Former Brazil captain Socrates has died at the age of 57.
He had been in a critical condition with an intestinal
infection since being admitted to intensive care on Friday at a hospital
in Sao Paulo.
Socrates, who was widely regarded as one of the greatest ever midfielders, was moved onto a life support machine on Saturday.
He played in two World Cups, won 60 caps for his country between 1979 and 1986 and scored 22 goals.
The former Corinthians player, whose full name was Socrates
Brasileiro Sampaio de Sousa Vieira de Oliveira, was taken to the Albert
Einstein Hospital in Sao Paulo with food poisoning on Friday, according
to his wife.
A hospital statement said on Saturday that the former
footballer was "in a critical condition due to a septic shock of
intestinal origin".
It added he was breathing with a ventilator and using a dialysis machine.
Paolo Rossi, who scored a hat-trick in Italy's memorable 3-2
quarter-final win over Socrates's Brazil in 1982 - widely regarded as
one of the greatest games in World Cup history - said: "I'm really sorry
for Socrates.
"He's also a little bit one of ours. It's a piece of our history that's broken off and gone away."
Socrates scored Brazil's first goal in that match, beating
Dino Zoff at the near post after running on to Zico's wonderful through
ball.
"I remember the goal he scored against Zoff; he was one on one and it
didn't seem like he could get to the ball. He looked slow but in
reality he wasn't."
Fiorentina, where Socrates played one season, paid their own
tribute in a statement that read: "To the unforgettable 'Doctor' who
played with the purple shirt in 1984/85, playing 25 matches and scoring
six goals and who will always be remembered for his footballing
intelligence, he will be affectionately remembered by the club, the team
and the Fiorentina fans."
Giancarlo Antognoni, a team-mate of Socrates at Fiorentina
and an opponent in that famous 1982 World Cup clash, said: "I'm really
hurt.
"He was a true personality, above the rules with his own methodology, his way of life and his ideas.
"He struggled to adapt to our football but he was an authentic champion, full of refined class, great |