Former Brazilian Dorval Rodrigues, who was Pele’s partner and one of the great Santos idols, died this Sunday at the age of 86 after health complications that kept him hospitalized for several days in a health center in the city of São Paulo.
The news was disclosed this Sunday by Santos on social networks, which decreed a seven-day mourning in memory of the side.
“It is with immense regret that we report the passing of Dorval, one of our eternal idols,” Santos posted on Twitter.
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Pelé mourned the death of Dorval Rodrigues, one of his closest teammates in Santos’ golden age, whom ‘O Rei’ described as a hero and genius.
Pelé pays tribute to him
“All those who love football woke up sad today. My great friend, my partner and the best right wing in history, @ dorvalrodrigues7 said goodbye to us,” said Pele in a message posted on social networks. “Santos lost a hero, soccer lost a genius. Rest in peace my friend.”
Born in Porto Alegre on February 26, 1935, who has been considered by many to be the best right-back in the history of Santos, came to this club in 1957, where he was part of one of the dream forwards in football together with Mengálvio, Coutinho Pelé and Pepe in the 60s.
With the Santos 7 shirt, Dorval was two-time champion of the world and of the Copa Libertadores, in 1962 and 1963, in addition to obtaining five titles in the Brazilian Championship with the ‘peixe’, between 1961 and 1965, and as many in the championship of the state of Sao Paulo.
During his professional career, the full-back played 612 games for Santos and scored 194 goals, being the sixth highest scorer in the club’s history.
