Maybe but not every defending champion enters the tournament as #1 in the ranking. For example, Argentina entered 1982 tournament as #4 while they were the defending champion. But obviously past tournaments count in the rating.
rightly so ,,, especially like Lucas mentioned, that Brazil did have a good record (international friendly) from 70 to 74. Look at Brazil from 98 to 2002. France were NOT #1 (despite of winning WC98 and Euro2000) but Brazil. Only until mid 2001 after a series of bad game sin confed, copa and WC qual, France became #1 before WC02.
I would like to report an 'error' on... TOSTÃO 1968 Brazil 2x0 Portugal - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Jairzinho) Well, relying on RSSSF about Tostão statistics, I just looked the other goal, scored by Jairzinho and assist of Tostão. However, I reviewed one match report (by Estadão) and a little description of Folha and saw that another goal was scored by Rivelino (as it appears on your list correctly) and not by Tostão. It would be a simple mistake, but RSSSF and the book Seleção brasileira: 1914-2006 says the goals were scored by Tostao and Rivelino. I believe that is correct... maybe after the referee has given the goal to Tostão. But I haven't found, so far, some match reports from that period about that Tostão goal. - I don't had time to finish the look statistics of Gerson. I will try to finish today or tomorrow and post here.
GERSON 1961 - 1 match, 1goal, 0FK, 0PK, 0assist S11 1) Brazil 1x0 Chile - Taça Bernardo O'Higgins - 1Goal 1963 - 7 matches, 0goal, 0FK, 0PK, 2assists R 2) Brazil 2x3 Argentina - Roca Cup R 3) Brazil 5x2 Argentina - Roca Cup S11 4) Brazil 0x1 Portugal - Friendly S11 5) Brazil 3x2 France - Friendly - 1Assist (Pelé) S11 6) Brazil 0x1 Netherlands - Friendly S11 7) Brazil 1x0 Egypt - Friendly S11 8) Brazil 5x0 Israel - Friendly - 1Assist (Nei) 1964 - 3 matches, 2goals, 0FK, 1PK, 0assist S11 9) Brazil 5x1 England - Nations Cup S11 10) Brazil 0x3 Argentina - Nations Cup S11 11) Brazil 4x1 Portugal - Nations Cup - 2Goals (1PK) 1965 - 5 matches, 3goals, 0FK, 0PK, 0assist R 12) Brazil 3x0 Algeria - Friendly - 1Goal R 13) Brazil 0x0 Portugal - Friendly S11 14) Brazil 2x1 Sweden - Friendly - 1Goal S11 15) Brazil 3x0 Soviet Union - Friendly S11 16) Brazil 2x2 Soviet Union - Friendly - 1Goal 1966 - 5 matches, 2goals, 0FK, 1PK, 0assist S11 17) Brazil 3x1 Wales - Friendly S11 18) Brazil 1x0 Chile - Friendly - 1Goal S11 19) Brazil 1x1 Scotland - Friendly S11 20) Brazil 3x2 Sweden - Friendly - 1Goal (FK) S11 21) Brazil 1x3 Hungary - World Cup 1967 - 1 match, 0goal, 0FK, 0PK, 0assist S11 22) Brazil 1x0 Chile - Friendly 1968 - 15 matches, 2goals, 1FK, 0PK, 3assists S11 23) Brazil 4x0 Uruguay - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Jairzinho) S11 24) Brazil 1x2 West Germany - Friendly S11 25) Brazil 6x3 Poland - Friendly - 1Assist (Jairzinho) S11 26) Brazil 2x3 Czechoslovakia - Friendly - 1Assist (Natal) S11 27) Brazil 2x0 Yugoslavia - Friendly S11 28) Brazil 