Ballon d'Or awards revisited by BigSoccer users

... I know this dear mate ! have a nice day there .. !

 

Milan broke the record for the fewest goals conceded in the history of Serie A, which at the time was the best national league in the world. Back then the great protagonist of Milan's defense was Baresi. If we were to consider a great achievement outside of the national team tournaments this season, then this is it since no one were particularly outstanding at CL or UEFA Cup

 

The winner of the 1987 Champions League also talks about his missed Ballon d'Or that year since the France-Football trophy was only reserved for European players.

Rabah Madjer (62), believes that he was close to the Ballon d'Or won by the Dutchmen Marco Van Basten and Ruud Gullit in the 1980s " 1987 and 1988 . The star of the Algerian national team of the 80s still dreams that FIFA will do him justice and, one day, give him the shield (the honorary Golden Ball). Moreover, Madjer explains his point of view on the subject well by refuting certain statements from sports analysts, who qualify the incident as exclusion and consider his failure to obtain the Golden Ball as an injustice. Madjer believes, however, that “Not getting the Ballon d’Or was not unfair. On the contrary, the law did not allow it, and it is this same European law that did not allow other stars such as Maradona and Romario to win it. », points out Madjer.
..

 

Yeah, it's true that Gullit won the UNICEF Player of the Season 1987/88. I noticed, in another newspaper article in England (which talked in general about only one British player getting a Ballon d'Or point, while the year before, 1987, several got points and some were in the top 10) that Van Basten was quoted as suggesting that Gullit's injury towards the end of 1988 could have cost him the Ballon d'Or, and that Van Basten got it mainly for the Euros and particularly because of the great goal vs USSR (IMO though he did have a great tournament in general). He can be replying modestly of course but it's true that Gullit missed a chunk of games and the Ballon d'Or was a calendar year vote predominantly at that time
Ruud Gullit - Detailed stats | Transfermarkt

 

In 1986/87 maybe Gullit (though IIRC Maradona did have more pre-assists than you mentioned before I should mention in that season - I think you referrred to the season and not the calendar year there?).

At peak form I think Maradona, but I guess you do agree on that anyway, even being a big Gullit fan. Peak form of 1986/87 I'm not totally sure - could be a close call.

Maybe calendar year 1987 is better for Gullit, because of the start to 87/88 (although the start to 86/87 has some very good moments by him, on the other hand, I think doesn't it?), and seemingly 1985/86 as a PSV Enidhoven season by him might be better overall than 1986/87 (you might agree there too, and are more informed than me and saw more footage I know anyway....).

 

It would be interesting to know some media match ratings for Porto 1986/87 (in the European Cup and/or in general) to see how Madjer and Futre compared.

I kind of think well if Futre didn't win it then maybe Madjer would not either (especially as all voters were European maybe - although it's possible to think of a world panel if we are thinking of all players playing for European clubs being eligible). Futre's start to 1987/88, with this game being a particular plus, would have been considered too of course
Real Madrid - Atlético de Madrid, Nov 7, 1987 - LaLiga - Match sheet | Transfermarkt

Neither Madjer or Futre ended on the podium or in the XI with Onze magazine's vote of course, and Futre got more votes for Player of 1987 from World Soccer voters, as you showed (but Madjer in the top 10 too).
Jimmy Magee, an Irish journalist who used to announce annual teams of the year and clearly watched the game closely back then (there would be limits on it though obviously) didn't put Madjer within his wider squad, and he put Futre on the subs bench (IIRC choosing Barnes partly because of better aerial ability and suchlike)
https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/interesting-best-xi.325564/page-63#post-41488340

 

Yes, for IceBlood's project I also voted based on season+calendar year (with special emphasis on the end of the season too) in the end, although many voters have used just season and several used just calendar year or predominantly calendar year.

My own vote for 1987 (1986/87 + 1987 calendar year) was Gullit-Valderramma-Futre-Lineker-Maradona, but it's one of the tricker votes to make I think.

You might like to see the full article by Jimmy Magee too

 

I had meant to include this in my post @Wiliam Felipe Gracek too before!
“Bavarians? Conservative? Never!” The 1987 European Cup Final | Talking about Football

 

I made a bit of a mess of this post before I think - I mean for 1986/87 + 1987 really (and probably rather than maybe could be a better choice of word, albeit a bit doubtful).

