{"id":3193,"date":"2024-05-27T16:42:40","date_gmt":"2024-05-27T10:42:40","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/?p=3193"},"modified":"2024-09-10T12:44:36","modified_gmt":"2024-09-10T06:44:36","slug":"zico-footballer-who-enchanted-the-world","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/zico-footballer-who-enchanted-the-world\/","title":{"rendered":"Zico Footballer Is The Magician Who Redefined Jogo Bonito"},"content":{"rendered":"

Few names shine as bright in the annals of football history as those of Arthur Antunes Coimbra, known universally as Zico. A soccer legend from Brazil, Zico’s star cuts across borders and generations. He is a legendary footballer who stole hearts for his artistry, vision, and passion for the game. It was an irony of sorts: Zico Footballer, a great player, never to have won the World Cup.<\/p>\n

From the Streets of Rio to the Maracan\u00e3<\/b><\/h3>\n

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Zico’s romance with football began on the busy streets of Quintino Bocai\u00fava. He was the youngest of six brothers who are all footballers. He developed his skills through impromptu matches, and his nimble footwork and instinctive flair were evident even then.<\/p>\n

First discovered by radio broadcaster Celso Garcia while watching a young Zico in action, his talent was captivating. Garcia was so captivated that he became his mentor, guiding his prot\u00e9g\u00e9 into becoming a professional and naming him “White Pel\u00e9” due to his uncanny resemblance to the latter’s style of play. The innate talent, love for beautiful football games with Jogo Flamengo, and passionate attacking style that defines Brazilian soccer itself were the precursors of an out-of-this-world career.<\/p>\n

Now 14, Zico joined the youth ranks of Flamengo, a club imbibed with Jogo Flamengo. Within a short period, the youngster rose through the ranks before making his professional debut as an 18-year-old. The legend of Zico Footballer was about to unfold.<\/p>\n

The Jogo Flamengo Icon<\/b><\/h3>\n

Zico’s Flamengo career was nothing more common than the usual. The Brazilian soccer legend led the club to a golden era, winning seven Campeonato Carioca titles, four Brazilian championships, and the coveted Copa Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup in 1981.<\/p>\n

Those who watched him in that iconic black-and-red jersey remembered it as an exercise in magic. Zico Footballer on the ground was like a conductor, leading Jogo Flamengo with vision, technical brilliance, and an uncanny knack for scoring from anywhere.<\/p>\n

Zico Footballer on the World Stage<\/b><\/h3>\n

The genius of Zico Footballer wasn’t restricted to club football. He graced three World Cups, leaving an indelible mark on each. The young attacking midfielder burst onto the scene in 1978, scoring a crucial free-kick against Sweden. Zico shone for an elaborate and star-laden Brazilian lineup that played some of the most beautiful football the world had ever seen back in 1982, with him at its heart. But once again, Brazil got ousted early on into the tournament. Still, his performances were so great and magical that he was featured in the All-Star Team.<\/p>\n

This time, in 1986, he returned as an experienced veteran at the World Cup. Though injury-ridden, he still showed glimpses of brilliance as he scored his penalty in the quarter-final match with France. His team didn’t win that match, but he sealed his legacy as an immortal footballer who never failed to shine on the biggest stage.<\/p>\n

Zico shone even brighter whenever he was with his compatriot Socrates on the Brazilian national team. Theirs was exceptional chemistry, a telepathic connection that tormented the defenders and stopped fans in their tracks. They conducted an orchestra of attacking football in which every interplay was a treat to behold.<\/p>\n

\"Zico
Zico<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

A Maestro’s Touch: Zico’s Special Skills<\/b><\/h3>\n

With the ball at his feet, Zico was a shooter, a playmaker, and an out-and-out artist. His dribbling was mesmerizing, his close control impeccable, and his vision could find passes through the tightest defences. It was in his finishing, however.<\/p>\n

His shots at goal were powerful and precise, often bending and dipping in the most illogical manners. Free-kicks with him were legends, as he was touted to be “The White Pel\u00e9” because of his amazing emulation of the powers of the Brazilian icon with dead-ball power.<\/p>\n

The most memorable moment for Zico would have to be at the final of the 1981 Copa Libertadores against Cobreloa. With Flamengo trailing, Zico conjured up a magical moment: he scored with a stunning free-kick that curled into the top corner, sealed the victory, and maintained his status as a legendary footballer.<\/p>\n

Another iconic moment of Zico as a footballer occurred in an amicable match with West Germany in 1977, whereby one outrageous goal saw him flick the ball over one defender’s head and then volley it into the net from an impossible angle. The goal epitomized his genius-proof that he could always do the unexpected.<\/p>\n

Icons of the Game: 5 Best Midfielders of All Time<\/a><\/p>\n

A Foray into Italy and a Return to Brazil<\/b><\/h3>\n

In 1983, Zico moved to Italy to play for Udinese. The team fared poorly, but the magic of the Zico Footballer was still there: he made 56 goals in two seasons, and his free kicks are becoming the stuff of legend.<\/p>\n

A legendary footballer in every sense, he returned to Flamengo in 1985 with a hero’s welcome. He continued dazzling, and his influence on and off the pitch is unimaginable. He etched his name forever as a soccer legend in Brazil.<\/p>\n

Zico Footballer: The Brazilian Maestro<\/b><\/h3>\n

His international career was similarly eventful. He represented the Brazilian national team 71 times, wearing the Sele\u00e7\u00e3o jersey 48 times, and scored 48 goals in the process, hence his legendary footballer status. He was featured in World Cups in 1978, 1982, and 1986.<\/p>\n

Zico’s style of play was the personification of Jogo Flamengo: a creative playmaker and a number 10 in its purest meaning. His vision, close control, and passing accuracy were sublime.<\/p>\n

But what separated him from the rest was his ability to score goals from almost all angles. He could score long-range screamers, Delicate chips, and perfectly placed free kicks, which is why the beautiful game maintains such wonderful moments.<\/p>\n

Find your Adidas soccer cleats here:<\/a><\/p>\n

A Legacy That Transcends Trophies<\/b><\/h3>\n

Though Zico never lifted the World Cup, his impact on the game is immense; he is remembered as one of the greatest players ever to grace a football pitch. One soccer legend from Brazil, whose influence extends far beyond his trophy cabinet, the name Zico Footballer is synonymous with Jogo Flamengo, with the beautiful game played at its most artistic.<\/p>\n

He inspired a generation of players. His spirit lives on in any Brazilian child who ever dreamed of emulating his mazy dribbles, pin-point passes, and unforgettable goals.<\/p>\n

Zico is a legendary football player who might not have won the World Cup, but he has won the hearts of millions.<\/p>\n

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Few names shine as bright in the annals of football history as those of Arthur Antunes Coimbra, known universally as Zico. A soccer legend from Brazil, Zico’s star cuts across borders and generations. He is a legendary footballer who stole hearts for his artistry, vision, and passion for the game. It was an irony of […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":9,"featured_media":3191,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[39],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-3193","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-football-feature-stories"},"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3193","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/9"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=3193"}],"version-history":[{"count":6,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3193\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":3864,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/3193\/revisions\/3864"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/3191"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=3193"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=3193"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/touchlinetales.com\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=3193"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}