2x0 Portugal - Friendly S11 29) Brazil 1x2 Mexico - Friendly S11 30) Brazil 4x3 Peru - Friendly S11 31) Brazil 4x0 Peru - Friendly - 1Goal (FK) S11 C 32) Brazil 4x1 Argentina - Friendly S11 33) Brazil 1x2 Mexico - Friendly S11 34) Brazil 2x1 Mexico - Friendly S11 35) Brazil 2x1 FIFA XI - Friendly S11 36) Brazil 2x2 West Germany - Friendly S11 37) Brazil 3x3 Yugoslavia - Friendly 1969 - 9 matches, 1goal, 1FK, 0PK, 1assist S11 38) Brazil 2x1 Peru - Friendly - 1Goal (FK) S11 39) Brazil 3x2 Peru - Friendly S11 40) Brazil 2x1 England - Friendly S11 41) Brazil 2x0 Colombia - World Cup Qualifying S11 42) Brazil 5x0 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying S11 43) Brazil 3x0 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying S11 44) Brazil 6x2 Colombia - World Cup Qualifying S11 45) Brazil 6x0 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying - 1Assist (Tostão) S11 46) Brazil 1x0 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying 1970 - 11 matches, 2goals, 0FK, 0PK, 3assists S11 47) Brazil 0x2 Argentina - Friendly S11 48) Brazil 2x1 Argentina - Friendly S11 49) Brazil 5x0 Chile - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Roberto) S11 50) Brazil 2x1 Chile - Friendly S11 51) Brazil 0x0 Paraguay - Friendly S11 52) Brazil 0x0 Bulgaria - Friendly S11 53) Brazil 1x0 Austria - Friendly S11 54) Brazil 4x1 Czechoslovakia - World Cup - 2Assists (Pelé, Jairzinho) S11 56) Brazil 3x1 Uruguay - World Cup S11 57) Brazil 4x1 Italy - World Cup - 1Goal S11 58) Brazil 2x1 Mexico - Friendly 1971 - 7 matches, 1goal, 0FK, 0PK, 0assists S11 v 59) Brazil 1x1 Austria - Friendly S11 C 60) Brazil 1x0 Czechoslovakia - Friendly S11 C 61) Brazil 2x2 Yugoslavia - Friendly - 1Goal S11 62) Brazil 0x0 Hungary - Friendly S11 63) Brazil 1x0 Paraguay - Friendly S11 64) Brazil 1x1 Argentina - Roca Cup S11 65) Brazil 2x2 Argentina - Roca Cup 1972 - 4 matches, 0goals, 0FK, 0PK, 0assists S11 C 66) Brazil 0x0 Czechoslovakia - Independence Cup S11 C 67) Brazil 3x0 Yugoslavia - Independence Cup S11 C 68) Brazil 1x0 Scotland - Independence Cup S11 C 69) Brazil 1x0 Portugal - Independence Cup Matches: 69 (46W 14D 9L) - 65 matches in starting11 - 6 matches as captain Goals: 14 (0.20%) - 3FK - 1PK Assists: 9 (0.13%)
Brazil is incredibly deep in the center mid (#8) position, with Didi, Gerson, Falcao, Alemao, and Toninho Cerezo also played there at club level but not for the NT. The opposite is for defensive mids (#5), where no one really stands out except Cerezo. Players like Clodoaldo, Dunga, M Silva, Mazinho, G Silva, Sampaio, Emerson are not all time greats.
Yes, Brazil has always been characterized by their quality and class #8 mids, but nowadays, most brazilians mids don't come with these features. We did not stop to have talent, but the structure of the youth categories is not good. need to rephrase. If there isn't like having a new Didi, we must have a Xavi, 'at least'. What about #5, I believe that Zito should be one of the best in the world at that time.
