Ronaldinho? Maradona? For many, the greatest dribbler of all time is Garrincha.
The entertainer who first brought olés from the bull-fighting arena into the stadium, Garrincha mesmerised supporters and left opponents in his wake. [THREAD]
The entertainer who first brought olés from the bull-fighting arena into the stadium, Garrincha mesmerised supporters and left opponents in his wake. [THREAD]
Garrincha's left leg was 6cm longer than his right. His spine was deformed. He was, however, absolutely electric from day one. Before he turned pro, a scout remarked: "There's an unknown player who lives in the woods, has bent legs, is unmarkable and dribbles like the devil". 
Of his 345 club games, 323 of them were for Botafogo. This was despite widespread international acclaim and near-constant interest in his services from Europe. Garrincha opted to stay loyal to his home crowd, and in turn they adored him.
Garrincha and Pelé are chiefly responsible for what's often called "the best three minutes of football of all time" vs the Soviet Union in the 1958 World QFs. Garrincha also repeatedly bamboozled Sweden in the final - his two assists helped turn a 1-0 deficit into a 5-2 win.
But it's the 1962 World Cup where Garrincha's golden legacy was sealed in style. With Pelé out injured, Garrincha stepped up, dazzling each and every fan who was lucky enough to see him. He won the Golden Ball, the Golden Boot, and of course the tournament itself.
Brazil never lost a game with Garrincha and Pelé in the same side. When they played together, fans would not only cheer and olé, they would laugh with glee. They'd simply never seen anything like it.
Ultimately, Garrincha's ludicrous talent and mind-blowing performances are not reflected in his reputation now. The greatest dribbler, one of the greatest ever in general. We should remember that.
A true icon who died 39 years ago today. Respect. ✊
A true icon who died 39 years ago today. Respect. ✊
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