( CNN ) -- Former Brazil international captain Socrates has died in a Sao Paolo hospital at the age of 57 following an intestinal infection . The cultured midfielder , who won 60 international caps and scored 22 goals for his country , was admitted to the Albert Einstein hospital on Friday after suffering from food poisoning and died early on Sunday morning after going into septic shock . Socrates had already been admitted to hospital twice in 2011 , in August and September , because of bleeding in his digestive tract . Despite not turning professional until he was 24 , Socrates starred for Brazil between 1979 and 1986 , playing in two World Cup finals tournaments in the process . However , he will always be associated with the brilliant 1982 Brazilian side , who are widely regarding as the greatest team to never win the World Cup . Socrates captained the 1982 side in Spain and was widely expected to lift the World Cup trophy . However , they were beaten 3-2 by Italy in the second group phase in one of football 's most iconic matches . He also played 297 matches , scoring 172 goals , in six years with Corinthians and the Brazilian side paid tribute to him on their official website . `` We can always be thankful for having witnessed one of the greatest ever footballers . `` Thank you for the beautiful goals , the graceful touches and the skilful football that only Socrates possessed . '' Another former Corinthians and Brazil star Ronaldo also paid tribute to Socrates on his Twitter feed , saying : `` The day has begun in sad fashion . Rest in peace Dr . Socrates . ''
Former Brazil international captain Socrates has died at the age of 57 . Socrates captained his country in the 1982 World Cup finals in Spain . The midfielder won 60 international caps and scored 22 goals .