Socrates

摘要

"Football is freedom," Bob Marley said, and no player epitomized that idea more than Socrates, both on and off the soccer field. The midfield maestro of the last Brazilian team to embody their country's jogo bonito ("beautiful game") philosophy of open, attacking soccer died of septic shock on Dec. 4 at 57. He and his teammates never won the World Cup-though their thrilling play at the 1982 tournament remains legendary-but their stylish, free-spirited performances earned them an eternal place in the Valhalla of the game. Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira was also lionized by Brazilians who resisted the military dictatorship that ruled for 21 years, until 1985. Current President Dilma Rousseff called him one of Brazil's "most cherished sons."