Socrates

Sócrates was born on February 19, 1954, in Belém, Brazil, into a middle-class family affected by the 1964 military coup, which shaped his early awareness of political censorship when his father destroyed beloved books. He pursued medicine, earning a degree that inspired his nickname 'Doctor Sócrates,' while developing his football talent known for technical skill, vision, and leadership. Starting his professional career at Botafogo-SP and later West Germany’s Botafogo, he rose to prominence at Corinthians from 1978 to 1984, where his medical knowledge, play quality, and outspokenness made him iconic. At Corinthians, Sócrates co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement in the early 1980s, a pioneering initiative opposing the military regime by pushing for player input in club decisions and wearing 'Democracia' shirts during matches to support broader democratization efforts. He represented Brazil internationally, earning 60 caps and scoring 22 goals, including at the 1982 World Cup, celebrated for its stylish 'beautiful football.' His eccentric, rebellious personality—marked by heavy smoking, drinking, and humor—contrasted his on-field discipline, as he once quipped, 'I am an anti-athlete.' Post-retirement in 1986 after stints at Flamengo and Santos, Sócrates became a columnist on sports, politics, and economics, a TV pundit, and was writing a fictional book about the 2014 World Cup at his death. Married four times with six children, he remained politically active with left-wing views until his death on December 4, 2011, from intestinal hemorrhage linked to alcoholism.