Leônidas da Silva

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Leônidas da Silva (born September 6, 1913 in Rio de Janeiro, died January 24, 2004 in Cotia, Sao Paulo, Brazil) was a Brazilian footballer.

Known as the "Black Diamond" or the "Rubber Man", Leônidas da Silva started his career at São Cristóvão FC.

After scoring twice on his debut for the Brazilian national team, he joined Peñarol in Uruguay in 1933. After a year, however, he came back to Brazil to play for Vasco da Gama. He helped them win the Rio State Championship. After playing in the second World Cup, in 1934, he joined Botafogo and won another Rio State Championship in 1935. On the following year, he joined Flamengo, where he stayed until 1941. Once again, in 1939, he won Rio State Championship. He also fought prejudice, being one of the first black players to join the then-elitist Flamengo team.

In 1938, he was the World Cup's top-scorer with 8 or 7 goals, despite his team being knocked out by Italy at the semi-final stage, including at least three goals in the 6-5 O.T. win over Poland. The manager, Ademar Pimenta, decided to rest his star striker for the semi-final. This would prove to be a mistake, as the Italians won the game 2-1.

Some sources claimed that Leonidas scored only three goals in the victory over Poland instead of the often quoted four. According to Polish experts, Brazil's six goals were scored by: Leonidas (18th, 93rd and 104th minutes), Romeu (25th minute) and Peracio (44th and 71st minute). This is now recognised by the authoritative RSSSFSee [RSSSF on page on 1938 tournament]. and also FIFA itselfSee [match data at official FIFA World Cup site]..

Leonidas joined São Paulo in 1942 and stayed at the club until his retirement from playing, in 1950.

Three years later he joined São Paulo as manager, before leaving football to become a radio reporter and then the owner of a furniture store in São Paulo.

He is credited with inventing the bicycle kick. However, he himself attributed the invention of this move to another Brazilian player, Petronilho de Brito; he only perfected it.

Leônidas died in 2004 because of complications due to Alzheimer's disease, from which he had been suffering since 1974. He is buried in the Cemiterio da Paz in São Paulo.

"He was a rigorously Brazilian player. Had the fantasy, childhoodness, improvisation and the sensuality from the best Brazilian players" -- (Nélson Rodrigues, playwright)

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