KAKÁ 2002 - 5 matches, 1 goal, 0 assists R 1) Brazil 6x0 Bolivia - Friendly S11 2) Brazil 6x1 Iceland - Friendly - 1Goal R 3) Brazil 4x0 Malaysia - Friendly R 4) Brazil 5x2 Costa Rica - World Cup R 5) Brazil 0x1 Paraguay - Friendly 2003 - 10 matches, 5 goals, 0 assists S11 C 6) Brazil 0x1 Mexico - Gold Cup S11 C 7) Brazil 2x1 Honduras - Gold Cup S11 C 8) Brazil 2x0 Colombia - Gold Cup - 2Goals S11 C 9) Brazil 1x1 USA - Gold Cup - 1Goal S11 C 10) Brazil 0x1 Mexico - Gold Cup R 11) Brazil 2x1 Colombia - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal R 12) Brazil 1x0 Ecuador - World Cup Qualifying S11 13) Brazil 1x0 Jamaica - Friendly S11 14) Brazil 1x1 Peru - World Cup Qualifying S11 15) Brazil 3x3 Uruguay - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal 2004 - 8 matches, 3 goals, 1 assist S11 16) Brazil 0x0 Rep. of Ireland - Friendly S11 17) Brazil 0x0 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying S11 18) Brazil 4x1 Hungary - Friendly - 1Goal S11 19) Brazil 0x0 France - FIFA Centennial S11 20) Brazil 3x1 Argentina - World Cup Qualifying S11 21) Brazil 1x1 Chile - World Cup Qualifying - 1Assist (Luís Fabiano) S11 22) Brazil 5x2 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying - 2Goals S11 23) Brazil 0x1 Ecuador - World Cup Qualifying 2005 - 13 matches, 3 goals, 2 assists S11 24) Brazil 1x0 Peru - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal S11 25) Brazil 1x1 Uruguay - World Cup Qualifying S11 26) Brazil 4x1 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying - 1Assist (Robinho) S11 27) Brazil 1x3 Argentina - World Cup Qualifying S11 28) Brazil 3x0 Greece - Confederations Cup S11 29) Brazil 0x1 Mexico - Confederations Cup S11 30) Brazil 2x2 Japan - Confederations Cup S11 31) Brazil 3x2 Germany - Confederations Cup S11 32) Brazil 4x1 Argentina - Confederations Cup - 1Goal S11 33) Brazil 1x1 Croatia - Friendly S11 34) Brazil 5x0 Chile - World Cup Qualifying - 1Assist (Juan) S11 35) Brazil 3x0 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying S11 36) Brazil 8x0 UAE - Friendly - 1Goal 2006 - 11 matches, 5 goals, 3 assists S11 37) Brazil 1x0 Russia - Friendly S11 38) Brazil 4x0 New Zealand - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Ronaldo) S11 39) Brazil 1x0 Croatia - World Cup - 1Goal S11 40) Brazil 2x0 Australia - World Cup S11 41) Brazil 4x1 Japan - World Cup S11 42) Brazil 3x0 Ghana - World Cup - 1Assist (Ronaldo) S11 43) Brazil 0x1 France - World Cup R 44) Brazil 3x0 Argentina - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Elano) S11 C2T 45) Brazil 2x0 Wales - Friendly S11 46) Brazil 2x1 Ecuador - Friendly - 1Goal S11 C 47) Brazil 2x1 Switzerland - Friendly - 1Goal 2007 - 12 matches, 5 goals, 0 assists S11 48) Brazil 0x2 Portugal - Friendly S11 49) Brazil 4x0 Chile - Friendly - 1Goal S11 50) Brazil 1x0 Ghana - Friendly S11 51) Brazil 1x1 England - Friendly R 52) Brazil 0x0 Turkey - Friendly R 53) Brazil 2x0 Algeria - Friendly S11 54) Brazil 4x2 USA - Friendly S11 55) Brazil 3x1 Mexico - Friendly - 1Goal S11 56) Brazil 0x0 Colombia - World Cup Qualifying S11 57) Brazil 5x0 Ecuador - World Cup Qualifying - 2Goals S11 58) Brazil 1x1 Peru - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal S11 59) Brazil 2x1 Uruguay - World Cup Qualifying 2008 - 3 matches, 1 goal, 2 assists S11 60) Brazil 4x0 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal S11 61) Brazil 0x0 Colombia - World Cup Qualifying S11 62) Brazil 6x2 Portugal - Friendly - 2Assists (Luís Fabiano, Elano) 2009 - 13 matches, 3 goals, 1PK, 4 assists S11 