Everyone knows Brazilian strikers love 3 things: boozing, showboating and shagging anything that moves.
But none can match Garrincha, the magical winger who lifted two World Cups, fathered 14 children and lost his virginity to a goat.
Meet football's first wild child...
But none can match Garrincha, the magical winger who lifted two World Cups, fathered 14 children and lost his virginity to a goat.
Meet football's first wild child...
Born in a poor suburb of Rio, Garrincha had one leg shorter than the other.
Doctors weren’t sure if he’d ever walk properly, let alone play football.
And to make matters worse, he had an IQ in the low 70s.
Doctors weren’t sure if he’d ever walk properly, let alone play football.
And to make matters worse, he had an IQ in the low 70s.
Despite those obstacles, the lovable simpleton grew up fast, and he lost his virginity at the age of 12.
Unfortunately for Garrincha, his first sexual partner – found for him by some older boys in the neighbourhood – was a goat.
Unfortunately for Garrincha, his first sexual partner – found for him by some older boys in the neighbourhood – was a goat.
When he wasn't knobbing farmyard animals, the talented teenager was hitting the booze, and by age 14 he had a serious habit.
But his tricks and flicks on the streets were enough to attract some of Brazil’s top clubs, and he signed for Botafogo in 1953.
But his tricks and flicks on the streets were enough to attract some of Brazil’s top clubs, and he signed for Botafogo in 1953.
Soon his maverick skills fired him into the national team, and the mercurial winger was a key cog in Brazil’s maiden World Cup victory in 1958.
And that's when the trouble really started...
And that's when the trouble really started...
To celebrate winning the World Cup, Garrincha went on the mother of all benders.
Cachaça was his poison, and the player spent six months with a bottle of the spirit glued to his hand.
He drank so much of it, he piled on the pounds and Brazil had to drop him.
Cachaça was his poison, and the player spent six months with a bottle of the spirit glued to his hand.
He drank so much of it, he piled on the pounds and Brazil had to drop him.
Second to his love of drink was his thirst for women.
While on tour with Botafogo in Sweden, and with his wife heavily pregnant at home, he fathered a child with a local girl.
And shortly after his return, his mistress in Rio announced her own pregnancy.
While on tour with Botafogo in Sweden, and with his wife heavily pregnant at home, he fathered a child with a local girl.
And shortly after his return, his mistress in Rio announced her own pregnancy.
With three kids on the way by three different women, you'd think Garrincha would be planning for the future.
But he didn't care for money: he hid his World Cup bonus cash under his children's mattress, and it was destroyed when his son wet the bed.
But he didn't care for money: he hid his World Cup bonus cash under his children's mattress, and it was destroyed when his son wet the bed.
During this period, training became a rarity, and Botafogo players would take bets on Garrincha's next excuse for missing a session.
His favourite was, "My father fell off a horse", which he used three times.
His favourite was, "My father fell off a horse", which he used three times.
Amid all this mayhem, Garrincha found time to run over and nearly kill his father while off his tits on Cachaça.
As his life descended into chaos, he looked destined for the scrap heap.
But then something peculiar happened...
As his life descended into chaos, he looked destined for the scrap heap.
But then something peculiar happened...
He put the bottle down long enough to get in shape for the 1962 World Cup in Chile.
With Pelé injured, Garrincha was Brazil’s star man at the tournament.
He mesmerised fans with his jinking runs and flair on the pitch, and still made room for the odd moment of madness.
With Pelé injured, Garrincha was Brazil’s star man at the tournament.
He mesmerised fans with his jinking runs and flair on the pitch, and still made room for the odd moment of madness.
During the quarter-final against England, a stray dog invaded the pitch.
As striker Jimmy Greaves carried the labrador off the pitch, it peed on his shirt.
Garrincha, ever the animal-lover, adopted the mutt and flew it home to Brazil.
As striker Jimmy Greaves carried the labrador off the pitch, it peed on his shirt.
Garrincha, ever the animal-lover, adopted the mutt and flew it home to Brazil.
In the semi-final, Garrincha scored twice as Brazil put hosts Chile to the sword, before getting sent off.
He was so good the Chilean media petitioned FIFA to overturn his suspension and allow him to play in the final. And they did.
He was so good the Chilean media petitioned FIFA to overturn his suspension and allow him to play in the final. And they did.
Garrincha played in that final as Brazil won a second title. He took home both the Golden Boot as top scorer and Golden Ball as best player.
Alas, he never quite came back from the party that followed.
Alas, he never quite came back from the party that followed.
He made it to the ’66 World Cup, but his powers had waned. He died in 1983, having fathered at least 14 kids.
But no one - man or beast - ever forgot Garrincha, a true rockstar of the game.
But no one - man or beast - ever forgot Garrincha, a true rockstar of the game.
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