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All Brazilians want to be attacking players; no one likes the goalkeeper, goes the story. Brazil have certainly had some ‘eccentric’ custodians down the years. Remember Felix ‘the cat’ in 1970, or Valdir Peres’ ‘attempt’ to save Bal’s shot against the USSR in 1982?
Maybe things are starting to change. The current Brazil no.1 has risen steadily through the ranks to be in a position to add a World Cup winner’s medal to the Serie A title and Champions League honours he has won with his club, Milan. Yes, that’s right, a Brazilian ‘keeper who is first-choice for one of Europe’s biggest teams. With 85 caps to his name spread over the last 11 years, Dida is reaching his peak at the right time.
Born Nelson de Jesús Silva in Irará in 1973, he began his career in the excellent Vitória youth system, before moving to Cruzeiro in 1994. It was here that he really made a name for himself, winning the Copa Libertadores in 1997. He became the last line of defence for Corinthians’ successful team of the late 90s, winning the Brasileiro in 1999 before his move to Europe to join Milan. By now he was also first-choice for Brazil, winning the Copa América in 1999.
After a shaky start in the old continent, including a high-profile gaff in a Champions League game at Elland Road against Leeds, he was loaned back to Corinthians in 2001. It was during this time he lost his spot as Brazil’s no.1 to Marcos of Palmeiras, who excelled in the Seleção’s victorious World Cup that season. Despite this disappointment, he returned to Milan that summer, determined to wrestle the goalie’s shirt away from Christian Abbiati.
He knuckled down and worked hard on his game, and by the end of the season was Milan’s hero in their penalty shoot-out victory over Juventus in the Champions League final at Old Trafford. Thanks to Marcos’ unfortunate recent injury record he has regained his spot as Parreira’s goalkeeper of choice, winning the Confederations Cup in 2005 in Germany.
Fans who are hoping for a repeat performance this summer will hope that he shakes off the poor form that has dogged him of late, and that he can stake his claim to being Brazil’s best ever ‘keeper, as well as the first to be known by a nickname since the Second World War.
Position: Goalkeeper
Appearances: 85
Goals Conceded: 68
Club: A.C Milan (Italy)
Full Name: Nelson de Jesús Silva
Date of birth: 07 October 1973
Place of birth: Irará (BA)
International debut: Brazil 1-0 Ecuador (07 July 1995)
World Cup Squads: 2 (1998 & 2002)
World Cup Appearances: 0
Vitória - 1992-94
Cruzeiro – 1994-98
Lugano (Swtizerland) – 1998
Corinthians – 1999-2000
A.C Milan (Italy) – 2000-01
Corinthians – 2001-02
A.C Milan(Italy) – since 2002
Vitória – Bahia State Championship (1992)
Cruzeiro – Libertadores Cup (1997), Conmebol Cup (1995), Brazilian Cup (1996), Minas Gerais State Championship (1996, 97 & 98)
Corinthians – World Club Championships (2000), Intercontinental Cup (2000), Brazilian Championship (1999), Brazilian Cup (2002), Rio-São Paulo Tournament (2002), São Paulo State Championship (1999),
A.C Milan – UEFA Champions League (2003), European Super Cup (2003), Italian Serie A (2004), Italian Cup (2003), Italian Super Cup (2004)
World Cup (2002), Copa America (1999), Confederations Cup (1999 & 2005), World Under-20 Championships (1993)
Brazilian Championship Team of the Season (1993, 96, 98 & 99)
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Bio written by: Chris Marks
Factfile compiled by: Mark Lowdon
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