Ademir Marques de Menezes (Portuguese pronunciation: [adeˈmiʁ]; 8 November 1921 – 11 May 1996) was a Brazilian footballer, regarded as one of the best forwards in football history.[1] His prominent underbite earned him the nickname "Queixada", which means "jaw". He was also the top goalscorer in the 1950 FIFA World Cup.

This article contains weasel words: vague phrasing that often accompanies biased or unverifiable information. (March 2009)

Ademir de Menezes

Ademir in 1947
Personal information
Full name	Ademir Marques de Menezes
Date of birth	(1922-11-08)8 November 1922
Place of birth	Recife, Brazil
Date of death	11 May 1996(1996-05-11) (aged 73)
Place of death	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Striker
Youth career
	Sport Recife
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1939–1942	Sport Recife
1942–1945	Vasco da Gama
1946–1947	Fluminense
1948–1956	Vasco da Gama
1957	Sport Recife
National team
1945–1953	Brazil	39	(32)
Teams managed
1967	Vasco da Gama
Honours Men's Football Representing  Brazil FIFA World Cup Runner-up 1950 Brazil Copa América Winner 1949 Brazil Runner-up 1945 Chile Runner-up 1946 Argentina Runner-up 1953 Peru Panamerican Championship Winner 1952 Chile
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Club career

Ademir began his club career with Sport Recife before moving to Vasco da Gama. He played for Vasco for two spells, 1942–1945 and 1948–56, broken by a spell at Fluminense. In total, Ademir won five Rio State League championships (1945, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1956). He won another with Fluminense (1946). He was the league's top scorer in 1949 with 30 goals and again in 1950 with 25 goals. Ademir finally retired from playing in 1956, going on to work as a commentator, coach and businessman.

International career

Ademir is best known for his exploits in the 1950 World Cup held in his native Brazil. Playing in an outstanding forward trio involving Zizinho and Jair he won the Golden Boot as the top scorer in the competition with 9 goals, and he also helped the team with 6 assists in the tournament. He was the scorer of the first competitive goal at the Maracanã stadium.[2] Despite this feat, he could not bring victory to Brazil in the decisive match against Uruguay – a national tragedy which was later dubbed the Maracanazo.

Ademir also enjoyed success in the Copa América. He played in the 1945, 1946, 1949, and 1953 editions of the tournament, with 13 goals and 3 assists in 18 appearances in the competition, including a tournament-winning hat-trick in the final play-off against Paraguay in 1949. He also won the Panamerican Championship with Brazil in 1952 scoring two goals on the title match against Chile. In total, Ademir played 39 times for his country, scoring 32 goals (according to RSSSF) between 1945 and 1953.

Style of play

A fast and powerful striker, with a strong shot in both feet,[1] Ademir began his career as a left winger before moving to the centre, causing havoc in opposing defences with his skill and sublime finishing. People at the time considered him an unequalled ball juggler who knew every trick in the book. He used to wreak havoc among defences with his quick changes in tempo, fooling his opponents with deceptions carried out almost at lightning speed, his mastering of the ball in all situations and the ability to accelerate rapidly.

Career statistics

International

[3] [4]

1950 World Cup statistics

The scores contain links to the article on the 1950 FIFA World Cup and the round in question. When there is a special article on the match in question, the link is in the column for round.

Game no.	Round	Date	Opponent	Score	Ademir's goals	Times	Ademir's playing time	Venue	Report
1	Group 1	24 June 1950	Mexico	4–0 (1–0)	2	30' 79'	90 min.	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
2	Group 1	28 June 1950	Switzerland	2–2 (2–1)	0		90 min.	Estádio do Pacaembu, São Paulo
3	Group 1	1 July 1950	Yugoslavia	2–0 (1–0)	1	3'	90 min.	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
4	Final R.	9 July 1950	Sweden	7–1 (3–0)	4	17' 37' 51' 59'	90 min.	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
5	Final R.	13 July 1950	Spain	6–1 (3–0)	2	15' 57'	90 min.	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro
6	Final R.	16 July 1950	Uruguay	1–2 (0–0)	0		90 min.	Estádio do Maracanã, Rio de Janeiro

Honours

Sport Recife

• Campeonato Pernambucano: 1941, 1942

Vasco da Gama

• Campeonato Carioca: 1945, 1949, 1950, 1952, 1956
• South American Championship of Champions: 1948

Fluminense

• Campeonato Carioca: 1946

Brazil

• South American Championship: 1949
• Panamerican Championship: 1952
• FIFA World Cup runner-up: 1950
• South American Championship runner-up: 1945, 1946, 1953

Individual

• Copa América Best Player: 1949
• FIFA World Cup Golden Boot: 1950
• FIFA World Cup All-Star Team: 1950
• IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (18th place)[5]
• IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century (44th place)[5]
• Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame

References

На других языках

[de] Ademir de Menezes

[es] Ademir Marques de Menezes

[fr] Ademir

[it] Ademir Marques de Menezes

[ru] Адемир