Doctor, philosopher and footballer — Sócrates was one of football's most extraordinary intellects who combined captaining Brazil with a medical degree and Marxist activism.
Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira was one of football's most remarkable personalities. He captained Brazil at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups while simultaneously practising medicine, writing philosophy and managing an extraordinary democracy experiment at Corinthians called "Corinthians Democracy." He scored 22 goals in 60 Brazil appearances and is considered one of the finest players never to win the World Cup.
He held a medical degree and practised as a doctor while playing professional football — and was a committed Marxist philosopher and political activist.
Did You Know?Career Honours
- Campeonato Brasileiro (Corinthians)
- 60 Brazil caps, 22 goals