Home FLASHES Vava keeps his name in record book- the only person to score...

Vava keeps his name in record book- the only person to score in the consecutive World Cup final

531
0

Edvaldo Isidio Neto, better known to the world as Vava, has a unique record set against his name. Among the four players who have scored in two FIFA World Cup finals, Vava is the only one who has managed it in successive editions. The dynamic Brazilian scored twice in the 1958 final in Sweden and a single goal in the 1962 final in Chile.

Vava was regarded as a big match player. He scored only fifteen goals for Brazil in his 20 appearances for the national team between 1955 and 1964. But among them nine came at the World Cup. Of those, seven were scored in the final (3), semi-final (3) or quarter-final (1). The other two saved his team from in group matches in 1958.

Vava’s professional career as a footballer took a flight when he joined Rio’s Vasco da Gama in 1951. He debuted with a goal for Vasco which clinched the state championship that year. His thrust and penetration by running through the defence of the opponent was well-known. Vava continued to shine in the Vasco da Gama team which won the 1956 state championship and the 1958 Rio-Sao Paulo trophy.

In the midst of his flourishing Vasco career, Vava got the national call. In the 1958 edition of the World Cup, the 19-year-old Mazzola was the preferred centre-forward for Brazil. But coach Vicente Feola, did not find him dependable in crucial matches and so handed the responsibility to Vava. Feola’s decision paid rich dividend as Vava scored twice against Russia in the third game. He ended the tournament with five goals in four matches.

Vava with Pele

Vava left Sao Paolo after his World Cup triumph and moved to Atletico Madrid. He enjoyed his years in Madrid, but preferred the flexibility of Brazilian Football. So he returned to Brazil after a two-year European stint o play for Palmeiras in 1960. Two years later, in 1962, he again rose to the Brazilian occasion with four goals in World Cup campaign in Chile.

Vava’s career took him to Mexico and the United States but he returned again to his homeland to play for Portuguesa. He retired in 1967 while paying for the Rio club.

Previous article‘Lucky 13’ of Just Fontaine- the record of highest goal in a single Cup that still remains untouched
Next articleThreats, thefts, recovery, demolition- the mystery behind non-existence of Jules Rimet trophy
PoulomiKundu started her career in 2000 as a freelance journalist in Hindustan Times. Soon after she was selected an intern in Zee News, Kolkata. After her post- graduation in English, Poulomi joined the leading television production house of eastern India, Rainbow Productions. She was a journalist in Khas Khobor, a Bengali news magazine programme in Doordarshan and also headed the post production department of another programme, Khas Kolkata. In 2004, Poulomi moved to Delhi as a creative writer in an advertising agency, Brand Stewards Pvt. Ltd. In 2005, she again shifted her base for a better opportunity and that in Mumbai. There she got the job in Raa Media Pvt Ltd. as an associate director of two programmes for Doordarshan-Yuva and Paisa Vasool. In the meantime, she also wrote features in DNA as a freelancer. Poulomi directs promotional videos, develops scripts for films for Corporate and NGOs. But an ardent sports lover, Poulomi always had an urge to contribute somewhere in the field of sports. Her love for sports started from an early age when she played gully cricket and football for local teams. Academics and professional hazards sometimes took her away from her passion, but it never died in her. She always nurtured the never-ending dream. So she materialized her dream in the form of ‘SPORTSAVOUR’. It is an online sports portal that serves sports with the tagline ‘For the indigenous, unconventional, unknown’.

LEAVE A REPLY

Please enter your comment!
Please enter your name here