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Portrait of Gilmar

Gilmar

1930 – 2013

Brazilian footballer

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About Gilmar

Lived 1930 – 2013 (aged 83). Gilmar was a Brazilian association football player.

Gylmar dos Santos Neves (; 22 August 1930 – 25 August 2013), known simply as Gilmar , was a Brazilian footballer who played goalkeeper for Corinthians and Santos and was a member of the Brazil national team in three World Cups. He was elected the best Brazilian goalkeeper of the 20th century and one of the best in the world by the IFFHS. He is remembered for his sober style on the pitch and his peaceful personality.

Alex Bellos says in his book Futebol: The Brazilian Way of Life that Gilmar is named after his parents, Gilberto and Maria. Gilmar was the starting goalkeeper for Pelé's Santos and Brazilian national teams of the 1960s. In 1998, he was awarded the FIFA Order of Merit.

Club career Gilmar was born in Santos, São Paulo, and started his career playing for hometown side Jabaquara. In 1951 he joined Corinthians, winning three Campeonato Paulista titles with the club in 1951, 1952 and 1954.

In 1961, Gilmar signed for Santos, being a part of the team who was known as Os Santásticos. An immediate starter, he won five Campeonato Paulista (1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968), five Taça Brasil (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965), two Copa Libertadores (1962 and 1963) and two Intercontinental Cups (1962 against Eusébio's Benfica and 1963 against Milan).

International career

Gilmar played 94 times with the Brazil national team. In the opinion of Grahame L. Jones, Gilmar was an agile shot-stopper, who possessed excellent reflexes, and who was also known for his composure under pressure, as well as his ability to inspire a sense of calm and confidence in his defenders.

Death Gilmar died of a stroke on 25 August 2013, three days after his 83rd birthday. Campeonato Paulista: 1951, 1952, 1954 Torneio Rio–São Paulo: 1953, 1954

Santos , 1954 Torneio Rio-São Paulo Team of the Tournament: 1954 , 1955

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Important facts

Birth century
Nationality
Also known as
Gylmar dos Santos Neves, Gilmar dos Santos Neves

People in Gilmar's life

Named in this biography and alive at the same time

Contemporaries

People whose lives overlapped Gilmar's

Frequently asked questions

Who was Gilmar?

Brazilian footballer (1930-2013)

When was Gilmar born?

Gilmar was born on 22 August 1930 in Santos.

When did Gilmar die?

Gilmar died on 25 August 2013 in São Paulo.

What was Gilmar's occupation?

Gilmar was an association football player.

What nationality was Gilmar?

Gilmar was Brazilian.

Sources & further reading

· Wikipedia: Gilmar

· Wikidata: Q257606

· DBpedia: Gilmar

Cite this page

APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Gilmar. https://biography.guide/gilmar/

MLA: "Gilmar." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/gilmar/.

Chicago: "Gilmar." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/gilmar/.

Data last updated: 2026-09-23 · Spot an error? Report a correction.

Portrait: Wikimedia Commons · author & licence

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