Éder Aleixo

Éder Aleixo de Assis (; born 25 May 1957), commonly known as Éder, is a Brazilian former footballer. A left winger and forward, he is best known for his spells with Atlético Mineiro in the Campeonato Brasileiro and for representing the Brazil national team. He also played for Grêmio, Palmeiras and several other clubs. In the 1988–89 season, he played in Turkey for Malatyaspor, alongside fellow Brazilians Carlos and Serginho.

International career

Éder Aleixo gained 52 caps with the Brazil national team between May 1979 and April 1986, and came to international prominence during the 1982 FIFA World Cup while playing alongside Zico, Sócrates and Falcão in what's considered one of the greatest international football teams ever. In Brazil's first match of the tournament Éder scored a winning goal against the Soviet Union, flicking the ball up and volleying it into the net with blistering power and precision from 25 yards out.

He followed that up with another goal in the 4–1 win over Scotland when, after feigning to shoot, he lofted the ball over Scotland's frozen goalie Alan Rough and into the far corner from the edge of the area. He smashed a bending free kick against the crossbar vs Argentina in the 2nd round group game from 30 yards out, and this shot resulted in the first goal of the match scored by Zico.

Éder Aleixo did not make the Brazilian squad for the 1986 World Cup, after losing form and fitness during the preceding season, and also because he apparently pushed a ball boy during a warm-up game for Brazil. He was sent off in his final international match, against Peru, in April 1986. Off the field he was occasionally a controversial figure; rumours abounded that he preferred partying to training and often fell out with coaches and teammates.

Despite his ability as a footballer, he was also notorious for his poor work-rate, difficult and temperamental character, and lack of discipline both on and off the pitch, which led him to have issues with several of his managers.

Style of play A predominantly left-footed player, Éder Aleixo usually played as a wide midfielder on the left flank, although he was also capable of playing as a forward or in a free role as a second striker; in his prime, he was considered to be one of the best players in the world in his position. Although he was not the quickest winger, he was highly creative, athletically built, and had dazzling technical skills and close control, as well as an extremely accurate and powerful bending shot with his left foot (one of his strikes reportedly reached a speed of 174.5 km/h) that earned him the nickname O Canhão ("The Cannon") from his fans; he was capable of bending the ball in any direction by striking it with either the inside or the outside of the instep of his left foot, while he was not particularly adept with his weaker right foot. In addition to his ball striking abilities from outside the area or from volleys in open play, he was also known for his accuracy from free kicks, as well as his excellent ball delivery from set-pieces and corners, and his accurate long passing and crossing ability.

Career statistics

Honours Grêmio Campeonato Gaúcho: 1977, 1979 Torneo Ciudad de Rosario: 1979

Atlético Mineiro Campeonato Mineiro: 1980, 1981, 1982, 1983, 1985, 1995 Tournoi de Paris: 1982 Trofeo Ramón de Carranza: 1990

Cruzeiro Copa do Brasil: 1993

Individual Bola de Prata: 1983 South American Player of the Year Bronze award: 1983