Date Of Birth : 6 September 1913
Position : Striker
Nation : Brazil
Height : 173 cm
Major Club : Flamengo, Sao Paulo
Caps : 37 Games (37 Goals)
World Cup Participation : 1934, 1938 (5 Games with 9 Goal)
Professional Score Record : 162 Goals/ 176 Games
Club Honours : 8 Times Brazil State Championships
International Honours : 1938 FIFA World Cup Third Place
Individual Achievement : 1938 FIFA World Cup Golden Ball
1938 FIFA World Cup Golden Shoe
Brazil Football Museum Hall of Fame
“The Black Diamond” Leonidas Da Silva was the greatest South American footballer before the World War II. He was known for his elasticity. He was one of the pioneers of the bicycle kick. Leonidas also played for famous clubs like Penarol, Vasco Da Gama and Botafogo each a year before settle his career down with Flamengo and Sao Paulo. He usually played as inside-forward and sometimes as center-forward. In 1938, he was the World Cup's top scorer with 7 goals, scoring hat-trick in the 6-5 extra time win over Poland. Brazil manager Ademar Pimenta decided to rest him for the semi-final against Italy. The Italians won the game 2-1. Nelson Rodrigues who was playwright ever mentioned “He was a rigorously Brazilian player. Had the fantasy, childhoodness, improvisation and the sensuality from the best Brazilian players"
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