Brazilian soccer icon Mário Zagallo, a four-time World Cup winner with Brazil as a player and coach, has died aged 92. His death announcement was made on his official Instagram account announced on Saturday.
“It is with great sadness that we inform you of the death of our eternal four-time world champion Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo. A devoted father, loving grandfather, caring father-in-law, faithful friend, victorious professional and a great human being. Giant idol. A patriot who leaves us a legacy of great achievements,” the statement said.
After playing in two World Cup winning teams in 1958 and 1962, he went on to win the tournament in 1970 as head coach, masterminding an all-conquering Brazil widely regarded as one of the greatest teams in history.
With that success, he became the first ever person to win the tournament as both a player and a coach, before he added a fourth trophy in 1994 as assistant coach to Carlos Alberto Parreira. He returned as Brazil manager after that tournament and led them to the final in 1998, where they were beaten by hosts France.
Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva has since declared three days of national mourning for the soccer icon. He described Zagallo as “one of the greatest football players and coaches of all time”.
“Zagallo was an example of a Brazilian who never gave up,” he added on X.
Zagallo succumbed to multiple organ failure, according to Barra D’Or Hospital in Rio de Janeiro, where he had been treated for a series of health problems in recent months.
The football legend had been the last surviving member of Brazil’s 1958 World Cup-winning team who played in the final.
