# Zizinho

Thomaz Soares da Silva, also known as Zizinho (Portuguese pronunciation:; 14 September 1921 – 8 February 2002), was a Brazilian footballer who played as an attacking midfielder for the Brazil national football team. He came to international prominence at the 1950 World Cup, where he scored two goals. He was lauded as a complete player, with an array of offensive skills such as his dribbling, passing, and shooting ability with both feet, as well as his accuracy from dead ball situations and extraordinary vision. He was Pelé's idol, and is often considered one of the best Brazilian men's footballers of the pre-Pelé era.

## Career

Born at Niterói, Rio de Janeiro, he played for Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo FC, Audax Italiano of Chile among others teams. He is considered the first idol of Flamengo, club that he defended - winning the state championships in 1942, 1943 and 1944 - until he was transferred just before the start of 1950 World Cup to Bangu. In São Paulo he won the state championship in 1957 being extremely important and becoming an idol.
In the 1950 World Cup he helped Brazil to progress to the final, but their surprise 2–1 defeat to Uruguay tarnished his reputation. Zizinho played a total of 53 times for his national team, scoring 30 goals. He turned down last minute invitations by the CBF to join first the 1954 World Cup Squad and then the 1958 squad, citing on both occasions that it would be unfair on the player being dropped at the last minute to make way for him.
Pelé always said that Zizinho was the best player he ever saw. "He was a complete player. He played in midfield, in attack, he scored goals, he could mark, head and cross."

## Career statistics
### Club

| Club | Season | League | League | League | State League | State League | Friendly | Friendly | Torneio Rio–São Paulo | Torneio Rio–São Paulo | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Flamengo | 1940 | Campeonato Carioca | | 0 | - | 9 | — | — | - | 3 | — | — | - | 5 |
| Flamengo | 1941 | Campeonato Carioca | | 1 | - | 12 | — | — | — | — | - | 4 | - | 1 |
| Flamengo | 1942 | Campeonato Carioca | | 1 | - | 11 | — | — | — | — | - | 1 | - | 14 |
| Flamengo | 1943 | Campeonato Carioca | | 3 | - | 7 | — | — | — | — | - | - | - | 36 |
| Flamengo | 1944 | Campeonato Carioca | | 1 | - | 8 | — | — | — | — | - | 1 | - | 29 |
| Flamengo | 1945 | Campeonato Carioca | | 3 | - | 12 | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 26 |
| Flamengo | 1946 | Campeonato Carioca | | 6 | - | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 7 |
| Flamengo | 1947 | Campeonato Carioca | | 0 | - | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 22 |
| Flamengo | 1948 | Campeonato Carioca | | 4 | - | 16 | — | — | — | — | - | - | - | 19 |
| Flamengo | 1949 | Campeonato Carioca | | 0 | - | 7 | — | — | — | — | - | - | - | 22 |
| Flamengo | 1950 | Campeonato Carioca | | 0 | - | 0 | — | — | - | 1 | - | - | - | 22 |
| Flamengo | Subtotal | Subtotal | | 19 | 172 | 88 | | | | 4 | | 6 | 318 | 146 |
| Bangu | 1950 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 9 | — | — | - | 0 | - | 2 | - | 9 |
| Bangu | 1951 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 17 | — | — | - | 5 | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bangu | 1952 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 15 | — | — | - | 1 | — | — | - | 1 |
| Bangu | 1953 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | — | — | - | 6 | — | — | - | 1 |
| Bangu | 1954 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 1 |
| Bangu | 1955 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | — | — | — | — | - | 1 | - | 1 |
| Bangu | 1956 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 8 | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 1 |
| Bangu | 1957 | Campeonato Carioca | 0 | 0 | - | 4 | — | — | — | — | — | — | - | 1 |
| Bangu | Subtotal | Subtotal | - | - | 147 | 65 | - | - | - | 12 | - | 4 | 283 | 124 |
| São Paulo | 1957 | Campeonato Paulista | 0 | 0 | - | 6 | — | — | - | 0 | — | — | - | 5 |
| São Paulo | 1958 | Campeonato Paulista | 0 | 0 | - | 13 | — | — | - | 3 | — | — | - | 1 |
| São Paulo | Subtotal | Subtotal | - | - | 35 | 19 | - | - | - | 3 | - | - | 67 | 27 |
| São Bento de Marília | 1959 | Campeonato Paulista Série A2 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | — | — | - | - | - | 2 |
| Uberaba | 1960 | Campeonato Mineiro | 0 | 0 | 10 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | - | - | - | 1 |
| Audax Italiano | 1961 | Chilean Primera División | 16 | 3 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | - | - | - | 3 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 16 | 3 | 373 | 175 | | | - | 19 | - | 23 | - | 303 |
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Carioca / Torneio Oscar Cox-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Início do Campeonato Carioca
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Relâmpago-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Municipal-RJ
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Início do Rio-Sao paulo
* ↑ Goal in Torneio Início do Campeonato Carioca
* ↑ Goals in Torneio Início do Campeonato Carioca

