Bellini

Hideraldo Luís Bellini, the great captain of Brazil, two-time world champion, was immortalized as the first player to lift the World Cup above his head in Stockholm in 1958, creating a gesture that all of humanity knows and repeats to this day. A center-back with natural leadership, refined technique and impressive physique, Bellini was one of the greatest defenders in Brazilian football history. Born on June 7, 1930 in Itapira, in the interior of São Paulo, Bellini started his career at a young age and quickly stood out for his defensive solidity and ability to command the defense with authority. At Vasco da Gama, where he spent most of his football career, he won several Rio de Janeiro titles and became one of the club's pillars. For the Brazilian National Team, Bellini was one of the central figures in the world championship victories of 1958 in Sweden and 1962 in Chile. In the 1958 World Cup, he played as captain and lifted the Jules Rimet Trophy after the final against the host country — the historic gesture was spontaneous and became a tradition for all championship teams since then. Deceased on March 20, 2014 in Rio de Janeiro, Bellini left an indescribable legacy. His name is among the greatest defenders that Brazil has ever produced, and his gesture with the World Cup trophy is one of the most iconic images in sports history.