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This is a Portuguese name; the first family name is Reis and the second is dos Santos.

Nílton Santos
Personal information
Full name	Nílton Reis dos Santos
Date of birth	16 May 1925 (1925-05-16) (age 84)
Place of birth	Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height	1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Playing position	Defender
* Appearances (Goals)

Nílton Reis dos Santos (born May 16, 1925) is a Brazilian former football defender. He was born in Rio de Janeiro. He was a left wing-back who could play anywhere on the left wing. He was best known for his attacking ability.

He was called The Encyclopedia because of his knowledge of the sport of football. Nílton was a key player in defence during the 1954, 1958 and 1962 World Cup finals (he was also in the Brazilian squad for the 1950 finals, but made no appearances) and became famous for scoring a magnificent goal in the 1958 tournament when Brazil played Austria. Dribbling his way through the whole field, he finished with a superb shot, driving his coach Vicente Feola crazy (he kept on insisting for Nílton to retreat to the defensive field, but was ignored until the goal was scored).

Pelé named him in his "top 125 greatest living footballers" in March 2004.

Nílton Santos played for only 2 teams in his professional career; Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas and the Brazilian national team collecting 75 caps and scoring 3 goals; he is regarded as one of the best left wingbacks in the history of the game.

External links

• Nilton Santos FIFA competition record
• Profile (Portuguese)
• [1]

Brazil squad – 1950 FIFA World Cup Runners-up GK Barbosa • GK Castilho • DF Augusto • DF Ely • DF Juvenal • DF Nena • DF Nílton Santos • MF Bauer • MF Bigode • MF Danilo • MF Noronha • MF Rui • FW Adãozinho • FW Ademir • FW Alfredo • FW Baltazar • FW Chico • FW Friaça • FW Jair • FW Maneca • FW Rodrigues • FW Zizinho • Coach: Costa

Brazil squad – 1954 FIFA World Cup 1 Castilho • 2 Djalma Santos • 3 Nílton Santos • 4 Brandãozinho • 5 Pinheiro • 6 Bauer • 7 Julinho • 8 Didi • 9 Baltazar • 10 Pinga • 11 Rodrigues • 12 Paulinho • 13 Alfredo • 14 Ely • 15 Mauro • 16 Dequinha • 17 Maurinho • 18 Humberto • 19 Índio • 20 Rubens • 21 Veludo • 22 Cabeção • Coach: Moreira

Brazil squad – 1958 FIFA World Cup Winners (1st Title) 1 Castilho • 2 Bellini • 3 Gilmar • 4 Djalma Santos • 5 Dino Sani • 6 Didi • 7 Zagallo • 8 Oreco • 9 Zózimo • 10 Pelé • 11 Garrincha • 12 Nílton Santos • 13 Moacir • 14 De Sordi • 15 Orlando • 16 Mauro • 17 Joel • 18 Mazola • 19 Zito • 20 Vavá • 21 Dida • 22 Pepe • Coach: Feola

Brazil squad – 1962 FIFA World Cup Winners (2nd Title) 1 Gilmar • 2 Djalma Santos • 3 Mauro • 4 Zito • 5 Zózimo • 6 Nílton Santos • 7 Garrincha • 8 Didi • 9 Coutinho • 10 Pelé • 11 Pepe • 12 Jair Marinho • 13 Bellini • 14 Jurandir • 15 Altair • 16 Zequinha • 17 Mengálvio • 18 Jair • 19 Vavá • 20 Amarildo • 21 Zagallo • 22 Castilho • Coach: Moreira