Former Brazil Captain Carlos Alberto Dies at Age 72

Former Brazil captain Carlos Alberto has died at the age of 72 following a heart attack.   

The Daily Mirror's Joe Mewis reported on Tuesday that Alberto, who skippered Brazil's World Cup-winning side of 1970, died suddenly, and FIFA celebrated the life of one of world football's most revered playing figures:

The New York Cosmos, one of the five professional clubs Alberto represented during his 19-year playing career, were among those to pay tribute following the news:

Alberto played most of his career in his native Brazil with Santos, Fluminense and Flamengo before moving to the United States with the Cosmos in 1977 and retiring five years later.

As well as leading the Selecao to the World Cup title in 1970, Alberto also scored one of the famous goals in history in the final of that tournament against Italy, although FIFA's Alex Stone debated if it could be the finest ever:

After hanging up his boots in 1982, Alberto made the transition into management and took charge of no fewer than 15 professional sides, including the national teams of Oman and Azerbaijan, his last managerial post.

The journeyman took charge of seven teams in Brazil, including former playing clubs Flamengo and Fluminense, as well as leading outfits in Mexico, Colombia and the United States.

Gianni Foggia/Associated Press

Alberto left the Azerbaijan helm in 2005 and didn't take up another coaching position, but his managerial career of more than 20 years illustrated just how passionate the Rio de Janeiro-born legend was about the sport.

Roberto Rivellino was also a part of the Brazil team that won the World Cup in Mexico 46 years ago, and broadcaster Juan Arango provided a translation of his commendation of Alberto (via Brazilian network Esporte Interativo):

Alberto's iconic goal of the 1970 final displayed his attacking traits at their finest, but the London Evening Standard spared no expense in pointing to the ex-player as one of the best in a different sense:

A full-back by trade, Alberto reigned for almost two decades at the elite level of world football and won a wealth of domestic titles with Santos and Fluminense prior to his move to the New York Cosmos.

There, he continued to dominate in the North American Soccer League (NASL), winning four Soccer Bowl championships in six seasons and bringing the beautiful game to a global audience.