Brazil’s national team has forgotten Amarildo Dias de Figueiredo, the striker who shone at the 1962 World Cup by replacing Pelé and helping the Seleção win back-to-back titles. Hospitalized since 2023 at Copa Star in Rio de Janeiro’s Copacabana, the 86-year-old ex-player now battles Alzheimer and late effects of laryngeal cancer treatment. His condition is dire: he has lost his sight and is fed through a gastric tube, his son Rildo Corrêa told Globo.

What happened to the two-time champion?

Amarildo was diagnosed with laryngeal carcinoma in 2011. The malignant tumor required chemotherapy and radiotherapy, but the treatment damaged brain tissue. In 2018 doctors confirmed Alzheimer’s, a degenerative disease that worsened after three ischemic strokes in 2023. Since then he has remained in hospital.

The family covers costs via the CBF health plan but demands more recognition. - The biggest problem in football is ingratitude - Rildo said. He noted that few Brazilian players receive tributes despite five World Cup wins. - In England, one title makes them gods - he compared.

Why Amarildo matters to Brazil

Amarildo entered history by replacing Pelé in the 1962 final against Czechoslovakia. Brazil won 3-1 and became the only side to win back-to-back World Cups. His contribution was pivotal, yet Brazilian football has sidelined him.

The situation mirrors a pattern: ex-players are forgotten after careers end. Even Argentina, with Messi, failed to repeat Brazil’s 1962 feat. Brazil, top-ranked in World Cup titles, fails to honor its heroes the way others do.

What can CBF and clubs do?

The family receives visits from former teammates like Bebeto, Dunga and Vanderlei Luxemburgo but seeks more institutional support. - CBF has a duty to ensure dignity for those who built its history - Rildo said.

Brazil’s last result was a 1-2 loss to Norway on July 5, 2026. The next fixture is an away match against Australia on September 25, 2026. Meanwhile Amarildo remains hospitalized, fighting a disease that erased his memory but not his legacy.