63) Brazil 3x0 Peru - World Cup Qualifying S11 64) Brazil 4x0 Uruguay - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal (PK) S11 65) Brazil 2x1 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying S11 66) Brazil 4x3 Egypt - Confederations Cup - 2Goals S11 67) Brazil 3x0 USA - Confederations Cup - 1Assist (Maicon) S11 68) Brazil 3x0 Italy - Confederations Cup - 1Assist (Luís Fabiano) S11 69) Brazil 1x0 South Africa - Confederations Cup S11 70) Brazil 3x2 USA - Confederations Cup S11 71) Brazil 1x0 Estonia - Friendly - 1Assist (Luís Fabiano) S11 72) Brazil 3x1 Argentina - World Cup Qualifying - 1Assist (Luís Fabiano) S11 73) Brazil 0x0 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying S11 74) Brazil 1x0 England - Friendly S11 75) Brazil 2x0 Oman - Friendly 2010 - 7 matches, 1 goal, 4 assists S11 76) Brazil 2x0 Rep. of Ireland - Friendly S11 77) Brazil 3x0 Zimbabwe - Friendly S11 78) Brazil 5x1 Tanzania - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Robinho) S11 79) Brazil 2x1 North Korea - World Cup S11 80) Brazil 3x1 Côte d'Ivoire - World Cup - 2Assists (Luis Fabiano/Elano) S11 81) Brazil 3x0 Chile - World Cup - 1Assist (Luís Fabiano) S11 82) Brazil 1x2 Netherlands - World Cup 2012 - 3 matches, 1 goal, 1 assist S11 83) Brazil 6x0 Iraq - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Oscar) S11 84) Brazil 4x0 Japan - Friendly - 1Goal S11 85) Brazil 1x1 Colombia - Friendly Matches: 85 (60W 16D 9L) • 76 matches in starting 11 • 6 matches (and 1 match during the game) as captain Goals: 28 (0.33%) • 1PK Assists: 17 (0.2%) Summary: 85 caps, 28 goals, 17 assists (0.60%) Friendlies: 33 caps, 11 goals, 7 assists (0.54%) Confederations Cup: 10 caps, 3 goals, 2 assists (0.5%) World Cup: 10 caps, 1 goal, 4 assists (0.5%) WC-qualification: 26 caps, 10 goals, 4 assists (0.54%) CONCACAF Gold Cup: 5 caps, 3 goals, 0 assist (0.6%) Other tournaments: 1 caps, 0 goal, 0 assist
Didi was a true #10 (a classical playmaker in every sense). Kaka could well be listed as 50% #10 and 30% #8 and 20% FW (#11 SS) Ronaldinho was like 60% as #10, 40% (#11 LFW) only Falcal /Cerezo were both 70% #8, and 30% as AM/DM Oscar is the latest type of Falcao and let's see how he will develop Ganso is half way of Didi and Socrates - I can see he is not happy in Brazil lately
Yes, but in NT, he played as a central mid with defensive and offensive roles, different Kaka or Ronaldinho. I will not go into the question about numbers vs roles... is debatable, because for me the true #10 are players like Pele, Maradona, Zico, Messi and already has a thread on this subject. However, if we are talking about 'mystical' number, Didi is the largest #8 in history of Brazil, after all, he played with that number. I see Oscar as a type of Kaka... with a little less speed. And Ganso has the talent to be a new Socrates, but it is slow for modern football and lazy. "I played with the greatest players of Brazil NT's history in Botafogo. Even my master Didi told me the following: 'The day you se a player who plays like me, you give the shirt #8 at him.' So here I am, on my home, by orders of my master with all honors. Hope you all glories and all luck of the world, and how me and Didi had" Gerson in presentation of Renato, 2011 (yes, Gerson was obviously exaggerating to say that Renato was so nice to receive such honors )