### International

| Years | Games | Goals |
| 1942 | 5 | 2 |
| 1943 | 0 | 0 |
| 1944 | 0 | 0 |
| 1945 | 9 | 4 |
| 1946 | 7 | 6 |
| 1947 | 0 | 0 |
| 1948 | 0 | 0 |
| 1949 | 7 | 5 |
| 1950 | 7 | 3 |
| 1951 | 0 | 0 |
| 1952 | 0 | 0 |
| 1953 | 5 | 1 |
| 1954 | 0 | 0 |
| 1955 | 1 | 2 |
| 1956 | 7 | 5 |
| 1957 | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 54 | 30 |
| | Date | Venue | Score | Opponent | Goal(s) | Competition |
| 1. | 14 January 1942 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 6–1 | Chile | 0 | 1942 South American Championship |
| 2. | 17 January 1942 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 1–2 | Argentina | 0 | 1942 South American Championship |
| 3. | 21 January 1942 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 2–1 | Peru | 0 | 1942 South American Championship |
| 4. | 31 January 1942 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 5–1 | Ecuador | 1 | 1942 South American Championship |
| 5. | 5 February 1942 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 1–1 | Paraguay | 1 | 1942 South American Championship |
| 6. | 21 January 1945 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago | 3–0 | Colombia | 0 | 1945 South American Championship |
| 7. | 28 January 1945 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago | 2–0 | Bolivia | 0 | 1945 South American Championship |
| 8. | 7 February 1945 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago | 3–0 | Uruguay | 0 | 1945 South American Championship |
| 9. | 14 February 1945 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago | 1–3 | Argentina | 0 | 1945 South American Championship |
| 10. | 21 February 1945 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago | 9–2 | Ecuador | 2 | 1945 South American Championship |
| 11. | 28 February 1945 | Estadio Nacional Julio Martínez Prádanos, Santiago | 1–0 | Chile | 0 | 1945 South American Championship |
| 12. | 16 December 1945 | Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo | 3–4 | Argentina | 1 | Copa Roca 1945 |
| 13. | 20 December 1945 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 6–2 | Argentina | 1 | Copa Roca 1945 |
| 14. | 23 December 1945 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 3–1 | Argentina | 0 | Copa Roca 1945 |
| 15. | 5 January 1946 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 3–4 | Uruguay | 1 | Copa Rio Branco 1946 |
| 16. | 9 January 1946 | Centenário, Montevidéu | 1–1 | Uruguay | 0 | Copa Rio Branco 1946 |
| 17. | 16 January 1946 | Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires | 3–0 | Bolivia | 1 | 1946 South American Championship |
| 18. | 23 January 1946 | Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires | 4–3 | Uruguay | 0 | 1946 South American Championship |
| 19. | 29 January 1946 | Estadio Libertadores de América, Avellaneda | 1–1 | Paraguay | 0 | 1946 South American Championship |
| 20. | 3 February 1946 | Estadio Gasómetro, Buenos Aires | 5–1 | Chile | 4 | 1946 South American Championship |
| 21. | 10 February 1946 | Estadio Monumental (Buenos Aires), Buenos Aires | 0–2 | Argentina | 0 | 1946 South American Championship |
| 22. | 3 April 1949 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 9–1 | Ecuador | 1 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 23. | 10 April 1949 | Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo | 10–1 | Bolivia | 2 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 24. | 13 April 1949 | Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo | 2–1 | Chile | 1 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 25. | 24 April 1949 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 7–1 | Peru | 0 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 26. | 30 April 1949 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 5–1 | Uruguay | 1 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 27. | 8 May 1949 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 1–2 | Paraguay | 0 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 28. | 11 May 1949 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 7–0 | Paraguay | 0 | 1949 South American Championship |