When I was preparing to vote on seasons myself, and making theoretical Ballon d'Or vote write-ups on that basis I did post this:
1986/87
1) Diego Maradona, 2) Carlos Valderrama, 3) Paulo Futre, 4) Marco van Basten, 5) Gary Lineker
Maradona takes my verdict again after contributing significantly throughout Napoli's Serie A title campaign, but with competition from a new rival as South American playmaker (Valderrama who has emerged as a vibrant and innovative passing master in midfield for Deportivo Cali and was the star of the Copa America for Colombia) and a new rival as left footed dribbler (the exciting Futre who played his part as Porto took the European Cup back to Portugal). I move Van Basten up a place this time, considering his productive involvement in Ajax's own European competition success, as well as adding to his impressive tally of Dutch league goals and his array of brilliant ones too (witness the overhead kick vs Den Bosch). Lineker made a big impact upon his arrival in Spain, bringing his speedy and efficient striking to Barcelona's attack to great effect, with some very well taken goals including a hat-trick vs Real Madrid, and he continues to be an important goalscorer for England, from important ones to begin England's Euro Qualifying efforts to four in his new home of Spain. Ruud Gullit had more impressive play for PSV Eindhoven and scored notable goals for the Netherlands too, and Hugo Sanchez scored a variety of goals and many of them (including acrobatic efforts), which led Real Madrid to the title in Spain, and so both players were on the cusp too.

1987/88
1) Ruud Gullit, 2) Diego Maradona, 3) John Barnes, 4) Franco Baresi, 5) Marco van Basten
Gullit denies Maradona in my vote this time, as the inspiration and driving force behind AC Milan's scudetto victory. Maradona took Napoli close again, and was showing signs of conjuring enough magic to get them over the line, with a number of notable assists. Barnes had a disappointing European Championships, but earned his place in my vote during a sensational season with his club Liverpool, and long-time quality sweeper turned playmaking centre-back Baresi's role in Milan's success and good showing in the Euros gets him acknowledgement too. Gianluca Vialli the spectacular striker in Italy, and Paul Gascoigne the promising midfielder in England, challenge for the final point, but it must go to Van Basten, who missed the majority of the club season, but his wonderful Euros campaign is pretty much enough on it's own, after he played excellently throughout and capped everything with his wonder goal, to give him, Gullit and co. their first International trophy.

1988/89
1) Marco van Basten, 2) Franco Baresi, 3) Lothar Matthaus, 4) Careca, 5) Romario
Van Basten had stiff competition from team-mate Baresi, as impressive as ever in both Serie A and the European Cup, and Matthaus the powerful Inter Milan midfielder who helped carry them to the Serie A title, but given he couldn't be fully rewarded for hiss Euros last time, he gets the benefit of the doubt, but is a fully deserving contender for the seasonal Ballon d'Or in my view, with a particularly important role in the European Cup campaign. I finish the vote with a couple of Brazilians, though for example young European midfield stars Dragan Stojkovic (continuing to shine for Red Star Belgrade with him and his team arguably unlucky not to put Milan out of the European Cup), and Gheorghe Hagi (prolific and creative too and with a big influence in his own team's European Cup run) did plenty I felt to be worthy of being under consideration too: Careca had a fruitful time as Napoli goalscorer in both Serie A and the Uefa Cup, and Romario transferred his goals and skills very successfully into Dutch football.

 

Zico should’ve definitely been there

 

..
..
..
..
Group 7 [Yugoslavia]
Netherlands 1-1 Yugoslavia 1.YUGOSLAVIA 6 3 3 0 7- 2 9
East Germany 1-0 Netherlands 2.Netherlands 6 3 1 2 18- 6 7
Luxembourg 0-5 East Germany 3.East Germany 6 3 1 2 11- 6 7
Netherlands 6-0 Luxembourg 4.Luxembourg 6 0 1 5 1-23 1
Yugoslavia 2-0 Netherlands
East Germany 2-1 Luxembourg
East Germany 1-2 Yugoslavia
Luxembourg 0-2 Yugoslavia
Netherlands 3-2 East Germany
Yugoslavia 0-0 East Germany
Yugoslavia 0-0 Luxembourg
Luxembourg 0-8 Netherlands (in Eindhoven, Netherlands)




