Football legend Garrincha was a bit of a strange guy - and that's an understatement.
The Brazilian star, who shared the stage with the phenomenal Pele, played a pivotal role in helping his nation claim back-to-back World Cup titles in 1958 and 1962. The right-winger, born Manuel Francisco dos Santos, stood at 5ft6in and had one leg which was six centimetres shorter than the other, suffering from a bow-leg.
Garrincha in action at the 1962 World Cup where he finished joint top scorer
However, despite this, Garrincha went on to achieve legendary status, after he was named in the World Cup All-Star team for the 1958 tournament in Sweden and finished joint top scorer in 1962 in Chile. Yet his performances on the pitch are only half of what makes him a soccer icon, because not only did he play with the GOAT, he also, well, played with a goat.
It has widely been reported that the Brazilian winger, who would have turned 91 last week, lost his virginity to a goat at the age of 12. Perhaps the South American sports writer Eduardo Galeano shouldn't have once said the footballer could control a football like "a tamed animal".
The farmyard horror is just a small part of Garrincha's storied love life. The tragic star, who passed away due to liver cirrhosis as a result of alcoholism aged just 49 in 1983, is said to have fathered 14 children, having slept with hundreds of women across South America.
Pele and Garrincha remained close friends until his premature death
He was married twice, first to Nair Marques and later to samba singer Elza Soares - before having an affair with showgirl Angelita Martinez. Garrincha was a dad before he was 20 and a grandfather at 40.
He once ran over his own father in his car, but that's wasn't his only motoring catastrophe. Garrincha was also at the wheel when, in April 1969, he crashed into an coming lorry, killing his mother-in-law in the passenger seat. This is said to have led to an increase in his drinking and volatile behaviour.
Having retired twice, once in 1969 and then again in 1972, it has also been claimed that whilst playing for Botafogo, the winger would "eat a really spicy meal" before proceeding to fart in the face of new signings to introduce himself.
Garrincha was described by Pele as being like a "brother"
However, as a footballing talent he was virtually peerless, and considered one of the best dribblers the game has ever seen. Speaking about his Brazilian teammate back in 2018, the late Pele said: "I never played with or against anyone better than Garrincha. On the pitch we were team-mates. Off the pitch we were brothers."
Having been voted into the World Team of the 20th Century by 250 football writers and journalists - Garrincha then came seventh in the FIFA Player of the Century vote.
As the famed Uruguayan writer Galeano once said: "In the entire history of football no one made more people happy. When he was out there, the pitch was a circus ring, the ball a tamed animal, the match a party invitation.
"Garrincha nurtured his pet, the ball, and together they created such mischief that people almost died laughing. He jumped over it, it gambolled around him, hid itself away, skipped off and made him run after it.
"And on the way, his opponents ran into each other."
Manchester City's talisman Erling Haaland has been snapped out and about, ditching his protective boot but still leaning on a crutch as he works his way back from an ankle knock.The Norwegian was caught on camera soaking up the Marbella rays alongside his missus, Isabel Haugseng Johansen, and their youngster who was born late last year.After landing awkwardly during a crucial FA Cup quarter-final ...
HOLLIE SHEARER has turned heads with her latest eye-catching holiday look.The 29-year-old is the daughter of Newcastle United legend Alan Shearer.Influencer and singer Hollie boasts 81,000 followers on Instagram and regularly posts updates from her jet-setting lifestyle.She describes herself as "just a girl who loves fashion, food and pilates".And her latest bold outfit has gone down a storm with ...
BEN WHITE'S wife showed off her baby bump on a boat to leave fellow Arsenal wags amazed.Milly White and her Gunners husband announced they were expecting their first baby in January.The pair have been together for three years after they started dating in 2022.White whisked Milly away on several luxury holidays after they fell head over heels for each other.And just months later they were engaged a...
GABRIEL'S wife Gabrielle Figueiredo has given a concerning update on the Arsenal star's injury.The Brazilian, 27, went down clutching his hamstring barely 15 minutes into his side's 2-1 win over Fulham on Tuesday night.Gabrielle Figueiredo appeared at the Married to the Game screeningGabrielle is married to Arsenal star GabrielAfter receiving treatment on the pitch, the centre-back shook his head ...
ANNE HATHAWAY shared the delight of her fellow Arsenal fans after Bukayo Saka's goalscoring return from injury.The winger made his long-awaited comeback from hamstring surgery in last night's 2-1 win over Fulham.Anne Hathaway posted a snap of her in an Arsenal kit after victory over FulhamBukayo Saka was back amongst the goals on his return from injurySaka came on soon after the hour mark and it t...
Liverpool have moved one step closer to the title with a 1-0 win over Everton thanks to Diogo Jota - and Daily Star Sport has a look at what Arne Slot got right and wrongLiverpool and Everton's second round dust-up lacked the tension their first round promised. In the end, it was a routine win for Liverpool.Arne Slot's side had pried and probed, much to the frustration of the Anfield crowd, with E...
A football fan tried to eat a raw pig's head as he celebrated his team's league title win.Revolting footage showed two supporters in Brazil holding up the animal part as elated supporters chanted around them.Corinthians defeated PalmeirasBafflingly, one of the men could be seen clamping his teeth around one of the pig's ears in a bid to rip a chunk out of it.After he finally let go, the second man...
DAVID Beckham has kicked off his 50th birthday celebrations — which include a month of partying.The former England skipper, who owns US club Inter Miami, got the ball rolling with a posh bash at his favourite restaurant in the city.David Beckham, pictured with wife Victoria, has kicked off his 50th birthday celebrations — which include a month of partyingGuests included 6ft 4in quarter...
Diletta Leotta, the better of half of Liverpool flop Loris Karius, has opened up on a traumatising airport experience after an invasive security check at a German airport.The stunning DAZN presenter had jetted from her native Italy to Germany to see Karius turn out for Schalke in the 2.Bundesliga. But she was subjected to checks on her way home.Explaining the story on Radio 105, as per BILD, she s...
Stunning Italian TV host Eleonora Incardona has wowed her legion of fans on social media as she flaunted her curvy figure before the return of club footballEleonora Incardona teased fans on social mediaEleonora Incardona has again wowed her legion of fans with social media snaps as Italian football made its return.Eleonora, 34, has previously risked a social media ban flaunting her curvy figure on...
- 1 Hot WAG flaunts 'astonishing' washboard abs in bikini
- 2 Danny Rohl hails Sheffield Wednesday resilience in draw at Cardiff
- 3 Alfie May double sends Birmingham step closer to Championship
- 4 Marcus Rashford scores first Premier League goal for Villa in win at Brighton
- 5 Ryan Lowe and Conor Hourihane felt team deserved more as Wigan and Barnsley draw
- 6 Mat Sadler hails Taylor Allen set-piece skills after Walsall snatch draw
- 7 Chris Davies says Alfie May’s goal drought never concerned him
- 8 Football fan 'eats' raw pig's head in ultimate insult
- 9 Marcus Rashford still looking to improve after firing Villa into FA Cup semis
- 10 Chelsea prepare €70m for Barcelona defender