RIO DE JANEIRO: Carlos Alberto Torres, captain of the great Brazil team that won the 1970 World Cup, died on Tuesday of a heart attack in Rio de Janeiro at the age of 72.

TV Globo, which employed Carlos Alberto as a football commentator for SporTV, and the Brazilian Football Confederation confirmed the death Tuesday. Neither offered any details.

Carlos Alberto was one of the best defenders of his generation and starred alongside Pele, Tostao, Jairzinho and Rivelino in the Brazil team that beat Italy 4-1 in the final in Mexico’s Azteca Stadium and is considered as one of the greatest sides of all time.

A right-back, he scored the last goal in the final — one of the greatest goals in World Cup history, a thumping drive that ended a move involving nine players, before hoisting the Jules Rimet trophy as Brazil won the title for the third time.

He was capped 53 times by Brazil.

Born in Rio in 1944, the classy defender played for Fluminense, Santos, Flamengo and New York Cosmos and won the nickname “The Captain” for his leadership qualities.

His friendship with Pele was built around their years at Santos — from 1966 to 1974.

He hung up his boots in 1982 and started his coaching career with Flamengo, winning a Brazilian title before working in the United States, Colombia, Mexico, Oman and Azerbaijan.

Published in Dawn October 26th, 2016