Brazilian icon and World Cup champion Mario Zagallo has passed away at the age of 92

Mario Zagallo, a key figure in Brazil’s emergence as a football superpower and the first individual to win the FIFA World Cup both as a player and a coach, passed away on Friday at the age of 92. Zagallo was the last surviving member of Brazil’s 1958 World Cup-winning squad, a victory that helped heal the wounds of Brazil’s devastating loss to Uruguay at Maracana in 1950.

Zagallo, who witnessed the 1950 defeat as a soldier, described the profound silence and sadness of that moment. His death follows that of his legendary teammate Pele, who passed away in December 2022.

Zagallo’s football journey started in the amateur leagues in the 1950s, and he soon became known for his blend of technical skill and defensive strength. He won five Rio de Janeiro state championships with Flamengo and Botafogo and earned his first Brazil cap at 26, just before the 1958 World Cup. He played a pivotal role in the tournament, scoring and assisting in the final.

In the 1962 World Cup, despite Pele’s injury, Brazil retained their title, with Zagallo playing every minute of the tournament. After retiring, he turned to management, leading Botafogo to more state championships during Brazil’s military dictatorship.

Zagallo took over Brazil’s national team in 1970, replacing Joao Saldanha, and led an incredibly talented squad to World Cup glory. He is remembered for his pioneering approach as both a player and a coach.

Zagallo’s career also included domestic successes with Fluminense and Flamengo, international stints in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates, and a return to the Brazilian team as technical director in 1994, contributing to another World Cup win.

Despite a disappointing finish in the 1998 World Cup final and a brief tenure following Brazil’s 2002 World Cup victory, Zagallo’s legacy in Brazilian football remains unparalleled. Ronaldo, one of football’s greats, praised him as “The Professor” and acknowledged his indelible impact on the sport. Zagallo’s wife, Alcina de Castro, with whom he shared 57 years of marriage, predeceased him in 2012.