Mengálvio, the unassuming midfielder of the Dream Attack

Guilherme Guarche, from the Santos FC Memory Center

The son of conductor and civil servant Antônio Líbano Figueiró and Maria Florisbela Figueiró, Mengálvio Figueiró was born in Laguna, on the coast of Santa Catarina, on October 17, 1938, a Monday. The former player also has the name Pedro added to his baptismal certificate. Because of his father’s many commitments as leader of the town’s main band, his birth was not registered until December 17.

The fifth of eleven siblings—seven girls and four boys—Mengálvio pursued a football career, as did other members of his family. Although his father disliked football and devoted himself heart and soul to conducting the band, the youngster began to stand out on the amateur pitches of Barriga Verde Futebol Clube in his hometown. Later, he became the star of the battalion team during his military service, when a lieutenant recommended him to Clube Esportivo Aimoré, in São Leopoldo, Rio Grande do Sul.

In 1957, the Rio Grande do Sul side enjoyed an impressive campaign in the state championship. The refined football of the tall, slender youngster, just 18 years old, attracted attention and earned high praise from the Porto Alegre press. The following year, Mengálvio was already part of the Brazilian national team that competed in the Pan-American Championship in Costa Rica. He was eventually recommended to Santos by agent Arnaldo Figueiredo, who took note of sports commentator Pedro Luiz’s enthusiastic remarks during his coverage of the international tournament.

Upon learning of the promising player who dominated midfield in Rio Grande do Sul, Santos officials acted quickly and contacted the agent. Other clubs from the city of São Paulo also expressed interest in the young prospect from the south, but the coastal Black and Whites moved faster and secured his signing. Mengálvio also had the backing of fellow Santa Catarina native and defender Raul Donazar Calvet, who recommended him to coach Luiz Alonso Perez, known as Lula, who approved the star’s arrival.

The main purpose of the transfer was to replace veteran Jair Rosa Pinto. Despite the enormous responsibility, the youngster was unfazed and fulfilled the role masterfully. Mengálvio was introduced to the fans at Vila Belmiro in March 1960 and made his official debut in a 2–2 draw against Portuguesa de Desportos on April 19, 1960, at Pacaembu Stadium, in the Rio–São Paulo Tournament. On that occasion, the midfielder came on for Ney Blanco. Santos lined up with Laércio, Feijó, Mauro and Zé Carlos; Calvet (Formiga) and Zito; Dorval, Ney Blanco (Mengálvio), Coutinho, Pelé and Pepe. Ney Blanco and Zito scored Santos’s goals.

That match marked the birth of the lineup that would be immortalized as the “Dream Attack,” consisting of Dorval, Mengálvio, Coutinho, Pelé and Pepe. Together, the five stars played in 97 official matches, recording 68 wins, 11 draws and 18 defeats. They scored 314 goals and conceded 155, achieving an astonishing average of 3.23 goals scored per game. The quintet’s final appearance together came on January 9, 1966, in Ivory Coast, during a 7–1 rout of Stade d’Abidjan.

Affectionately nicknamed “Pluto” by his teammates—a reference to the dog in Disney comics—Mengálvio was the brilliant Didi’s first-choice backup at the 1962 World Cup in Chile. With his classic, elegant style, he became a world champion in 1962 and won the Roca Cup in 1963.

Standing 1.79 meters tall and weighing 68 kilograms, the player was described as “deceptively slow.” In reality, he possessed exceptional stamina and maintained the same steady tactical rhythm from start to finish. In the perfectly functioning machine that was Santos in the 1960s, he played a deeper role as a defensive midfielder shielding the back line. His intelligent positioning allowed his teammate Zito to support the attack more frequently.

Off the pitch, the star had a calm, easygoing temperament, as left winger Pepe recalled in his book Bombas da Alegria. Shortly after the World Cup triumph in Chile, then-president João Goulart hosted the Brazilian delegation at a banquet at Granja do Torto in Brasília. Discreetly, Mengálvio took the opportunity while shaking hands with the president to hand him a handwritten note requesting the appointment of his brother, who had passed a civil service examination; the request was duly granted weeks later.

In 1968, the midfielder was loaned to Grêmio and, after returning, had a spell with Millonarios in Colombia, where he won the Torneio Finalización. His last appearance in Santos colors came on May 18, 1969, in a 1–1 draw against São Bento at Humberto Reali Stadium in Sorocaba, with Edu scoring Santos’s goal.

Playing for Santos from 1960 to 1969, Mengálvio made 369 appearances and scored 27 goals. He played in nine official matches for Brazil’s senior national team. He currently lives in São Vicente and is a proud member of the club’s Eternal Idols group.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.