famed for their attacking, free-flowing football, brazil is not short of offensive players, however, it was nílton santos  that showed the world how to do it from a full back position.

plying his trade on the left side of the pitch, santos was famed for his strong defensive abilities, yet it was his capacity to turn defense into attack that really got him noticed.

born on ilha do governador (governador's island) in 1925, a district of rio de janeiro city, santos did not come from an affluent background, but managed to etch out an incredible career in football, playing over 700 times for rio club botafogo, making him a legend at the club and in rio.