Leônidas da Silva

See also: Léonidas (homonymy)

Leônidas da Silva , born the September 6th 1913 with Rio de Janeiro and dead the January 24th 2004 with Cotia, was a Football or Brésil IEN. It was called “black Diamond”.

Leônidas begins in São Cristóvão then with the Syro-Lebanese Club. It was exiled then in Uruguay with the CA Peñarol. There remained one season there then returned to Brazil. After passages to Vasca da Gama and Botafogo it signed in Flamengo. It gained the championship carioca with these three clubs. During the second world war it was transferred to São Paulo FC or it still enriches its prize list with 5 championships paulist. It began in team from Brazil on Sunday, December 4, 1932 at the time of the match Uruguay-Brazil to the Estadio Centenario. It opens the score and allows Brazil of gained the Cut Rio Branco (final victory 2-1).

Of all the Brazilian artists of football, it is surely that which incarnates best the myth of the magician. Thus with Strasbourg the June 9th 1938 in eighth of finale of the World cup, with the return of the cloakrooms and whereas the lawn is softened, Leônidas removes its shoes become heavy like shoes. The referee prohibits to him to play barefeet but that will not prevent Leônidas from registering 4 goals against the Poland. In quarterfinals, one needs two matches for Brazilian to draw aside the Czechoslovakia thanks to Leônidas which registers two of the three Brazilian goals (1-1 ap then 2-1). So the players are more tested that their Italian adversaries which they face in semi-final. The Brazilian trainer Ademar Pimenta then decides to let his striker rest for the final, but badly took some to him because it is the Italy which was qualified for the final (2-1). Brazil was thus satisfied with the third place and Leônidas with the title with better striker with the test (8 goals). After the World cup 1938, the company Lacta launched in its honor a bar of chocolate baptized “black Diamond”. Thus was born its nickname.

It completes its career in 1950 whole while having to hope to be to select for the Football world cup 1950 which was held with the Brésil. He became then trainer in 1951 with the São Paulo FC.

Technician of exception during one time favourable with the creators, Leônidas contributed his share to the football-spectacle by popularizing the turned over chisel. In 1974, Leônidas learned that he suffered from the Maladie of Alzheimer, against which he fought during thirty years. It is buried with the Cemiterio da Paz of São Paulo.

Career in club

1929 : São Cristóvão
1929 - 1930: Sírio E Libanês
1931 - 1932: Bonsucesso
1933 :
1934 :
1935 - 1936:
1936 - 1941: (179 matches - 142 goals)
1942 - 1951: (211 matches - 140 goals)

International career

International as of 18 years, it finishes its career with 37 goals in 37 selections in the team of Brazil. He played the world cups 1934 and 1938.

Prize list

Champion of Rio: 1934, 1935 and 1939
Champion of São Paulo: 1943, 1945, 1946, 1948 and 1949
Cut Rio Branco: 1932
Roca Cut: 1945
Better striker of the World cup: 1938 (8 goals)
179 matches and 142 goals with Flamengo.
211 matches and 140 goals with São Paulo.

Source

"Leonidas, a diamond with the paradis" in France Football, n°3016, Tuesday, January 27, 2004, page 34.

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