| 29. | 6 May 1950 | Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo | 3–4 | Uruguay | 1 | Copa Rio Branco 1950 |
| 30. | 14 May 1950 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 3–2 | Uruguay | 0 | Copa Rio Branco 1950 |
| 31. | 17 May 1950 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 1–0 | Uruguay | 0 | Copa Rio Branco 1950 |
| – | 4 May 1950 | Estádio São Januário, Rio de Janeiro | 6–4 | Combinado Grenal | 1 | Friendly |
| 32. | 1 July 1950 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 2–0 | Yugoslavia | 1 | 1950 FIFA World Cup |
| 33. | 9 July 1950 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 7–1 | Sweden | 0 | 1950 FIFA World Cup |
| 34. | 13 July 1950 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 6–1 | Spain | 1 | 1950 FIFA World Cup |
| 35. | 16 July 1950 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 1–2 | Uruguay | 0 | 1950 FIFA World Cup |
| 36. | 1 March 1953 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 8–1 | Bolivia | 0 | 1953 South American Championship |
| 37. | 15 March 1953 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 1–0 | Uruguay | 0 | 1953 South American Championship |
| 38. | 19 March 1953 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 0–1 | Peru | 0 | 1953 South American Championship |
| 39. | 23 March 1953 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 3–2 | Chile | 1 | 1953 South American Championship |
| 40. | 27 March 1953 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 1–2 | Paraguay | 0 | 1953 South American Championship |
| 41. | 13 November 1955 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 3–0 | Paraguay | 2 | Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1955 |
| 42. | 12 June 1956 | Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção | 2–0 | Paraguay | 0 | Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1956 |
| 43. | 17 June 1956 | Estádio do Club Libertad, Assunção | 5–2 | Paraguay | 2 | Taça Oswaldo Cruz 1956 |
| 44. | 24 June 1956 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 2–0 | Uruguay | 1 | Taça do Atlântico de 1956 |
| 45. | 1 July 1956 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 2–0 | Italy | 0 | Friendly |
| 46. | 8 July 1956 | El Cilindro, Avellaneda | 0–0 | Argentina | 0 | Taça do Atlântico de 1956 |
| 47. | 5 August 1956 | Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro | 0–1 | Czechoslovakia | 0 | Friendly |
| 48. | 8 August 1956 | Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo | 4–1 | Czechoslovakia | 2 | Friendly |
| 49. | 13 March 1957 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 4–2 | Chile | 0 | 1957 South American Championship |
| 50. | 21 March 1957 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 7–1 | Ecuador | 1 | 1957 South American Championship |
| 51. | 24 March 1957 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 9–0 | Colombia | 1 | 1957 South American Championship |
| 52. | 28 March 1957 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 2–3 | Uruguay | 0 | 1957 South American Championship |
| 53. | 31 March 1957 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 1–0 | Peru | 0 | 1957 South American Championship |
| 54. | 3 April 1957 | National Stadium of Peru, Lima | 0–3 | Argentina | 0 | 1957 South American Championship |

## Honours
### Club
#### Flamengo

* Campeonato Carioca: 1942, 1943, 1944

#### São paulo

* Campeonato Paulista: 1957

### International

* FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1950
* South American Championship: 1949
* Taça do Atlântico: 1956
* Roca Cup: 1945
* Copa Rio Branco: 1950
* Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1955, 1956

### Individual

* FIFA World Cup Golden Ball: 1950
* FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1950
* IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (4th place)
* IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century (10th place)
* Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame

### Records

* South American Championship / Copa América all-time top goalscorer: 17 goals (shared with Norberto Méndez)

### Manager
#### Brazil Olympic

* Pan American Games: 1975