1. Overview
Nélson de Jesus Silva, widely known as Dida ˈdʒidɐPortuguese, is a distinguished former Brazilian goalkeeper and goalkeeping coach. Born on 7 October 1973, Dida is celebrated for his illustrious career, particularly his decade-long tenure with AC Milan from 2000 to 2010. During this period, he solidified his reputation as one of the world's premier goalkeepers, securing numerous team trophies and individual accolades, including a Serie A title and two UEFA Champions League crowns. His first Champions League triumph in 2003 was notably sealed by his pivotal saves in the penalty shootout against Juventus. Dida also played a significant role for the Brazilian national team, earning 91 caps over eleven years, winning a FIFA World Cup and two FIFA Confederations Cup titles, making him the most successful player in the history of the latter competition.
Beyond his impressive on-field achievements, Dida's career holds profound historical significance, particularly as an Afro-Brazilian athlete. He is widely recognized for his pioneering role in challenging and diminishing the deeply entrenched prejudice against black goalkeepers in Brazilian football, a legacy heavily influenced by the historical criticisms faced by Moacir Barbosa. His success, especially in Europe, paved the way for future generations of black Brazilian goalkeepers. Dida's quiet demeanor, coupled with his exceptional talent, earned him a unique place in football history as a trailblazer and a symbol of progress against discrimination.
2. Early Life
Nélson de Jesus Silva was born on 7 October 1973 in Irará, a city in the northeastern Brazilian state of Bahia. When he was three months old, his family relocated to Lagoa da Canoa in the smaller neighboring state of Alagoas, where he was raised. His initial passion was volleyball, but he eventually discovered football through playing futsal and casual pickup games. It was during his youth that he was given the nickname "Dida," which he later adopted as his professional playing name.
Despite a prevailing unpopularity of the goalkeeper position in Brazilian football and a history of discrimination against black players in this role, Dida felt a strong inclination to become a goalkeeper. This prejudice was particularly pronounced following the career of Moacir Barbosa, a black goalkeeper who was controversially blamed for Brazil's loss in the 1950 FIFA World Cup final, leading to a long-standing stigma.
At the age of thirteen, Dida, a dedicated supporter of Rio de Janeiro-based club Flamengo, helped establish an amateur team called "Flamenguinho" (meaning "little Flamengo"). This marked his first structured experience in organized team play. His footballing idols were Russian goalkeeper Rinat Dasayev and future Brazil national teammate Cláudio Taffarel. Taffarel, who had successful stints in Italy and Turkey, was considered by Dida to be a pioneer in increasing the acceptance of Brazilian goalkeepers within European clubs, an influence Dida himself would later amplify.
3. Club Career
Dida's club career spanned over two decades, beginning in Brazil before achieving significant international recognition with AC Milan, and later returning to his home country for his final professional years.
3.1. Early Brazilian Career
Dida began his professional club football journey in 1990, at the age of 17, with Alagoan team Cruzeiro de Arapiraca. Two years later, he joined the youth academy of his hometown club, Vitória, which had won the Campeonato Baiano in 1992. In 1993, following his success with Brazil's FIFA World Youth Championship-winning team, Dida made 24 appearances for Vitória's senior squad. The team finished as runner-up to Palmeiras in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A that year, and Dida, at 20 years old, became the youngest recipient of Placar magazine's annual Bola de Prata award, recognizing him as the Série A's best goalkeeper.
In 1994, Dida was acquired by Cruzeiro. Over five seasons, he secured four Campeonato Mineiro titles, the 1996 Copa do Brasil, and the 1997 Copa Libertadores, along with two additional Bola de Prata goalkeeping awards. By January 1999, Dida expressed a strong desire to test his skills in Europe and, in doing so, attract the attention of the Brazil national team coaching staff. He initiated a legal dispute with Cruzeiro to terminate his contract, aiming to sign with AC Milan, the only European club that had extended him an offer. This legal battle lasted five months. During this period, a FIFA ruling allowed Dida to be loaned to Swiss club FC Lugano to maintain his fitness, although he never made an appearance for them. His transfer to Milan was finalized in May 1999 for 2.70 B ITL, approximately 5.20 M BRL.
