6 of the Best Moments of Jairzinho's Career

Jairzinho is number 47 in 90min's Top 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time series. 

​Only a few players have been able to establish themselves as true legends of the World Cup. Brazilian icon Jairzinho did it with frightening ease.

He became just the second player in history to score in every round of the tournament in Brazil's famous side from 1970, proving to be one of the key factors in perhaps the greatest team in history.

Here are six of his best moments from his entire career.

Kicking Off the 1970 World Cup in Style

The 1970 World Cup was the tournament which saw Jairzinho explode on to the global scene, and he kicked things off with a stunning opener against Czechoslovakia.

Using his pace to get in behind the defence, Jairzinho took one look at the onrushing goalkeeper before chipping the ball high over his head. However, the chip was not a shot and was purely designed to humiliate the goalkeeper and lure him into the trap.

Jairzinho controlled the ball once it landed and fired home into an empty net. Easy work.

Finishing Off a Perfect Team Goal vs England

Brazil's meeting with defending champions England in the group stages was touted as one of the biggest games of the tournament, and it took a moment of magic to decide the game.

Teammates Tostão and Pelé were in inspirational form as they danced through England's star-studded defence. A few passes and nutmegs later, and the ball was in England's box. Pelé dropped the ball off the Jairzinho, and he thundered home to give Brazil a monumental victory.

The goal has gone down as one of the finest team moves in World Cup history, and Jairzinho was the man to finish it off.

Scoring in the World Cup Final

Every child dreams of scoring in the World Cup final, and Jairzinho got to experience that moment against Italy.

Pelé's cushioned header landed at the feet of Jairzinho, who showed his determination to bundle home under pressure from both a defender and the goalkeeper, giving his side a 3-1 advantage in the game.

Truth be told, it was perhaps the scrappiest goal you will ever see on such a monumental stage, but that's besides the point.

Continuing the Scoring Against Zaire in 1974

By the time the 1974 World Cup arrived, Jairzinho had a reputation to live up to. While he didn't hit the dizzying heights which many expected, he still showed what he could do in a meeting with Zaire.

There were chips, dinks and even a pass off the back, before the ball dropped at Jairzinho's feet. The winger didn't disappoint as he powered home a ferocious half-volley to inspire his side to victory.

It was the kind of football which fans had come to expect from Brazil. The samba flair was on show.

Lifting the Copa Libertadores With Cruzeiro

In some corners of the world, Jairzinho was simply known as the guy who can score at the World Cup. Back home in Brazil, fans knew he was much more, and he proved that when he won the Copa Libertadores in 1976.

Starring alongside the likes of Nelinho and Dirceu Lopes, Jairzinho's Cruzeiro became the first Brazilian side since Pelé's Santos to win the competition, and it came at a time when Argentinian sides were completely dominant.

They dispatched of River Plate to prove that Brazilian sides were still dangerous, restoring an entire nation's faith in their club sides.

Making History in Venezuela 

Jairzinho wound down his illustrious career in Venezuela, which included a spell with Portuguesa in 1977.

Not only did the winger help inspire his team to the league title, but he did so in emphatic fashion. Portuguesa won a record 16 games in a row that season, dominating the league and lifting the trophy with ease.

Despite his age, Jairzinho proved that he could still hang.

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90min's 'Top 50 Greatest Footballers of All Time' can be found here. 

Number 50: Luke Modric

Number 49:John Charles

Number 48: Hugo Sanchez