only five players have achieved scoring in two finals: Pelé, Paul Breitner, Zinedine Zidane, Kylian Mbappé, and Vavá. He remained the only player to have scored in two consecutive World Cup final matches until Mbappé achieved the feat in 2022.

Reader's Guide

Vavá died on 19 January 2002 in a Rio de Janeiro clinic aged 67. His club honours include: Campeonato Pernambucano with Sport Recife (1949); Campeonato Carioca with Vasco da Gama (1952, 1956, 1958); Torneio Rivadavia Correa Meyer (1953); Tournoi de Paris (1957); Torneio Rio–São Paulo (1958); two league titles with Atlético de Madrid (1959–60, 1960–61); Campeonato Paulista with Palmeiras (1963); and Liga MX with Club América (1966). Internationally, he won the FIFA World Cup in 1958 and 1962. Individually, he received the FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe in 1962 and is in the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.