As Christian Abbiati was Milan's first-choice goalkeeper and Sebastiano Rossi was an aging veteran, Dida found himself as the third-choice keeper under coach Alberto Zaccheroni for the 1999-2000 Serie A season. To ensure he received regular playing time, Milan loaned him back to Corinthians in Brazil. During his time at Corinthians, Dida's reputation as a formidable penalty stopper grew significantly. This was particularly evident during the 1999 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, where he saved two penalties from Raí in Corinthians' crucial 3-2 semi-final victory over São Paulo, earning him a perfect 10 rating from Placar. That season, he also received his first nomination for the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award, finishing eighth in the voting.
In 2000, Dida played a pivotal role in Corinthians' triumph in the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup. He kept three clean sheets in four matches, conceding only two goals throughout the tournament. In the final against Vasco da Gama, the match remained goalless after extra time. In the ensuing penalty shootout, Dida notably blocked a penalty from Gilberto, contributing to Corinthians' 4-3 victory after Vasco striker Edmundo missed his shot. Corinthians midfielder Ricardinho later revealed that the team intentionally aimed for a penalty shootout, confident in Dida's ability to save "at least one in five." Despite the victory, Dida himself expressed his dislike for penalty shootouts, stating they caused "suffering to the players and the fans."
3.2. AC Milan
Dida's long and impactful career with AC Milan established him as one of the world's elite goalkeepers.
3.2.1. 1999-2002: Beginnings and Early Challenges
Milan recalled Dida for the 2000-01 UEFA Champions League season, naming him the starting goalkeeper while first-choice Christian Abbiati was on international duty with Italy at the 2000 Summer Olympics. Dida's debut for the Rossoneri was a 4-1 group stage victory over Beşiktaş on 13 September 2000. However, six days later, in a match against Leeds United at a rain-soaked Elland Road, he made a notable error, accidentally dropping a late Lee Bowyer strike into his own net, resulting in a 1-0 loss for Milan. Dida explained that he attempted to cushion the shot and then secure it, but the ball landed in a puddle and bounced unexpectedly into the goal. He continued to start the remaining group stage matches, keeping his first clean sheet for Milan in a 2-0 win over Barcelona on 26 September. However, he was subsequently replaced by Abbiati for the second group stage.
Dida made his sole Serie A appearance of the season in November, a 2-0 loss to Parma. After Milan's 2-0 defeat to Galatasaray on 7 March 2001-a match in which his idol Taffarel played in goal for Galatasaray-the Rossoneri were eliminated from the Champions League, and Dida did not feature again for the rest of the season.
Dida returned to Milan for the 2001-02 season, but his stint was short-lived as he was suspended by the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) for his involvement in a false-passport scandal. Consequently, he was loaned back to Corinthians. During this loan spell, he made only eight Série A appearances, primarily serving as the deputy to Doni. Despite limited league play, Dida found sustained success, winning the Torneio Rio-São Paulo championship and the 2002 Copa do Brasil with the Timão (Corinthians' nickname).
3.2.2. 2002-2005: Rise to Prominence and Champions League Success
Dida was once again recalled by Milan for the 2002-03 season, initially as a reserve. However, an injury to Christian Abbiati led to Dida's season debut on 14 August 2002, when he substituted Abbiati in the second half of Milan's Champions League third-round qualifier against Slovan Liberec. His strong performance in the 1-0 victory and subsequent matches convinced second-year coach Carlo Ancelotti to promote him to the primary starting position.
Dida made a career-high 30 starts in the league that season as Milan finished third in Serie A and boasted the league's second-best defense, conceding only 30 goals (just one more than champions Juventus). He also secured his only Coppa Italia title with the Rossoneri that season. In the Champions League, Dida made fourteen appearances, missing only the second leg of Milan's semi-final victory over crosstown rival Internazionale due to injury. Milan advanced to face Juventus in the historic all-Italian final, the first in the competition's history. Dida remained largely untested during regulation and extra time, except for a late save against Alessandro Del Piero. However, he rose to the occasion in the penalty shootout, saving spot kicks from David Trezeguet, Marcelo Zalayeta, and Paolo Montero. Five of the first seven shots in the shootout were saved by either Dida or Juventus' star goalkeeper Gianluigi Buffon. After Milan's Andriy Shevchenko scored the decisive penalty, he famously celebrated by leaping into Dida's arms as their teammates joined in. Juventus coach Marcelo Lippi later disclosed that "four or five" of his players had declined to participate in the shootout, while Bianconeri defender Lilian Thuram admitted to being intimidated by Dida's reputation as a penalty specialist before the shootout. Dida concluded the year by becoming the first Brazilian goalkeeper to be nominated for the Ballon d'Or, finishing 13th in the voting.