In the old days, there was no "playmaker" type, but who is the "most important" player in midfield to provide chances improvisation, passing balls and some defense. So you tell me who was the "plamaker" for Brazil NT from 1958 to 1962? (note Pele and Garrincha were both just SUBS in 1958) From WC70 onward tactics became more and more important and hence the number in attack are reducing accordingly: from 5 to 4 to 3 to 2 and lately 1. 50's: 2 3 5 to 2 3 3 2 60's: WM 2 3 3 2 to 4 2 4 70's: 4 2 4 to 4 3 3 80's: 4 3 3 to 4 3 1 2 90's: 4 4 2 to 4 4 1 1 or 4 5 1 00's: 4 4 1 1 varies to 4 4 2 and 4 2 3 1 2010's: mostly 4 2 3 1 from mid 80's : ONLY in Europe some "Football journalist" started using the term "playmaker" (computer age) as the man who is like the computer processor to control others = "play make" 90's MARKED up the time a "PLAYMAKER" (in football) is official adopted as a ROLE or Position in 4 3 1 2 or 4 4 2 (diamond) or 3 4 1 2 ===========================================
I didn't say that Didi was not a playmaker, just said that his playing style is regarded as a genuine #8 and not a #10 in Brazil. What you've shown so far is correct. But Zizinho it seems that was closer to 4 forwards than Didi, for example. When you say ''Didi was a true #10 (a classical playmaker in every sense).'' is obvious that the first thought about a classic playmaker is the term that emerged in the 1980s, and yourself as expounded, was not the place he played. But if I were to 'translate', in my vision nowadays it would a typical #8, CM/AM, as Gerson, Falcao, players who could move close to forwards.
Well First of all, "PLAYMAKER " is just a term to indicate a ROLE or STYLE of a player, Nothing to do with a Position Nor about the shirt number - Examples: * Shirt number: Cruijff, Di Stefano wore #9 but their STYLE were truely a playmaker (as in mid 80s). In English team, they granted the #10 to the best player (lineker, Owen, Rooney), not necessary "the playmaker" of the team! ** Position: - both Cruijff, Di Stefano started as a "center forward" but their ROLE were (like) playmaker. - Pele, Baggio, Meazza , Puskas started as 2nd FW or deep FW, but they play like playmaker. - Secondly, by definition a CLASSIC "playmaker"means a ROLE of a player to: 1- Control and organize midfield (in rythm such that it complement to opponents one) 2- Creating space and chances for attackers (visionary pass, decisive pass/cross or split defense pass..) 3- Distribution of balls (to follow rythm in 1) According those criteria, Didi was a playmaker in every sense (for that). Platini, Zidane, Gerson, Rivelino, Zico, Maradona, Hagi Laudrup ... did cover all 3. - Other CM (or #8 like you like) only cover 1 and 3 plus 4 help in defense if trouble Of course, some "playmakers" could go back and help defense (Pele, Cruijff Didi ...) or some CM could also create chances (some times) like Viera, Cerezo, Edgar Davids ... but that is NOT their "principal priority" in game play. - AM covers #2 and #3 (but they do NOT control rythm of midfield) Another example, Xavi was a "pure CM" from 00-07 (cover 1 and 3) but from 07-12 he improved and covered in #2 (plus 1 and 3) and so many started calling him a playmaker.
Your explanations are correct, James. But you know ''playmaker'' is usually a term used also by many to define position and that position is typically a AM. Moreover, the term #10 is often used for set AM or FW, positions that Didi didn't play in Brazil NT. For this reason I had disagreed and made reservations. #8 approaches a CM / AM today, a position I still believe that Didi would play today. But if you talking about only playmaker as the main organizer of the team, in the true meaning of the term, it is clear that Didi did this role.
