Didi (footballer, born 1928), Date of Birth, Place of Birth, Date of Death

Didi (footballer, born 1928)

Brazilian footballer and manager, b. 1928

Date of Birth: 08-Oct-1928

Place of Birth: Campos dos Goytacazes, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Date of Death: 12-May-2001

Profession: association football manager, association football player

Nationality: Brazil

Zodiac Sign: Libra

Didi (Portuguese pronunciation: [d?i'd?i]), popular nickname for Waldyr Pereira (8 October 1928 – 12 May 2001), was a Brazilian footballer who played as a midfielder or as a forward.
He played in three FIFA World Cups (1954, 1958, and 1962), winning the latter two and was awarded the Golden Ball, given to the tournament's best player, for his performance at the 1958 competition. An elegant player, Didi is considered to be one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport, and was renowned for his range of passing, stamina and technique; he was nicknamed the "Ethiopian Prince" throughout his career.
A dead-ball specialist, he became famous for inventing the folha seca (dry leaf) free kicks, notably used by modern-day players such as Ronaldinho and Juninho, where the ball would swerve downward unexpectedly at a point resulting in a goal.