Brazilian footballer Zito, a two-time World Cup winner in 1958 and 1962, has died at the age of 82, his former club Santos announced on Monday.
Zito died at his home in the Sao Paulo surburb of Santos on Sunday, the club said, without giving the cause of his death.
The former midfielder was part of Brazil’s World Cup-winning squads in Sweden in 1958 and Chile in 1962, playing alongside icon Pele on both occasions, and even scoring a goal in the 3-1 final victory over Czechoslovakia in the latter tournament.
Zito spent 15 years of his playing career with Santos, winning the Copa Libertadores in 1962 and 1963. He later went on to join the backroom staff and was behind the recruitment of such stars as Robinho in 1996 and Neymar in 2003.
“I have no words to describe this guy, I just appreciate everything you did for me… thank you Zito,” Neymar tweeted.