Reaction Time — Goalkeeper Barbosa’s 100th Birthday

The story of one of the best Brazilian goalkeepers of all time.

Barbosa makes a defense (1957-10-12) by Última Hora | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Moacyr Barbosa (1921-2000) was considered the 3rd best Brazilian goalkeeper and the 11th in the world in the 20th century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics. This exhibition expands the show held at the Football Museum (SP) from June 2021 to January 2022.

Barbosa was born in Campinas, in the countryside of São Paulo, on March 27, 1921 — he was the fifth child in a family with 11 siblings. With the early death of his father, in 1935, he went to live with his older sister in the Liberdade neighborhood, in São Paulo. Discovered by a talent-spotter when he was playing as an amateur athlete, he began his professional career at CA Ypiranga (SP), where he played from 1942 to 1944. Barbosa soon gained a reputation as a good goalkeeper and was wanted by other clubs in the city.

Amateur team at the São Paulo Biology Laboratory (1941-05-24) by A Gazeta Esportiva | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Entrevista de Barbosa ao jornalista José Rezende.
00:00

He played a lot of street football and soon became part of the São Paulo Laboratory of Biology (LPB) team, where he worked between the '30s and '40s. He played in amateur tournaments — at that time, still as right-wing. He also played for Almirante Tamandaré, a team coached by his brother-in-law, in the floodplain fields of Baixada do Glicério. It was there that he replaced the goalkeeper in a match and never more left the goal.

Barbosa catches the ball in the net (1950/1959) by Última Hora | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

On the way to Rio de Janeiro

It was the star Domingos da Guia who gave CR Vasco da Gama the tip about the promising goalkeeper from São Paulo. The team from Rio de Janeiro had been looking for reinforcements and made an offer to CA Ypiranga. That's how Barbosa went to Rio in 1945, where he became an idol and lived the peak of his career.

Barbosa "Octopus" (1957-08-23) by Última Hora | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Barbosa fala sobre o Vasco da Gama.
00:00

Upon arrival, a fright: Barbosa broke his hand and only became a starting player effectively in 1946. He stayed at Vasco until 1955 and then returned in 1958 playing until 1961. According to the club's statistics, there were 431 matches, 282 victories and 16 titles. In the audio, he talks about his beginnings at Vasco.

Barbosa in training in São Januário (1952) by Última Hora | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Victory Express

Barbosa was part of the Vasco team that became known as Victory Express. Coached initially by Ondino Vieira and, at its peak, by Flavio Costa, that team was the first Brazilian team to play with the 4-2-4 formation. Victory Express formed the basis of the Brazilian National Team between 1947 and 1950.

Barbosa during training (1959) by Última Hora | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Like a cat!

According to the testimony of journalist Duarte Gralheiro to Jornal dos Sports, Barbosa's style was impressive: "He was a lightning bolt. He traced a cat jump in the air and, with the body in a horizontal position, formed the parallel, and stopped. The ball was in his hands and the play was over."

Brazilian National Team, South American Championship (1949-04-03) by Correio da Manhã | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

For the Brazilian National Team

For his prominence at Vasco, Barbosa was called up for the Brazilian National Team for the first time in 1945 to compete at the Roca Cup. He was the champion. He also won the Rio Branco Cup in 1947 and 1950. But his greatest title with Brazil was the South American Championship in 1949.

Barbosa and Juvenal at the World Cup game (1950-07-01) by Jayme de CarvalhoThe Football Museum

The first number 1 jersey of the Brazilian National Team

Barbosa was the first goalkeeper to wear the number 1 jersey of the Brazilian National Team in a World Cup — before that, it was not mandatory to number players' uniforms.

Maracanã by Acervo Leonardo RomanoThe Football Museum

"Maracanazo"

Qualified to the final round, Brazil only needed a draw, but ended up being defeated 2-1 by Uruguay at Maracanã Stadium. Officials, the press, and intellectuals built a narrative that blamed Barbosa, Juvenal and Bigode, three of the black players of the Brazilian National Team.

Part of the former Maracanã Stadium goalpost (1968) by Ciete SilvérioThe Football Museum

The goalposts of Maracanã

The wooden goalposts of Maracanã were only changed in 1968. Barbosa even declared that he had burned one of them in a barbecue! Another version is that they ended up in Muzambinho (MG) — from where a piece was sawed and given to Tereza Borba.

Barbosa fractures his leg (1953-05-16) by Última Hora | Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Leg fracture

Despite the racist narrative that prevailed in some sectors of society — which bothered Barbosa — he remained a goalkeeper loved by the fans and was quoted to go to the 1954 World Cup, in Switzerland. But the year before he fractured his leg in a hospital ball with Zezinho, a striker from Botafogo FR.

