Ademir

Ademir

Brazilian Footballer

Moustache type: Pencil

Born: 8 11 1922 (Recife, Brazil)
Died: 11 5 1996 (Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, aged 73)

Ademir Marques de Menezes is one of only two men with a moustache to finish as the top scorer in a World Cup finals tournament. Ademir, also known as Queixada (‘The Jaw’ or ‘The Chin’), scored nine times during the 1950 tournament that was held in Brazil and won by Uruguay.

Ademir was a slightly-built forward noted for his pace, powerful and accurate finishing and remarkable ball skills which he could perform with equal splendour whether stationary or going at speed. He was Pele's hero.

Ademir’s 1950 World Cup goals came against Mexico (2), Yugoslavia, Sweden (4, in a 7-1 win) and Spain (2). Regrettably he failed to find the net in the World Cup final against Uruguay, the daft bugger. He played his club football for Sport Recife, Vasco da Gama and Fluminense.

It is notable that the World Cup top scorer in 1978 was Mario Kempes of Argentina. He was forced to shave his moustache by his coach, Cesar Luis Menotti, and scored six goals. Flavio Costa, Brazil’s more liberal coach in 1950 had no problems with Ademir’s tache. And Ademir scored eight.