About Leônidas da Selva
Lived 1927 – 1985 (aged 58). Leônidas da Selva was a Brazilian association football player.
Manoel Pereira (3 January 1927 – 23 April 1985), mostly known by the nickname Leônidas da Selva, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.
Nickname origin
Manoel earned the nickname "Leônidas da Selva" from journalist Sandro Moreira, a joke on the player's physical resemblance to Leônidas da Silva, but having a totally ferocious style of play on the field (in Portuguese, "Selva" means jungle).
Career Started his career in Santa Catarina, played for Flamengo de Estreito and Lauro Müller. After, played for Palestra Itália de Curitiba and Avaí FC. In 1952, arrived at America, a club with which he had national recognition which earned him six call ups for the Brazil national team in 1956.
He scored an unusual goal on an America trip to Turkey, where he scored with his heel, supporting his body weight on his hands.
Honours America Campeonato Carioca runner-up: 1955
Brazil Taça Oswaldo Cruz: 1956 Taça do Atlântico: 1956
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Important facts
People in Leônidas da Selva's life
Named in this biography and alive at the same time
Related people
Same field, nearest in time
Contemporaries
People whose lives overlapped Leônidas da Selva's
Frequently asked questions
Who was Leônidas da Selva?
association football player (1927-1985)
When was Leônidas da Selva born?
Leônidas da Selva was born on 3 January 1927 in Biguaçu.
When did Leônidas da Selva die?
Leônidas da Selva died on 23 April 1985 in Matinhos.
What was Leônidas da Selva's occupation?
Leônidas da Selva was an association football player.
What nationality was Leônidas da Selva?
Leônidas da Selva was Brazilian.
Sources & further reading
· Wikipedia: Leônidas da Selva
Cite this page
APA: Biography.guide. (2026). Leônidas da Selva. https://biography.guide/leonidas-da-selva/
MLA: "Leônidas da Selva." Biography.guide, https://biography.guide/leonidas-da-selva/.
Chicago: "Leônidas da Selva." Biography.guide. https://biography.guide/leonidas-da-selva/.
Data last updated: 2026-09-20 · Spot an error? Report a correction.
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