Didi dies at 72

Former Brazilian star Valdir Pereira, better known as Didi, died on Saturday from multiple organ failure, according to local media reports.

Pereira, who won World Cup medals with Brazil in 1958 and 1962, invented the "dry leaf" shot, which involved putting a spin on the ball to give the impression it was flying over the bar, but at the last moment it would drop into the goal like a dry leaf falling from a tree.

Pereira, who was recognised by FIFA last year as one of the greatest players of all time, made his mark in history by scoring the first goal at the inauguration of Brazil’s giant Maracaná stadium in Río in 1950.

During his 18-year career, from 1945-63, Pereira played for eight different teams, including Brazilian teams Fluminense, Botafogo and Sao Paulo and Spanish giants Real Madrid. The outstanding midfielder took part in four World Cups: 1950, 1954, 1958 and 1962,

After retiring as a player, Pereira took up coaching. In 1970, he led the Peruvian national team to their first World Cup finals in Mexico. He later coached Argentina's River Plate and Fenerbahce in Turkey, as well as several teams in Brazil (Sao Paulo, Cruzeiro, Botafogo and Bangú).

His work at River Plate was very successful as he promoted several junior players, later River stars such as Juan José López, Reinaldo Carlos Merlo and Norberto Alonso.

Pereira spent the last two weeks in the Pedro Ernesto hospital in Rio with intestinal and bladder problems.

"Didi was very important for me in 1958. I was only 17 and he was like an older brother," said Pelé.

"He invented a lot of important moves, like the 'dry leaf' and the 'three-toe pass' (striking the ball with outside of the foot to give it an outswinging curve)," he concluded.