...
..
..
Group 8 [West Germany]
Poland 3-0 Albania 1.WEST GERMANY 6 4 2 0 10- 2 10
West Germany 1-1 Turkey 2.Poland 6 2 2 2 10- 6 6
Turkey 2-1 Albania 3.Turkey 6 2 1 3 5-13 5
Albania 0-1 West Germany 4.Albania 6 1 1 4 5- 9 3
Turkey 0-3 West Germany
Albania 1-1 Poland
West Germany 2-0 Albania
Poland 5-1 Turkey
Poland 1-3 West Germany
Albania 3-0 Turkey
West Germany 0-0 Poland
Turkey 1-0 Poland




NB: knock-out stage drawn on Jan 12, 1972, in Zürich (Switzerland)

QUARTERFINALS

[Apr 29, London]
England 1-3 West Germany
[Lee 77; U.Hoeneß 26, Netzer 85pen, G.Müller 89]
[May 13, Berlin]
West Germany 0-0 England

[Apr 29, Milano]
Italy 0-0 Belgium
[May 13, Bruxelles]
Belgium 2-1 Italy
[Van Moer 23, Van Himst 72; Riva 85pen]

[Apr 29, Budapest]
Hungary 1-1 Romania
[Branikovits 11; Satmareanu 55]
[May 14, Bucuresti]
Romania 2-2 Hungary
[Dobrin 14, Neagu 82; Szöke 5, Kocsis 35]
[May 17, Beograd]
Hungary 2-1 Romania
[Kocsis 27, 89; Neagu 34]

[Apr 30, Beograd]
Yugoslavia 0-0 Soviet Union
[May 13, Moskva]
Soviet Union 3-0 Yugoslavia
[Kolotov 53, Banishevski 74, Kozinkevich 90]


Final Tournament (in Belgium)
SEMIFINALS

Antwerpen, June 14, Bosuil
West Germany 2-1 Belgium
[G.Müller 24, 71; Polleunis 83]
[ref: Mullen (Scotland); att: 56,000]
West Germany: Maier, Höttges, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Breitner, U.Hoeneß
(Grabowski 58), Wimmer, Netzer, Heynckes, G.Müller, E.Kremers
Belgium: Piot, Heylens, Van den Daele, Thissen, Dolmans, Dockx, Verheyen,
M.Martens (Polleunis 70), Semmeling, Van Himst, Lambert

Brussel, June 14, Astridpark
Soviet Union 1-0 Hungary
[Konkov 53] [missed penalty: Zámbö 85 (saved)]
[ref: Glöckner (East Germany); att: 2,000]
Soviet Union: Rudakov, Dzodzuashvili, Kaplichny, Istomin, Khurtsilava, Kolotov,
Troshkin, Baidachni, Banishevski (70 G.Nodia), Konkov, Onishenko
Hungary: Géczi, Fábián, Páncsics, Bálint, P.Juhász, I.Juhász, Kocsis (60 Albert),
Kü, Szöke, Bene (60 A.Dunai), Zámbö

MATCH FOR THIRD PLACE

Ličge, June 17, Stade Sclessin
Belgium 2-1 Hungary
[Lambert 24, Van Himst 28, Kü 53pen]
[ref: Boström (Sweden); att: 9,000]
Belgium: Piot, Heylens, Van den Daele, Thissen, Dolmans, Dockx, Verheyen,
Polleunis, Semmeling, Van Himst, Lambert
Hungary: Géczi, Fábián, Páncsics, Bálint, P.Juhász, I.Juhász, Kü, Abert,
Kozma, A.Dunai, Zámbö (46 Szücs)

FINAL

Bruxelles, June 18, Stade Heysel
West Germany 3-0 Soviet Union
[G.Müller 27, 58, Wimmer 52]
[ref: Marschall (Austria), att: 50,000]
West Germany: Maier, Höttges, Beckenbauer, Schwarzenbeck, Breitner, U.Hoeneß,
Wimmer, Netzer, Heynckes, G.Müller, E.Kremers
Soviet Union: Rudakov, Dzodzuashvili, Kaplichny, Istomin, Khurtsilava, Kolotov,
Troshkin, Baidachni, Banishevsky (66 Kozinkevich), Konkov (46 Dolmatov),
Onishenko


Topscorer overall: G.Müller (West Germany) 11 goals
Topscorer final tournament: G.Müller (West Germany) 4 goals




this is the Calendar 1971-72 ...





