Little Bird

The story goes that one day a little boy came home from school with a small bird cradled in his hands. The sister of the younger brother, who's legs were bent and his spine deforemed said: 

"It's just like you, it flies around a lot but it's no good for anything - it's a Garrincha." 

It was doctors who told Manuel Francisco de Santos that he would never walk unaided. And they weren't far wrong; for garrincha never walked, he flew! 

It's easy to say that although Pelé may be more well-known, Garrincha was loved was more than the famous number 10 ever will be. 

Pelé never played much of the World Cup in 1952, after suffering an injury in the second game. But with Pelé gone, Garrincha stepped up; scoring four goals and producing incedible performances on the wing, as Brazil defended their status as the world's best footballing outfit. 

Garrincha played the majority of his professional career for the Brazilian team Botafogo. At Brazil's national stadium, the Maracanã, the home team room is known as "Garrincha". In the nations capital Brasília, the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha is named after him.

Garrincha was the joy of the Brazilian people. The Anjo de Pernas Tortas, English translation the 'angel with bent legs', they called him. He entertained audiences with his flair. Innocent and original, Garrincha played for fun; he played to amuse and the fans realised that. 

Alegria do Povo, the People's Joy. That was Garrincha.