Brazil legend Carlos Alberto passes away - OBITUARIES
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Carlos Alberto Torres, who captained the unforgettable Brazilian team that won the 1970 FIFA World Cup Mexico™, passed away suddenly on Tuesday 25 October 2016 after suffering a heart attack. He was 72 years old.
FIFA President Gianni Infantino expressed his condolences on hearing the news. "FIFA and the world football community are deeply saddened by the death of Carlos Alberto Torres, the great captain of the “tri” in Mexico. “Capita” will be missed both as an amazing player and a great leader. We will forever remember him lifting the Jules Rimet trophy and we send our deepest condolences to his family and friends."
Considered the best right-back in the history of Brazilian football, Carlos Alberto was only 25 when he captained the Seleção to the their memorable World Cup triumph in Mexico. In the final against Italy, he sealed victory with a spectacular goal. After Jairzinho found Pele near the edge of the Italian penalty box, the Brazil No10 waited for Carlos Alberto to complete his attacking run into the box before playing the ball into his path. The defender completed one of football’s most memorable attacking moves by powerfully driving his shot home with the outside part of his right foot.
Though he grew up as a fan of Botafogo, Carlos Alberto was 19 years old when he began his professional career with Fluminense in 1963. He went on to play alongside Pele at Santos before having a brief spell with his beloved Botafogo. After a second memorable spell with Fluminense, the right-back joined arch-rivals Flamengo in 1977 before moving to the original North American Soccer League (NASL), where he teamed up again with Pele at the New York Cosmos. He also played for the California Surf in the NASL and had a second spell with the Cosmos before retiring in 1982.