Tostao

Professional applied Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade, a professor of semiotics-the study of symptoms of pain in the Faculty of Medical Sciences, Belo Horizonte-read on the Internet to their purpose: crack football, said Tostão, born in the mining capital 25 January 1947 and 1970 World Cup hero. was then realized he was locked into an academic life for over 20 years and felt nostalgia itself. At this time he had to stop in his reflections to attend a phone call. A reporter told him politely: "Doctor Eduardo, I know you do not like to talk about his past player, but ...".

- True, it interrupted the doctor, you come to my house tonight and talk about this, please.

At home, he told the reporter he was the son of Osvaldo, banking and Osvaldina,

public employee. And in his childhood in Belo Horizonte, capital of Minas Gerais fine, Tostão will be nicknamed as the most often matches her neighborhood street. In this section we would find the Cruzeiro Esporte Clube. Before, Tostão youth of America would Minas Gerais, the equipe heart of his father Osvaldo, then turned pro with Cruzeiro at age 17. So much so that in September 1965, when they opened the stadium Mineirão, he was the playmaker of the team that had Dirceu Lopes, Ze Carlos, Piazza and Raul. The same as in 1966, would beat the mighty Saints Pelé, Carlos Alberto, Zito, Gilmar and company in Brazil Cup, the predecessor of the Brazilian championship.

His performances in the events of Mines and Brazilians brought on 15 May 1966, the senior team in a match against Chile which would tie

one. Since then, Tostão was a classic of the calls, among which the World 66 in England, where he played only one match in defeating Brazil 3-1 to Hungary, but scoring the only goal he canarinho. Such party also was the one who lost Garrincha, chubby and out of shape with Brazil. In contrast, the following year Minas Gerais player to win selection Rio Branco Cup against Uruguay, the tournament in which he appeared with the yellow jersey, his partner Cruzeiro Dirceu Lopes. And in 1968, mark a goal Tostão Russian goalkeeper Lev immortal Yashin, in a game against the FIFA selection in the Maracanã.

But that year, 1968-year exacerbated the Brazilian military dictatorship to own

stupidity, in which students from France defied De Gaulle and the people of Prague democratize socialism would mark the extra-field crack. He, politically aware, was sad to see his frustrated of what he regarded as political and great country greater dignity: freedom. Discreet, our young athlete sympathized with those who fought for a democratic state. Besides using his prestige Tostão never failed to say in favor of and against the country banidos systematic torture of political prisoners. Or you about theses were loved, and I think still are, such as land reform and redistribution of wealth in Brazil.

But his footballing craft tore the ideological debate and replenished in game where Tostão play every game with the national team in the upcoming World Cup qualifiers then. In the field, consistent with their citizenship, was caring, skilful and great creativity, of the smartest country. He looked at it one of the most complete players in the history of football and creating opportunities for his teammates, opponents attracted so easily that it was said he was a great player without the ball. A definition that I never liked. Because with it, with the ball on his foot, Tostão played even better. But the September 24, 1969, in São Paulo against Corinthians, the greatest idol in the history of Cruzeiro hit by a pitch on the left side to the left retina. Both that required surgery, many doubted that he would play. Far from these speculations, the technician João Saldanha parked history with a joke, saying that even with only one eye, Tostão could command the best attack the Jewish General Moshe Dayan, right-wing politician and eminent military strategist of Israel.

Said and done: the artist was summoned to the selection two months after the other. In the preparation phase, the Cruzeiro received a suspicious call, threatening reprisals in their political vision. But not moved and the World, 1970, in the attack with Jairzinho, Pele, Gerson and Rivellino, it became real joke of Saldanha. That right after signing the amazing fifth consecutive championship Minas Gerais with Cruzeiro (65-66-67-68-69). After the title of Mexico, Tostão in Europe would be considered as the most efficient player of the tournament. And his club would use its prestige to bill large sums of dollars touring abroad.

In 1972, when Brazil win the Independence Cup, the idol of Cruzeiro on tour in the Old Continent was angry with the authoritarian Iustrich, newly hired technician. Added to other disagreements with the club, that would cause its output to sign with Vasco da Gama, who paid her a millionaire trapaso. But in Rio, Tostão never be the same and worse by their particular forewarned that your retina doctor worsened, he related that with the fact that he received no salary for months and made the club cruzmaltino justice. As, therefore, insinuate on their mentality, Tostão decided to end his career in 1973. Starting from that date, it disappears from the news and engages in medicine, paying for their education with what I had invested in a service station and sports shop, run by his brothers businesses.

Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade, Tostão, which was three times top scorer of Minas Gerais campeonatp and played 65 games with the team, scoring 36 goals, had married in the early 70s, of which union would have a son and a daughter. In a new relationship, would also have a girl and a boy. Provider, other than university education, never officiated in the office, preferring to act in the hospital in Belo Horizonte. However, in the late 90s, thanks to the journalist Luciano do Valle, was revealed as television sports commentator. And lucid, objective and intelligent arguments, then it would be taken seriously, then considered one of the most respected men in the sports media in Brazil, where also sign chronicles in newspapers and magazines from which the Folha de São Paulo , the largest country vehicle information, where it shows a thin pen, original quality and sensible review. Among the beauties which we highlight: "The difference between a great player and the other is his ability to invent on the spot suddenly miss a play which nobody had expected.". That extraordinary crack also wrote the book "Lembranças, opiniões and reflexões about futebol" (Memoirs, opinions and thoughts on football), in addition to being honored at the theater "Tostão, gold coin."

In this citizen of democratic convictions, Real Gold Mines, who wanted to unionize football players of his time, a loud burst of clapping.