Hilderaldo Bellini

Hilderaldo Luiz Bellini (7 June 1930 – 20 March 2014) was a Brazilian footballer who played as a centre-back and was known in Brazil as one of the nation's greatest defenders ever.

Biography During his career, he played for Vasco da Gama, São Paulo FC and Atlético Paranaense, and he was the first Brazilian to lift the World Cup in 1958. He won another World Cup in 1962 and participated also at 1966 FIFA World Cup as the team captain again.

He was honoured with a statue at the entrance of the Maracanã stadium, which depicts him lifting the 1958 World Cup trophy. At the end of his international career from 1957 to 1966 with Brazil, he earned a total of 51 caps being the captain during the 1958 FIFA World Cup in Sweden.

Bellini is credited with starting the tradition of lifting the trophy into the air in football. He initially did this so that photographers could have a better view of the trophy and, as the photos were published around the world, the gesture became associated with victory.

Bellini died on 20 March 2014, aged 83, in São Paulo, due to complications caused by Alzheimer's disease culminating with cardiac arrest.

Shortly after his death in 2014, Brazilian footballer Bellini was posthumously diagnosed with CTE. Bellini, along with Pelé, Didi and Garrincha, led Brazil to FIFA World Cup victories in 1958 and 1962.

Honours

Club Vasco da Gama Campeonato Carioca: 1952, 1956, 1958 Torneio Octogonal Rivadavia Corrêa Meyer: 1953 Torneio Rio–São Paulo: 1958 Torneio Início do Rio de Janeiro: 1958

São Paulo Pequena Copa do Mundo: 1963

International Brazil FIFA World Cup: 1958, 1962 Roca Cup: 1957, 1960 Copa do Atlântico: 1960

Individual FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1958