SÓCRATES 1979 - 6 matches, 5 goals, 2PKs, 2 assists S11 1) Brazil 6x0 Paraguay - Friendly - 2Assists (Éder, Batata) S11 2) Brazil 5x1 Uruguay - Friendly - 2Goals S11 3) Brazil 2x0 Bolivia - Copa América S11 4) Brazil 2x2 Argentina - Copa América - 2Goals (1PK) S11 5) Brazil 1x2 Paraguay - Copa América S11 6) Brazil 2x2 Paraguay - Copa América - 1Goal (PK) 1980 - 8 matches, 2 goals, 1PK, 1 assist S11 C 7) Brazil 2x0 Mexico - Friendly S11 C 8) Brazil 1x2 URSS - Friendly S11 C 9) Brazil 2x1 Chile - Friendly S11 C 10) Brazil 1x1 Polonia - Friendly - 1Assist (Zico) S11 C 11) Brazil 1x0 Uruguai - Friendly S11 C 12) Brazil 2x1 Paraguay - Friendly S11 C 13) Brazil 6x0 Paraguay - Friendly - 1Goal S11 C 14) Brazil 2x0 Switzerland - Friendly - 1Goal (PK) 1981 - 15 matches, 6 goals, 1PK, 6 assists S11 C 15) Brazil 1x1 Argentina - Mundialito S11 C 16) Brazil 4x1 West Germany - Mundialito - 1Assist (Serginho) S11 C 17) Brazil 1x2 Uruguay - Mundialito - 1Goal (PK) S11 C 18) Brazil 1x1 Colombia - Friendly - 1Assist (Serginho) S11 C 19) Brazil 6x0 Ecuador - Friendly - 2Goals S11 C 20) Brazil 2x1 Bolivia - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal + 1Assist (Reinaldo) S11 C 21) Brazil 2x1 Chile - Friendly - 1Assist (Zico) S11 C 22) Brazil 3x1 Bolivia - World Cup Qualifying S11 C 23) Brazil 5x0 Venezuela - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal S11 C 24) Brazil 1x0 England - Friendly S11 C 25) Brazil 3x1 France - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Zico) S11 C 26) Brazil 2x1 West Germany - Friendly S11 C 27) Brazil 1x0 Spain - Friendly S11 C 28) Brazil 0x0 Chile - Friendly S11 C 29) Brazil 3x0 Bulgaria - Friendly - 1Assist (Leandro) 1982 - 9 matches, 4 goals, 0PKs, 1 assist S11 C 30) Brazil 1x1 Czechoslovakia - Friendly S11 C 31) Brazil 3x1 Portugal - Friendly S11 C 32) Brazil 1x1 Switzerland - Friendly S11 C 33) Brazil 7x0 Rep. of Ireland - Friendly - 2Goals S11 C 34) Brazil 2x1 URSS - World Cup - 1Goal S11 C 35) Brazil 4x1 Scotland - World Cup - 1Assist (Falcão) S11 C 36) Brazil 4x0 New Zealand - World Cup S11 C 37) Brazil 3x1 Argentina - World Cup S11 C 38) Brazil 2x3 Italy - World Cup - 1Goal 1983 - 8 matches, 2 goals, 1PK, 2 assists S11 C 39) Brazil 3x2 Chile - Friendly S11 C 40) Brazil 4x0 Portugal - Friendly - 1Goal + 1Assist (Careca) S11 C 41) Brazil 1x1 Wales - Friendly S11 C 42) Brazil 2x1 Switzerland - Friendly - 1Goal (PK) S11 C 43) Brazil 3x3 Sweden - Friendly - 1Assist (Jorginho) S11 C 44) Brazil 0x0 Chile - Friendly S11 C 45) Brazil 0x0 Argentina - Copa América S11 C 46) Brazil 1x1 Uruguay - Copa América 1985 - 5 matches, 1 goal, 0PKs, 0 assists S11 47) Brazil 2x0 Bolivia - World Cup Qualifying S11 48) Brazil 3x1 Chile - Friendly S11 49) Brazil 2x0 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying S11 50) Brazil 1x1 Paraguay - World Cup Qualifying - 1Goal S11 51) Brazil 1x1 Bolivia - World Cup Qualifying 1986 - 9 matches, 2 goals, 1PK, 1 assist S11 52) Brazil 0x2 West Germany - Friendly S11 53) Brazil 4x0 Peru - Friendly - 1Assist (Casagrande) S11 54) Brazil 