Barbosa and Clotilde, his wife (1968-12) by Rights ReservedThe Football Museum

Family life

Barbosa met Clotilde Melonio (1910-1997) when he was still playing for CA Ypiranga. They got married in December 1943 against the wishes of Clotilde's father, who did not want to see his daughter involved with a football player. They stayed together for 54 years until she died of cancer.

Tereza Borba, daughter of former goalkeeper Moacyr Barbosa (2021-06-19) by Ciete SilvérioThe Football Museum

A daughter for the football star

In the '90s, Barbosa moved to Praia Grande (SP). There he met Tereza Borba, who had a kiosk on the beach. They became friends to such an extent that Barbosa considered her the daughter he never had. Tereza is largely responsible for preserving the memory of Barbosa.

Barbosa died in 2000 from complications of a stroke. Tereza promised him that she would change the way how he was remembered. She is primarily responsible for preserving the collection that you see in this virtual exhibition. "The only cross that Barbosa carried it was the Maltese one", she says in reference to the badge of CR Vasco da Gama.

Graffiti honors Barbosa in São Januário (2021-12-09) by Olga BatatiniThe Football Museum

Tributes

Barbosa received many recognitions throughout his career and even after his death. In 2021, the CR Vasco da Gama Training Center was renamed CT Moacyr Barbosa, a name chosen by popular vote. The goalkeeper was also immortalized at São Januário Stadium by the NegroMuro (black wall) project.

Temporary exhibition "Time of Reaction – 100 years of goalkeeper Barbosa", at the Football Museum (2021-06-19) by Ciete SilvérioThe Football Museum

The exhibition presented jerseys and gloves of male and female goalkeepers from several countries.

Temporary exhibition "Time of Reaction – 100 years of goalkeeper Barbosa", at the Football Museum (2021-06-19) by Ciete SilvérioThe Football Museum

Reaction Time

At the Football Museum, the exhibition "Reaction Time — Goalkeeper Barbosa’s 100th Birthday" had three main axes: to remember the centenary of this football star, to tribute male and female goalkeepers in the 150th-anniversary of the foundation of this position, and to reflect on racism in football.

Temporary exhibition "Time of Reaction – 100 years of goalkeeper Barbosa", at the Football Museum (2021-06-19) by Ciete SilvérioThe Football Museum

Manifest

The exhibition ends with an antiracist manifest, calling on visitors to join the cause. "Reaction Time" is not only the technique developed by male and female goalkeepers but also the need for all of us to act right now for equality, in football and in life.

Barbosa at his home in Praia Grande, Rights Reserved, 1990/1999, From the collection of: The Football Museum
,
Cover of Revista do Esporte, Revista do Esporte | Rights Reserved, 1960-03, From the collection of: The Football Museum
Show lessRead more
Credits: Story

MUSEU DO FUTEBOL 

GOVERNO DO ESTADO DE SÃO PAULO
JOÃO DORIA - Governador do Estado
RODRIGO GARCIA - Vice-Governador do Estado
SÉRGIO SÁ LEITÃO - Secretário de Cultura e Economia Criativa
CLÁUDIA PEDROZO - Secretária Executiva de Cultura e Economia Criativa
FREDERICO MASCARENHAS - Chefe de Gabinete de Cultura e Economia Criativa
PAULA PAIVA FERREIRA - Coordenadora da Unidade de Preservação do Patrimônio Museológico – UPPM/SCEC

IDBRASIL CULTURA, EDUCAÇÃO E ESPORTE - Organização Social de Cultura gestora do Museu do Futebol
Conselho de AdministraçãoPresidente - Carlos Antonio Luque
Diretora Executiva - Renata Vieira da Motta
Diretora Administrativa e Financeira Vitoria Boldrin
Diretora Técnica - Marilia Bonas  

EXPOSIÇÃO VIRTUAL TEMPO DE REAÇÃO: 100 ANOS DO GOLEIRO BARBOSA
Curadoria e textos: Renata Beltrão e Olga Bagatini
Pesquisa, metadados e colaboração geral: Ademir Takara, Dóris Régis,  Ligia Dona e Marcel Tonini
Montagem: Renata Beltrão 
Revisão: Fiorela Bugatti e Marcel Tonini 
Tratamento de imagens: Hugo Takeyama 

Vídeo Entrevista com Tereza Borba, filha do goleiro Moacyr Barbosa
Roteiro e entrevista: Ligia Dona e Marcel Tonini
Imagens: Leandro Fortes 
Edição: Renata Beltrão 

Agradecimentos a Tereza Borba e às empresas parceiras que possibilitaram a realização da exposição no Museu do Futebol: SportTV e EMS Farmacêutica, Poker Esportes e UOL Esporte Clube. A exposição contou com recursos da Lei Federal de Incentivo à Cultura.

Credits: All media
The story featured may in some cases have been created by an independent third party and may not always represent the views of the institutions, listed below, who have supplied the content.