Leônidas (footballer, born 1913)

Leônidas
Leônidas in 1940
Personal information
Full name Leônidas da Silva
Date of birth (1913-09-06)6 September 1913
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Date of death 24 January 2004(2004-01-24) (aged 90)
Place of death Cotia, Brazil
Height 1.68 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Centre forward
Youth career
1927–1929 São Cristóvão
1929–1930 Syrio e Libanez
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1930 Syrio e Libanez 5 (5)
1931–1932 Bonsucesso 39 (23)
1933 Peñarol 16 (11)
1934 Vasco da Gama 4 (1)
1935–1936 Botafogo 19 (8)
1936–1942 Flamengo 88 (89)
1943–1950 São Paulo 120 (93)
Total 291 (230)
International career
1932–1946 Brazil 19 (21)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
FIFA World Cup
1938 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Leônidas da Silva (Portuguese pronunciation: [leˈõnidɐz ˈsiwvɐ]; 6 September 1913 – 24 January 2004) was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward. He is regarded as one of the most important players of the first half of the 20th century. At the height of his career, Leônidas was very popular amongst the people of Brazil and Rio de Janeiro. Leônidas played for Brazil national team in the 1934 and 1938 World Cups, and was the top scorer of the latter tournament. He was known as the "Black Diamond" and the "Rubber Man" due to his agility.