Carlos Alberto Torres - National Career

National Career

Carlos Alberto Torres is considered a legend among football insiders for his massive contributions to Brazil as an attacking right-back. From 1964 to 1977, Torres was capped 53 times and scored 8 goals. He was included in the 44 man training squad for the 1966 FIFA World Cup but did not make the final 22, a decision which hugely disappointed him and surprised most commentators at that time. As it turned out, Brazil performed pitifully in England, and when Joao Saldanha was tasked with restoring pride and passion to the selecao, he recognised the natural flair for leadership that Carlos Alberto was consistently demonstrating at Santos, and made him national captain. Thus, Carlos Alberto will always be remembered holding aloft the Jules Rimet trophy after the greatest team of the modern era secured the cup for good after an impressive victory over Italy in the final of the 1970 FIFA World Cup in Mexico. This legendary squad also included Clodoaldo, Gérson, Jairzinho, Roberto Rivelino, Tostão and Pelé. Carlos Alberto's goal against Italy in the 1970 FIFA World Cup Final is considered one of the greatest goals ever scored in the history of the tournament. Given the influence he had demonstrated throughout the 1970 tournament, it is tragic that it would prove to be the only time he would play at that level. He was unable to participate in the 1974 World Cup due to a persistant knee injury. When he eventually regained match fitness, his penchant for galloping down the flanks had been compromised. However, his ability to read the game compensated for his loss of pace and when he moved to centre back he found the form to warrant a recall to the national team. In 1977 he was selected by Claudio Coutinho to captain the national team for the first three qualifiers for the 1978 FIFA World Cup. He acquitted himself well despite these being the first competitive internationals Carlos Alberto had played for almost 7 years. He was approaching 33 years of age, he had nothing else to prove, and thus chose that moment to retire from the Brazil National Team, immediately prior joining New York Cosmos in the NASL. Today he is considered one of the finest Brazilian footballers of all time, with the likes of Pelé, Zico, Ronaldo, Garrincha, Romário and fellow defenders Roberto Carlos and Nilton Santos.