Former Brazil captain Carlos Alberto has died at the age of 72.
Brazil Captain And Legend Carlos Alberto Dies Age 72
Alberto passed away on Tuesday after suffering a heart attack, according to reports in the Brazilian media. A statement on the official Santos website read: ‘Santos FC regrets the death of the idol Carlos Alberto Torres, who was 72 years old.
‘He played 445 matches and scored 40 goals in the 1965 period to 1975, and is considered the best right-back in the history of Praiano Alvinegro. The club had decreed official mourning three days.’
Alberto captained his country to victory at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.
New York Cosmos
He also made eighty appearances locally for the New York Cosmos. His goal in the 4-1 victory over Italy in the final is regarded as one of the greatest in the history of the tournament. The build-up to Alberto’s famous goal started just five yards from the left of the Brazil box. A total of eight Brazil players touched the ball, with Pele providing the pass for Alberto to charge forward and strike the ball into the back of the net.
Alberto told the BBC: ‘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.’
Full-back Alberto won a total of 53 caps for Brazil and also helped both Santos and Fluminense secure domestic titles as well as enjoying his spell with New York Cosmos in the NASL later in his career alongside Pele. Alberto worked as a commentator for Sportv in Brazil and made his last appearance on television on Sunday.