...
..
.https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1971–72_Bundesliga





..

..
..
..
Cup Winners' Cup 1971-72


Preliminary Round
B1909 (Odense) Den FK Austria (Vienna) Aut 4-2 0-2 4-4*
Hibernians (Paola) Mlt Fram (Reykjavik) Isl 3-0 0-2 3-2x
x 2nd leg in Malta

First Round
Servette FC Geneva Sui Liverpool Eng 2-1 0-2 2-3
Distillery Nir FC Barcelona Esp 1-3 0-4 1-7
Berliner FC Dynamo GDR Cardiff City Wal 1-1 1-1 2-2 5-4p
Jeunesse Hautcharage Lux Chelsea Eng 0-8 0-13 0-21x
Limerick Irl Torino Ita 0-1 0-4 0-5
KS Dinamo (Tirane) Alb FK Austria (Vienna) Aut 1-1 0-1 1-2
Stade Rennais Fra Rangers Sco 1-1 0-1 1-2
Hibernians (Paola) Mlt Steaua Bucharest Rom 0-0 0-1 0-1
Sporting CP (Lisbon) Por SFK Lyn Nor 4-0 3-0 7-0
TJ Skoda Pilzen Tch Bayern Munich FRG 0-1 1-6 1-7
Komloi Banyasz Hun Red Star (Belgrade) Yug 2-7 2-1 4-8
Olympiakos (Pireus) Gre Dinamo Moscow URS 0-2 2-1 2-3
FC Levski-Spartak Bul Sparta Rotterdam Ned 1-1 0-2 1-3
Zaglebie Sosnowiec Pol Atvidabergs FF Swe 3-4 1-1 4-5
MP (Mikkeli) Fin Eskisehirspor Tur 0-0 0-4 0-4
Beerschot VAV Bel Anorthosis (Famagusta) Cyp 7-0 1-0 8-0y
x 1st leg in Luxembourg
y 2nd leg in Antwerpen

Second Round
Liverpool Eng Bayern Munich FRG 0-0 1-3 1-3
Atvidabergs FF Swe Chelsea Eng 0-0 1-1 *1-1
Torino Ita FK Austria (Vienna) Aut 1-0 0-0 1-0
Rangers Sco Sporting CP (Lisbon) Por 3-2 3-4 *6-6 aet
Beerschot VAV Bel Berliner FC Dynamo GDR 1-3 1-3 2-6
Sparta Rotterdam Ned Red Star (Belgrade) Yug 1-1 1-2 2-3
FC Barcelona Esp Steaua Bucharest Rom 0-1 1-2 1-3
Eskisehirspor Tur Dinamo Moscow URS 0-1 0-1 0-2

Quarter-Finals
Torino Ita Rangers Sco 1-1 0-1 1-2
Steaua Bucharest Rom Bayern Munich FRG 1-1 0-0 1-1*
Atvidabergs FF Swe Berliner FC Dynamo GDR 0-2 2-2 2-4x
Red Star (Belgrade) Yug Dinamo Moscow URS 1-2 1-1 2-3y
x 1st leg in Stockholm
y 2nd leg in Tashkent

Semi-Finals
Bayern Munich FRG Rangers Sco 1-1 0-2 1-3
Berliner FC Dynamo GDR Dinamo Moscow URS 1-1 1-1 2-2x 1-4p
x 2nd leg in Lwow


Final, Nou Camp Stadium, Barcelona, 24 May 1972, att 35000

Rangers (2) 3 Dinamo Moscow (0) 2
23' 1-0 R: Stein
40' 2-0 R: Johnston
49' 3-0 R: Johnston
60' 3-1 DM: Estrekov
87' 3-2 DM: Makovikov

Rangers
McCloy; Jardine, Johnstone, Smith, Mathieson; Greig, Conn, MacDonald,
McLean, Stein, Johnston
Dinamo Moscow
Pilgui; Basalayev, Dolmatov, Zykov, Dolbonosov (Gershkovich 69); Zhukov,
Baydachny, Yakubik (Eshtrekov 56), Sabo; Makhovikov, Yevryuzhikhin
Referee: Ortiz de Mendíbil (Spain)

 

not For me




so Why ????



Do you think that thing on Zico ?????

