Ademir_Marques_de_Menezes

Ademir de Menezes

Ademir de Menezes

Brazilian footballer (1922-1996)

Ademir Marques de Menezes (Portuguese pronunciation: [adeˈmiʁ]; 8 November 1922 – 11 May 1996) was a Brazilian footballer, regarded as one of the best forwards in football history.[1] His prominent underbite earned him the nickname "Queixada", which means "jaw". He was also the top goalscorer in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Marques and the second or paternal family name is de Menezes.
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Club career

Ademir began his club career with Sport Recife before moving to Vasco da Gama. He played for Vasco for two spells, 1942–1945 and 1948–56, broken by a spell at Fluminense. In total, Ademir won two Pernambuco State League Championships (1941, 1942) and five Rio State League championships (1945, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1956). He won another with Fluminense (1946). He was the league's top scorer in 1949 with 30 goals and again in 1950 with 25 goals. Ademir finally retired from playing in 1956, going on to work as a commentator, coach and businessman.

International career

Ademir is best known for his exploits in the 1950 World Cup held in his native Brazil. Playing in an outstanding forward trio involving Zizinho and Jair he won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the competition with 9 goals, and he also helped the team with 6 assists in the tournament. He was the scorer of the first competitive goal at the Maracanã stadium.[2] Despite this feat, he could not bring victory to Brazil in the decisive match against Uruguay – a national tragedy which was later dubbed the Maracanazo.

Ademir also enjoyed success in the Copa América. He played in the 1945, 1946, 1949, and 1953 editions of the tournament, with 13 goals and 3 assists in 18 appearances in the competition, including a tournament-winning hat-trick in the final play-off against Paraguay in 1949. He also won the Panamerican Championship with Brazil in 1952 scoring two goals on the title match against Chile. In total, Ademir played 39 times for his country, scoring 32 goals (according to RSSSF) between 1945 and 1953.

Style of play

A fast and powerful striker, with a strong shot in both feet,[1] Ademir began his career as a left winger before moving to the centre, causing havoc in opposing defences with his skill and sublime finishing. People at the time considered him an unequalled ball juggler who knew every trick in the book. He used to wreak havoc among defences with his quick changes in tempo, fooling his opponents with deceptions carried out almost at lightning speed, his mastering of the ball in all situations and the ability to accelerate rapidly.

Career statistics

International

[3] [4]

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Honours

Sport Recife

Vasco da Gama

Fluminense

Rio de Janeiro State Team

Brazil

Individual

References

  1. [1]
    Tim Vickery (26 March 2007). "Tim Vickery column". BBC. Archived from the original on 30 March 2007. Retrieved 26 March 2007.
  2. [2]
    "Maracanã, the largest stadium of the world". Sambafoot.com. 28 November 2005. Archived from the original on 21 March 2007. Retrieved 23 March 2007.
  3. [3]
    Ademir de Menezes at National-Football-Teams.com
  4. [4]
    "Ademir Marques de Menezes - Goals in International Matches". Archived from the original on 8 February 2011. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
  5. [5]
    IFFHS' Century Elections
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