Garrincha, byname of Manoel Francisco dos Santos, (born Oct. 18, 1933, Pau Grande, Braz.—died Jan. 20, 1983, Rio de Janeiro), Brazilian soccer (soccer) participant thought of by many to be the most effective proper winger within the historical past of the game. An imaginative and skillful dribbler, he starred together with Pelé and Didí on the Brazilian nationwide groups that received two World Cup Championships (1958, 1962).
His brother gave him the identify Garrincha (“Little Bird”) due to his misshapen legs, the results of childhood polio. He made his skilled debut in 1947 with Pau Grande and later performed with Serrano, Corinthians, Flamengo, Bangu, Portuguesa Santista, Sao Cristovao, and Olaria and Colombia’s Atletico Junior. His greatest years had been with Botafogo (1957–62), which he led to a few Brazilian league championships. He performed 60 occasions for Brazil and in three World Cups (1958, 1962, and 1966). He starred within the 1962 event, scoring two targets towards England within the quarterfinals and two extra within the semifinals towards Chile.
An undisciplined but good ahead, Garrincha usually annoyed coaches and opponents however was all the time a favorite with followers, who had been spellbound by his artistry. His profession ended when his legs started to deteriorate. Away from soccer, he had a number of marriages (together with one to well-known Brazilian singer Elsa Soares) and struggled with alcoholism and poverty.