SocratesEl Doctor

Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira—born 19 February 1954 in Belém do Pará, Brazil—was more than a footballer. A midfielder of rare elegance, he was a philosopher on the pitch, a man whose presence turned football into poetry. Captain of Brazil’s Joga Bonita squads in 1982 and 1986, he played not to conquer, but to celebrate—the beauty of the game above victory itself.

Off the field, he pursued knowledge with equal passion, earning a medical degree and later a doctorate in philosophy. Revered at home, he was also notorious for his love of life, cigarettes, and wine, a man who embraced joy as the truest measure of existence.

Sócrates lived as he played—gracefully, thoughtfully, and with laughter—reminding the world that life, like football, is a celebration to be savored.

"We have lost touch with humanity. People go to football to see a war, not a spectacle. For me, beauty comes first. Victory is secondary. What truly matters is joy."
Socrates