Leonidas Da Silva: The Pioneer Of Brazilian Football

Brazil is an impeccable factory for creating football legends. The country has never lacked football talent, one generation has sometimes surpassed the previous generation, creating new fairy tales.
But where did all this start? What is the identity of the progenitors of the history of football of these generations? Sadly, many do not have the right answer.

Many call Pele the greatest footballer of all time. He is the one who took Brazil's position on the world stage to another height. However, the one who laid the foundation, his name is Leonidas da Silva.

Leonidas was born on September 6, 1913, in the city of Rio de Janeiro. Football was still the most popular sport in Brazil at that time. And like ten other ordinary children, he fell in love with football. But to fulfill this love, Leonidas had to burn a lot of wood. He was black in color. Despite the abolition of slavery in Brazil in 18 CE, discrimination against black people continued. Which had an impact on the beginning of his professional career. Football was not a common sport then as it is now. Only the elite class of the society could enjoy it one hundred percent. Silva didn't have to be neglected for long. He caught everyone's eye as the Inside Right for the Rio Bonusaxeso Club. In the 1931 Brazilian Championship play-off against Sao Paulo, he scored twice. His team won the match 3-0. He was then called up to the Brazilian national team. The door to his success opens.

The Uruguayan club Penarol were impressed with his performance and in 1933 they signed Leonidas. A year later, he returned to Brazil to play for Vasco da Gama. Then in 1934 he won the Rio State Championship for Botafogo. Finally spent 1936 to 1941 in Flamengo. Leonidas has played in the World Cup twice. In 1934 and 1938. The first time he could not do anything, but the second time he told the world about his existence. The world is intoxicated with Leonidas. The opening match against Poland is said to be one of the best ever in World Cup history. Leonidas scored a hat trick in the first half of this match. The team went ahead 3-1.

In the second half, Leonidas made a strange move. He took off his boots, threw them off the field and started playing barefoot. But the match referee forced him to wear it again. The Polish do not give up and continue to play with all their might. The scoreline of the match is 4-4. But Leonidas let the opponent win? He came at the last moment and scored a great goal with his right foot. Brazil's winner for that day. Leonidas was also a famous name in the quarter finals. The first match was a draw and they had to play a replay against Czechoslovakia. Leonidas scored in both games. Then come the semifinals. Brazil just two games away from the world cup. At that time Brazil was not a superpower in football. So this victory would have been a surprise for the Brazilians themselves. But one mistake from the coach costed Brazil's cup dreams. Brazil manager Adhimer Pimenta benched Leonidas. And without Leonidas, Brazil also lost helplessly against Italy. It's a lot like the 2014 Brazil vs Germany match. Brazil without Neymar was just a reflection of helplessness. Leonidas, however, played in the third place match. He scored 2 goals in that match as if to explain to the manager how big his mistake was. After this World Cup, Leonidas got his nickname "Black Diamond". The following year, the Brazilian chocolate company Lakta bought the rights to the name. Today the company is successful in Brazil.

Leonidas is also famous forhis bicycle kick. Although he was not the inventor, he was so adept at this technique that many called him the creator of it. It was at that time that Leonidas established it as an integral part of football. After retiring in the 50's, he spent some time as manager of Sao Paulo. He then moved away from football and joined as a radio reporter. Eventually he opened a furniture store in Sao Paulo.
The man, who has been terrorizing opponents, lost to Alzheimers in 2004. He had been suffering from this incurable disease since 1984. He is lying in the Cemetrio de Paje in Sao Paulo.

Leonidas's achievements in football could have been much bigger, but unfortunately it did not happen. However, there is no denying that his contribution in introducing the country to the world of football is immense. Thanks Leonidas da Silva. The footballing world will forever be in your debt.