 

Well Zico’s prime years perfectly fit the years included. He had an exceptional year in 1977 (best in the world for me), was also Top 2 in the world in 1979 and 1980, and best in the world in 1981 and 1982 for me. He was also great in the years that followed, although he was past his absolute prime. However I respect your opinion.

 

...
..
Ballon d'Or awards revisited by BigSoccer users Threads name ...




...
Ballon D'or.. it's an Award with a lot of History to discuss..and write..Analyze at the same time..for sure..


has history from 1956 to 2024.

 

I just wanted to give my opinion on how some players are overrated due to lack of information. For example, Didi finished second in 1957 when the best player in Botafogo and perhaps all of Brazil was Nilton Santos who is not even mentioned by us.

🌟𝐍𝐢𝐥𝐭𝐨𝐧 𝐒𝐚𝐧𝐭𝐨𝐬 𝐧𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐞𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐨 𝐂𝐚𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐜𝐚 𝟏𝟗𝟓𝟕🇸🇲

🏟️22 Partidas
⏱️1980 Minutos
⚽3 Gols
🅰️6 Assistências
📊9 G+A
🏅14x MOTM (!!!!!!)

🎖️Eleito o MELHOR JOGADOR DO TORNEIO
🎖️Eleito o Melhor jogador da Final
⚔️Entre os 11 melhores

🏆 Campeão Carioca pic.twitter.com/cuMIXmY3JE

— Mané. (@Futboll_Arte) November 19, 2024

 

I saw you added this @anamnesis del fútbol "I would like to know what you think about this @PDG1978 ?" - all I can say is it's interesting for sure, and I'd be curious to know the sources of the MOTM awards (maybe the link you posted makes it clear but I haven't yet looked beyond the info on that posted tweet itself); how many Didi and Garrincha were given themselves too.

I know that with Brazil Didi was sometimes put in All-Star Copa America XI selections by coaches and/or Argentinian players (with Sivori competing for the same spot) in that year, but any selection in an end of year/season poll (like Ballon d'Or) would in theory rely on exceptional club form, which I was under the impression he had, to some extent, as a key Botafogo player of that team (and I think Garrincha was said to have had a great year too wasn't he), even though of course the footage isn't available to any useful extent (unlike, to an extent, for World Cup 1958 for example). We know Nilton Santos is a legend of a left back, so it's not too surprising for him to be so highly regarded in a year like that, but yes it's more difficult for us to identify such cases from so long ago, particularly for defenders, probably indeed. He also had a very good and well regarded World Cup 1958 himself, but would not be considered more the star than Pele, Didi, also Garrincha probably, in that tournament I suppose. But it doesn't necessarily mean that those MOTM awards can't reflect him genuinely being seen as the best performer of the Carioca that year (albeit sometimes there is some variance and the best overall player can be decided in a vote and is not always the one with the best average rating - eg Cantona in the 1995/96 Premier League with the Football Writers Association, Romario/Laudrup in 1993/94 La Liga with El Pais - examples of star attackers taking votes from journalists on the overall view at the end I guess, when others topped the average ratings in the league games....unless I misunderstand the El Pais award and it is based on average ratings too...but then this would be an example of differences between sources - vs Don Balon - which can occur too....and in theory another sources can have rated Didi and/or Garrincha over Nilton Santos in that Carioca edition also maybe).
Spain - Footballer of the Year
#



Later I discovered Philippe Albert had a higher rating than Gullit also, and like Nilton Santos he was a defender, with some useful skills/abilities going forwards too, although in that case he only played about half a season of games anyway, so maybe the comparison to Gullit is more relevant (Cantona's FA Cup Final goal won't have been factored into the FWA voters' thinking either because the voting for the award would have been decided before that point)
https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/p...ivision-ratings.2037606/page-43#post-42163287
From DBS Calcio (using a different source) for 1995/96 Premier League: Top 3 with enough games to qualify for listing were Sasa Curcic, Alan Shearer and Gullit (Albert's average rating again being among the top ones but with not quite enough games to be listed on the 'media voto' summary page), while Cantona and Giggs were just inside the top 20.
I know these are cases of players for different clubs with Gullit and Albert, as opposed to Nilton Santos playing for the same club as Didi, though of course.
Didi had 12 goals in the 1957 Carioca, but an assists figure might be interesting to know about too (even though if it was without context/detail it would be limited use maybe), also for Garrincha. You have one cited there for Nilton Santos on the tweet I see anyway!
Rio de Janeiro Championship 1957
https://www.bigsoccer.com/threads/c...l-all-star-teams.2031461/page-9#post-39152294

 

I see now this tweet referred to the newspaper archive the guy had looked at anyway:
Mané. on X: "OBS: Li praticamente todos os jornais dos Campeonatos Cariocas de 53, 54, 61, 62 e 66. Em todos esses, nunca vi um Jogador alcançar a marca de mais de 8x MOTM (Melhor da partida)....até Ontem! NILTON SANTOS, Craque absoluto do campeonato de 57 conseguiu ser 14x MOTM!! https://t.co/bkWG2dEUwP" / X
"NOTE: I read practically all the newspapers about the Carioca Championships of 53, 54, 61, 62 and 66. In all of these, I never saw a Player reach the mark of more than 8x MOTM (Best of the match)...until Yesterday ! NILTON SANTOS, Absolute star of the 57 championship managed to be 14x MOTM!!"

Interestingly English and Portuguese Wikipedia refer to Garrincha as best player of that Carioca edition (as well as 1961 and 1962), though with a broken link to the source (which may have just been a retrospective piece written about Garrincha rather than a list of Carioca best player award winners)

 

As PDG said, the important thing is to show 1st hand sources (contemporaries, from that time), quoting year, newspaper/magazine.
For example, this one from 1958 Rio-SP tournament with N.Santos as best LB and top10 player overall.

 

My list:

1946:
1: Pontoni
2: Martino
3: Pedernera

1947:
1: Mazzola
2: Di Stefano
3: Moreno

1948:
1: Puskas
2: Matthews
3: Nordahl

1949:
1: Puskas
2: Ademir
3: Zizinho

1950:
1: Puskas
2: Ademir
3: Zizinho

1951:
1: Liedholm
2: Nordahl
3: Ocwirk

1952:
1: Puskas
2: Kocsis
3: Kubala

1953:
1: Puskas
2: Hidegkuti
3: Kopa

1954:
1: Kocsis
2: Walter
3: Puskas

1955:
1: Di Stefano
2: Kopa
3: Schiaffino

1956:
1: Di Stefano
2: Schiaffino
3: Kopa

1957:
1: Di Stefano
2: Didi
3: Sivori

1958:
1: Kopa
2: Didi
3: Pele

1959:
1: Pele
2: Di Stefano
3: Sanfilipo

1960:
1: Puskas
2: Miramontes
3: Sivori

1961
1: Pele
2: Sivori
3: Garrincha

1962:
1: Garrincha
2: Pele
3: Masopust

1963:
1: Pele
2: Rivera
3: Yashin

1964:
1: Pele
2: Miramontes
3: Law

1965:
1: Pele
2: Eusebio
3: Miramontes

1966:
1: Eusebio
2: Charlton
3: Albert

1967:
1: Albert
2: Johnstone
3: Rocha

1968:
1: Best
2: Eusebio
3: Dzajic

1969:
1: Rivera
2: Cruyff
3: Pele

1970:
1: Gerd
2: Jairzinho
3: Beckenbauer

1971:
1: Cruyff
2: Beckenbauer
3: Best

1972:
1: Cruyff
2: Beckenbauer
3: Netzer

1973:
1: Cruyff
2: Gerd
3: Zoff

1974:
1: Cruyff
2: Beckenbauer
3: Gerd

1975:
1: Blokhine
2: Figueroa
3: Beckenbauer

1976:
1: Beckenbauer
2: Figueroa
3: Rensenbrink

1977:
1: Zico
2: Cruyff
3: Keegan

1978:
1: Kempes
2: Rensenbrink
3: Rossi

1979:
1: Maradona
2: Zico
3: Falcao

1980:
1: Maradona
2: Zico
3: Rummenigge

 

We are talking about a goat-level left back, on par with Maldini and Roberto Carlos, although if you saw my posts you will have learned that he played most of his career as a CB, but his prime was as a LB. So it doesn't seem crazy to me that he was one of the best players in the world in 1957.

 

The guy worked with first-hand sources. If you don't want to validate the 14 MOTM, you will have to read the Brazilian newspapers of the time