left-footed player, in his prime, he was considered one of the best players in the world, and was known for his technique, balance, and dribbling skills, while also contributing with many assists thanks to his vision, creativity, precise passing and playmaking abilities, as well as his work-rate, which often saw him drop back into midfield in order to retrieve the ball and start attacking plays. He was also known for his ability to disorient defenders and get onto the end of passes or create space for teammates with his movement and runs off the ball, which saw him act in a role which was essentially functioning as a precursor of the modern false 9 role with Brazil during the 1970 World Cup, despite being deployed as a centre-forward on paper. Due to his versatility and wide range of skills, he was capable of playing in several attacking and midfield positions including as an attacking midfielder, as a second striker, as a left winger, or even as an out-and-out striker. Career statistics International goals Honours Club Cruzeiro Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1966 Campeonato Mineiro: 1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969 International Brazil FIFA World Cup: 1970 Individual Bola de Prata: 1970 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Top Scorer: 1970 (12 goals) South American Footballer of the Year: 1971 IFFHS Brazilian Player of the 20th Century (5th place) IFFHS South American Player of the 20th Century (13th place) World Soccer: The 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame References External links International appearances; at RSSSF Legendary Football Players - Tostão 1947 births Living people Footballers from Belo Horizonte Brazilian footballers Association football midfielders Association football forwards América Futebol Clube (MG) players Cruzeiro Esporte Clube players CR Vasco da Gama players Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players Brazil international footballers 1966 FIFA World Cup players 1970 FIFA World Cup players FIFA World Cup-winning players South American Footballer of the Year winners 20th-century Brazilian physicians Brazilian columnists