About Nílton Santos
Nílton dos Santos (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈniwtõ ˈsɐ̃tus]; 16 May 1925 – 27 November 2013) was a Brazilian footballer who played primarily as a left-back. At international level, he was a member of the Brazil teams that won the 1958 and 1962 FIFA World Cups. Regarded as one of the greatest defenders in the history of the game, Nílton Santos was included in the World Team of the 20th Century, and was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100, a list of the world's greatest living footballers announced at a FIFA awards ceremony in 2004. In 2009, he was the recipient of the Golden Foot Legends Award. He was unrelated to his frequent defensive partner Djalma Santos. Santos was nicknamed A Enciclopédia ("The Encyclopedia") for his knowledge of football and complete style of play. == Club career == Born in Rio de Janeiro, he was a pioneering attacking left back, being one of the first full backs to make runs down the wing to participate in the offensive game. Once he said: "I have never envied today's players the money but the freedom they have, to go forward". He played all his professional club career for Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas. == International career == Nílton was a key player in defence during the 1954, 1958 and 1962 World Cup finals (he was also in the Brazilian squad for the 1950 finals, but made no appearances) and became famous for scoring a goal in the 1958 tournament when Brazil played Austria.
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