Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva declared three days of national mourning for the late football legend Mario Zagallo. Zagallo, a four-time World Cup winner, passed away at the age of 92 on Friday.
Zagallo, who played alongside Pele in Brazil’s victorious 1958 and 1962 World Cup teams, later went on to win the prestigious trophy as a coach. He died of multiple organ failure after being treated for various health issues at the Barra D’Or hospital in Rio de Janeiro.
President Lula led the outpouring of tributes for the man affectionately known as the “Old Wolf.” Zagallo coached Brazil’s iconic 1970 World Cup-winning team, which featured Pele and is widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in history. He also served as an assistant coach when Brazil achieved victory once again in 1994.
“He was one of the greatest football players and coaches of all time,” President Lula remarked in a statement. He praised Zagallo’s courage, passion, and his enduring legacy of love, dedication, and resilience for Brazil and the world of football.
Tributes from around the football community also flooded in. FIFA President Gianni Infantino hailed Zagallo’s immense influence on Brazilian football, describing him as a “tactical genius.” Zagallo played an integral role in Brazil’s five World Cup triumphs, more than any other individual in history. Infantino emphasized that Zagallo’s absence will be deeply felt and that the story of the FIFA World Cup cannot be told without mentioning his name.
Zagallo joins the prestigious club of World Cup winners as both a player and coach, a distinction shared by only two others, Franz Beckenbauer of Germany and Didier Deschamps of France.
As Brazil mourns the loss of a true football icon, Zagallo’s remarkable legacy will continue to inspire generations of players and coaches to come.