3x0 Finland - Friendly R 55) Brazil 1x1 Chile - Friendly S11 56) Brazil 1x0 Spain - World Cup - 1Goal S11 57) Brazil 1x0 Algeria - World Cup S11 58) Brazil 3x0 Northern Ireland - World Cup S11 59) Brazil 4x0 Poland - World Cup - 1Goal (PK) S11 60) Brazil 1x1 France - World Cup Matches: 60 (38W 17D 5L) - 59 matches in starting11 - 40 matches as captain Goals: 22 (0.37) - 6PKs Assists: 13 (0.22) Summary: 60 caps, 22 goals, 13 assists (0.58%) Friendlies: 34 caps, 12 goals, 10 assists (0.65%) WC-qualification: 7 caps, 3 goals, 1 assist (0.57%) World Cup: 10 caps, 3 goals, 1 assist (0.5%) Copa America: 6 caps, 3 goals, 0 assist (0.5%) Mundialito: 3 caps, 1 goal, 1 assist (0.67%)
Agree. I hope you did not misunderstand my point - not to nitpick at your post but rather to discussion In fact not many players thru out history did cover the "play maker" role 100% (mostly 70 to 80% career time) only very few notable names as "FULL TIME" playmaker in Valderama, Hagi, Laudrup, Rui Costa , Enzo Francescoli, or probably Moreno, Zidane , Didi
Surely not! It wasn't my intention... It playmaker that is not always used with the same meaning in all discussions, so that 'confusion', but I understand your (great) post. As regards the organization of play, Didi was probably one of the best playmakers in history. He was the ''boss'' on the midfield in Brazil and progressed often in offensive zone to make plays with Pelé and Garrincha.
That's natural as for the Selecao he played deeper in midfield, organizing the side and dictating the tempo at which the ball would move. Still would be interesting to see his numbers.
I searched new informations about Zizinho's games without conclusive match reports before. Now I consulted the digital collection of the newspaper O Globo • There is nothing special here: 07/02/1945 - Brasil 3x0 Uruguay - Copa América 14/02/1945 - Brasil 1x3 Argentina - Copa América 18/05/1950 - Brasil 1x0 Uruguay - Copa Rio Branco 17/06/1956 - Brasil 5x2 Paraguay - Copa Osvaldo Cruz • New informations 23/03/1953 - Brasil 3x2 Chile - Copa América - Zizinho (assisted by Didi) - Julinho and Baltazar (both assisted by Zizinho) 24/06/1956 - Brasil 2x0 Uruguay - Copa del Atlántico - Zizinho (FK goal) So now Zizinho have 17 assists (0.32) and 3FK goals. Didi have 14 assists (0.20) However, I have not found conclusive information about this game yet: 1945 S11 9) Brasil 9x2 Ecuador - Copa América - 2Goals + 1Assist (Ademir) - NO INFORMATION 2 HALF
MANÉ GARRINCHA 1955 - 1 match, 0 goals, 0 assists S11 1) Brazil 1x1 Chile - Bernardo O'Higgins 1957 - 6 matches, 0 goals, 1 assist R 2) Brazil 7x1 Ecuador - South American Championship R 3) Brazil 9x0 Colombia - South American Championship - 1Assist (Evaristo) S11 4) Brazil 1x1 Peru - World Cup Qualifying S11 5) Brazil 1x0 Peru - World Cup Qualifying S11 6) Brazil 2x1 Portugal - Friendly S11 7) Brazil 3x0 Portugal - Friendly 1958 - 5 matches, 0 goals, 3 assists S11 8) Brazil 3x1 Bulgaria - Friendly - 1 Assist (Pelé) S11 9) Brazil 2x0 Soviet Union - World Cup S11 10) Brazil 