Adelino (footballer, born 1921)

Adelino
Personal information
Full name Adelino Gonçalves Torres
Date of birth (1921-02-17)17 February 1921
Place of birth Pedro Leopoldo, Brazil
Date of death 7 December 1978(1978-12-07) (aged 57)
Place of death Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Position Midfielder
Youth career
Industrial
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1943–1958 Cruzeiro 430 (2)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 8 November 2025

Adelino Gonçalves Torres (17 February 1921 – 7 December 1978), simply known as Adelino, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as midfielder.

Career

Adelino began his career at Industrial de Pedro Leopoldo. In 1943, he enlisted in the Brazilian Expeditionary Force and started playing in matches between military personnel in Belo Horizonte. His performance caught the attention of Cruzeiro, and he was invited to join their team. In 1944, he was sent to the Italian campaign with the 12th Infantry Battalion, participating in famous battles such as Monte Castello, Montese, and Montecatini. He claimed to have killed numerous enemy soldiers and was nearly killed after a grenade exploded a few meters from him, being sent to the medical supply line in Livorno after the incident.[1][2][3]

Upon returning, he continued his career as a footballer, making 430 appearances for Cruzeiro EC, playing until 1958 and becoming one of the athletes inducted into the club's hall of fame in 2012.[4] After retiring, he continued working on Cruzeiro's permanent staff and was responsible for bringing Dirceu Lopes to the club in 1963.[5][2]

Honours

Cruzeiro

Death

Adelino died in Belo Horizonte on 7 December 1978, at age of 57.[2]

References

  1. ^ "Adelino, o pedro-leopoldense que lutou na guerra e foi craque no Cruzeiro". aquipl.com.br (in Portuguese). 26 July 2020. Archived from the original on 8 November 2025.
  2. ^ a b c "Adelino, o jogador do Cruzeiro que foi à Segunda Guerra Mundial". mg.superesportes.com.br (in Portuguese). 29 December 2020. Archived from the original on 23 February 2024.
  3. ^ "Filho teu não foge à luta". Terceiro Tempo (in Portuguese). 4 August 2017. Archived from the original on 8 August 2022.
  4. ^ "Cruzeiro inaugura Hall da Fama e homenageia os grandes ídolos". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 17 January 2012. Archived from the original on 30 November 2022.
  5. ^ "Adelino". Estrelas Que Nunca Apagam (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 8 November 2025. Retrieved 8 November 2025.