Alcides Ghiggia, 1926-2015
By Sean Maslin
One of the kings of football has passed away. On Thursday it was announced that Alcides Ghiggia the former Penarol, Roma, and Urguayan international had passed away at the age of 88. No direct cause has been given.
The name Alcides Ghiggia might not be familiar to many of football fans of this generation, almost all football supporters have heard of Uruguay’s shocking 2-1 victory over Brazil at the 1950 World Cup final. It was Ghiggia that would score the game winner, a match that occurred sixty-five years ago today. His goal is considered to be one of the greatest goals in World Cup history and Uruguay’s victory one of the biggest upset in sports history.
Although Uruguay had won the 1930 World Cup Brazil was considered the far superior side. This was the team of Zizinho, Ademir, and Danilo, considered to be three of the greatest players in Brazilian football. Also working in Brazil’s favor was that the 1950 World Cup was being played in Brazil and that the final was at the Maracana Stadium. Thr game packed in close to 200,000 people with a crowd that was overwhelmingly in favor of the host nation. Brazil would take the lead early thanks to a goal by Brazilian midfielder Friaca. Uruguay would tie the match in the 66th minute with a goal by midfielder Juan Alberto Schiaffino.
All of this set up for a dynamic finish between the two rivals. In the 79th minute Ghiggia darted down the right flank of Brazil and buried his chance past Brazilian goalkeeper Barbosa to give Uruguay the advantage and ultimately the victory. The match has gone down as the Maracanazo and has caused widespread fear in doubt among Brazilian supporters to this day.
ESPN did a short summary on Ghiggia’s goal as part of their I scored a goal in the World Cup Final series prior to the 2010 World Cup.
What is interesting about Ghiggia is that he only made 12 appearances with Uruguay during his 19 year professional career. He is considered to be a legend at both Penarol and AS Roma. With the two clubs he would make a combined 270 appearances. He also had a short spell with A.C. Milan where he helped the Italian side win the 1961-1962 Serie A title.
But despite his distinguished club career it is his goal in that 1950 World Cup final that remains his major contribution to the sport. It is said that his goal silenced the Maracana stadium which is surprising considering that 200,000 people were reportedly at the match. Ghiggia himself would later remark that “only three people managed to silence the Maracana: Frank Sinatra, the Pope, and me.”