1x0 Wales - World Cup S11 11) Brazil 5x2 France - World Cup S11 12) Brazil 1x1 Sweden - World Cup - 2Assists (Vavá 2x) 1959 - 4 matches, 0 goals, 2 assists S11 13) Brazil 4x2 Bolivia - South American Championship S11 14) Brazil 3x1 Uruguay - South American Championship S11 15) Brazil 4x1 Paraguay - South American Championship - 2Assists (Pelé and Chinezinho) S11 16) Brazil 1x1 Argentina - South American Championship 1960 - 5 matches, 2 goals, 1 assist S11 17) Brazil 5x0 United Arab Republic (Egypt) - Friendly - 1Goal S11 18) Brazil 3x1 United Arab Republic (Egypt) - Friendly S11 19) Brazil 3x0 United Arab Republic (Egypt) - Friendly - 1Goal S11 20) Brazil 4x3 Denmark - Friendly - 1Assist (Pepe) S11 21) Brazil 4x0 Chile - Friendly 1961 - 4 matches, 1 goal, 1 assist S11 22) Brazil 2x0 Paraguay - O. Cruz Cup S11 23) Brazil 3x2 Paraguay - O. Cruz Cup - 1Assist (Coutinho) S11 24) Brazil 2x1 Chile - B. O'Higgins Cup - 1Goal S11 25) Brazil 1x0 Chile - B. O'Higgins Cup 1962 - 12 matches, 6 goals, 4 assists S11 26) Brazil 6x0 Paraguay - O. Cruz Cup - 1Goal S11 27) Brazil 4x0 Paraguay - O. Cruz Cup S11 28) Brasil 2x1 Portugual - Friendly - 1Assist (Vavá) S11 29) Brasil 1x0 Portugual - Friendly S11 30) Brazil 3x1 Wales - Friendly - 1Goal S11 31) Brazil 3x1 Wales - Friendly - 1Assist (Pelé) S11 32) Brazil 2x0 Mexico - World Cup S11 33) Brazil 0x0 Czechoslovakia - World Cup S11 34) Brazil 2x1 Spain - World Cup - 1Assist (Amarildo) S11 35) Brazil 3x1 England - World Cup - 2Goals S11 36) Brazil 4x2 Chile - World Cup - 2Goals + 1Assist (Vavá) R 37) Brazil 3x1 Czechoslovakia - World Cup 1965 - 6 matches, 0 goals, 1 assist S11 38) Brazil 5x0 Belgium - Friendly S11 39) Brazil 2x0 West Germany - Friendly - 1Assist (Flávio) S11 40) Brazil 0x0 Argentina - Friendly S11 41) Brazil 3x0 Algeria - Friendly S11 42) Brazil 0x0 Portugal - Friendly S11 43) Brazil 3x0 Soviet Union - Friendly 1966 - 7 matches, 3 goals, 0 assist S11 44) Brazil 3x1 Wales - Friendly - 1Goal (FK) S11 45) Brazil 1x0 Chile - Friendly S11 46) Brazil 4x0 Peru - Friendly S11 47) Brazil 2x1 Poland - Friendly - 1Goal R 48) Brazil 3x2 Sweden - Friendly S11 49) Brazil 2x0 Bulgaria - World Cup - 1Goal (FK) S11 50) Brazil 1x3 Hungary - World Cup Matches: 50 (43W 6D 1L - 92%) - 46 in starting 11 Goals: 12 (0.24%) - 2FKs Assists: 13 (0.26%) Summary: 50 caps, 12 goals, 13 assists (0.5) Friendlies: 23 caps, 5 goals, 5 assists (0.43) World Cup: 12 caps, 5 goals, 4 assists (0.75) WC-qualification: 2 caps, 0 goals, 0 assists Copa America: 6 caps, 0 goals, 3 assists (0.5) Other Tournaments: 7 caps, 2 goals, 1 assist (0.43) Sources: - Jornal O Globo - Jornal do Brasil - Rsssf
Didí is a similar case to César Cueto here, in Peru. Both were attacking-playmakers by sure, classic 10's, but people remember them like 8's (central midfielders) because their adaptations to their national teams.
Agree but when I said "classic playmaker" since Didi (and other same type) operated from deep and did also the #8 job - control midfield (in attack and under defensive case of being attacked)