Carlos Alberto, Brazil’s legendary FIFA World Cup-winning captain, has passed away at the age of 72. The Brazilian press confirmed the news that the talismanic right-back died after suffering a heart attack in Rio de Janeiro.
Alberto was most famous for leading a side containing the likes of Pele and Tostao to winning the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. The right-back was capped 53 times for the Selecao, scoring 8 goals for his national side, including the iconic fourth goal in the final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup final against Italy.
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Such was Alberto’s impact on the game of football, that he was named into ‘World Team of the 20th Century’ and named by Pele in his list of the FIFA 100 – the greatest living players, in 2004.
The Brazilian was also noted for his career in Brazil, playing most of his career with Santos, and also with other Brazilian clubs like Fluminense and Flamengo, while also playing in the United States of America for New York Cosmos and the California Surf. His managerial career was varied, last overseeing things for Azerbaijan in 2005.
Alberto scored the best goal in a World Cup, ever
The former Brazilian captain was famous for scoring the most iconic goal in World Cup history, netting the fourth goal in Brazil’s 4-1 win over Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup final. The goal has gone down in Brazilian footballing history, and FIFA rated it the #1 goal scored by the Selecao ever.
Starting deep in Brazil’s half, the move involved almost every Brazilian player as they hypnotised their Italian opponents as they moved up the pitch. The final pass was provided by Pele, as Alberto charged forward from the right to place the ball into the net.
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Speaking about that goal, Alberto said “We only realised how beautiful the goal was after the game. The emotion, of course, when I scored that goal was incredible, but after the game, and still today, I realise how beautiful and how important that goal was because everybody is still talking about it.”
“Nobody talks about Pele's goal, the first goal, the second goal. It is always about the fourth goal. I think it was the best goal ever scored in a World Cup.”
Here is that goal, in all it’s glory:
