Didi was amazing improvisational midfielder, one of the most technical players ever(top 10 for sure based on technique) , but Zizinho was the one who Pele said was most complete player he ever saw. Simple question, who was better? What do you guys think? Is there anyone who saw any of them live? Your opinion would be valuable.
This is a difficult question since we all lacked of Zizinho's footage and info .... But if we are buying into some "old folks" (who watched them in their time) then Zizinho seemed to be a bit more skillful and effective attacker than Didi was. However Didi was a better "midfield master" In other words, Zizinho = Platini and Didi = Zidane! or Zizinho = Zico and Didi = Socrates I hope it's clear
Really difficult question. Your comparison is good, but it seems not 100% clear because Didi is considered free-kick master and at free-kicks Platini>Zidane and Zico>Socrates .
Didi's impact at WC's was very crucial for Brazil, but somehow he doesn't get so many warm words as Ziznho gets. Anyway, why Didi?
We can do this one also What's your opinion on Zizinho vs. Didi , Zizinho vs. Jair da Rosa Pinto, and Didi vs. Jair da Rosa Pinto ?
It is difficult. As spoken, the lack of images is bad for this comparison. I choose Didi by performance in WC58 and 62, his leadership, importance to that team and great technique, that's why.
Good objective choice, including that there is a footage of him, but it seems Zizinho produced some magic on the field that we don't know, Nilton Santos said he left the training seasons for Botafogo and went to flamengo training center just to see Zizinho playing. I always thought that ''falling leaf'' kicks were invented by Didi, but read some time ago that it was actually Meazza the first one who did it
As you are a Brazilian I would like to ask who is better Braz defender - Antônio da Guia or Nilton Santos?
If we rely on the descriptions Zizinho is shown as a more complete footballer, more in the mold of a "mediapunta" as Rivaldo or Ronaldinho, a monstrous scorer capable to playmake and attack and the best Brazilian player ever until the appearance of Pelé. I'd rate Zizinho slightly over Didí.
The descriptions are usually legit, because similar trait explanations arrive from various sources, either within Brazil or among other SA nations. All seem to agree that Zizinho was a prototype Center Forward of those days with an unusual quality: breathtaking dribbler. Most dribblers back then were either Outside Left/Right or the Inside Forwards. Center Forwards in most cases functioned as thr team's prime playmaker, and as such were more more sporadic in dribbling (though still highly technical). Some Center Forwards also functioned as a srriker, but that was very seldom. To your question Zlatko...Didi was a revolutionary player in the sense that he homogenized the CM playmaking position. Before him, the playmaker was (like Zizinho, and Jair for his club) one of the five forwards. The whole concept of a midfield player functioning as a playmaker was unheard of until Didi permanently went from a deep-lying playmaker (aka the CF in those days) into a legit 'midfielder.' Sure, the likes of Sastre, Pedernera, Martino, Seoane, even Zizinho, Ciocca et al back-tracked and played an all-encompassinh game, but these fellas were still forwards at heart. Didi was a midfielder, and of not the defensive type. After him, a whole host of talented CMs started to flourish not only in Brazil but all of South America. In a way, all of Cueto, Chale, Brindisi, Ardiles, Carpegiani, Gerson et al owe him something for making that position pervasive.
Zizinho and Didi were similar in their overall approach to the game. Their prime abilities mostly revolved on their pure skills. They were amazing handlers of the ball, both in control and dribbling it as well as in shooting it (passes, or shot attempts, or free kicks). They were more like a Rai, Rivelino, Dirceu Lopes or Ademir da Guia in their opproach. From other countries, the likes of Rui Costa, Roman, Antognoni, Netzer, Rivera, Bocha, Cueto et al come to mind. Jair da Rosa Pinto was more dynamic (of course the other two were as well, but that wasn't their prime asset). He was a fantastic dribbler and knew how to handle the ball well, but he wasn't seen as a genius like we tend to see the (more) static, lax and supremely technical folks. He was more of a Kaka player, or in fact like most of the (dynamic) modern playmakers.
Obdulio Varela said once: "In the mid 50s, everybody were surprised how Didi could go forward with so close control of the ball, handling the ball with either feet, and the rival doesn't know how marking him, because he could dribble by right or by left side, make fooling defenders. Well, in the WC' 1950 there were a lot of Didi playing there"
Good remark! However freekick is just one aspect of the game provided by the "playmaker" in them. The major contribution is to organize midfield, control rythm, distribution balls and decisive passes are more important (in 90mins) I rated Zizinho, Platini, Zico a bit higher than Didi, Zidane (laudrup) and Socrates for their "goal scoring ability" being direct shooting, FK, PK or so ... as "extra bonus"