In the 2003-04 season, Dida became the first non-Italian goalkeeper to win the Scudetto as Milan clinched their seventeenth league title. He was runner-up to Buffon for the 2004 Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award, having conceded only 20 goals in 32 league appearances. Although Milan's Champions League title defense ended in the quarter-finals against Deportivo de La Coruña, a memorable moment from their campaign occurred on 16 September 2003 in a group-stage match against Ajax. Dida made a critical point-blank save from Rafael van der Vaart at the end of extra time, preserving Milan's 1-0 victory.
3.2.3. 2004-2005: Internazionale Flare Incident and Miracle of Istanbul
Milan commenced the 2004-05 season by winning the Supercoppa Italiana. In the first half of the Serie A season, Dida proved nearly impenetrable. Despite being sent off in the Rossoneri's season opener against Livorno, he conceded only ten goals in Milan's subsequent 18 league matches, during which they remained unbeaten in 17 of them. This period included a 1-0 win over Chievo on 28 November 2004, where Dida performed an acrobatic save on a Roberto Baronio free kick that had been deflected mid-flight. Ancelotti later remarked to reporters that the save was "worth no less than a goal." Although Dida recorded 16 clean sheets overall and conceded 25 goals in 36 league appearances, Milan's form dipped towards the end of the season, going winless in five of their final eight matches, ultimately finishing as runner-up to Juventus for the Scudetto.
In the Champions League, Dida conceded only three goals in Milan's first ten matches, including a remarkable run of five consecutive clean sheets following a 2-1 group-stage loss to Barcelona on 2 November 2004. The fifth clean sheet in this streak came against crosstown rival Internazionale in the quarter-finals on 7 April 2005. Dida made multiple crucial saves, most notably a top-corner free kick from Siniša Mihajlović. In the return leg on 12 April, with Milan leading 1-0, Inter midfielder Esteban Cambiasso's second-half header was disallowed by referee Markus Merk for a foul on Dida by forward Julio Cruz. Inter supporters in the curva behind Dida's goal reacted by throwing bottles and burning flares onto the pitch. As Dida attempted to clear debris from his penalty area to take a goal kick, a flare struck him on his right shoulder, narrowly missing his head. The match was halted as firefighters cleared the pitch and Dida received treatment for bruising and first-degree burns. After a half-hour delay, the game resumed with Christian Abbiati in goal, but it was abandoned less than a minute later due to a continued barrage of projectiles. UEFA officially awarded Milan a 3-0 victory, which meant Dida tied a Champions League record, then shared with Edwin van der Sar and Józef Wandzik, for his sixth consecutive shutout. Inter was subsequently fined €200.00 K EUR and ordered to play their next four European matches behind closed doors. In the semi-finals against PSV, Dida set a new competition record with his seventh consecutive clean sheet in Milan's 2-0 first-leg victory on 26 April. His scoreless streak ultimately ended at 623 minutes following a Park Ji-sung strike in the ninth minute of the second leg on 4 May. PSV won the match 3-1, but the Rossoneri advanced to the final on the away goals rule.
Milan took an early 3-0 lead in the first half of the 2005 Champions League final in Istanbul against Premier League side Liverpool. However, Liverpool mounted a dramatic comeback in the second half, scoring three goals within six minutes. Dida got a hand to Vladimír Šmicer's second goal but was unable to keep it out. The third goal came from a Xabi Alonso penalty, which Dida initially saved, but Alonso netted the rebound. The match went to penalties after ending 3-3 in regulation and extra time. Dida only saved one penalty, from John Arne Riise, as Liverpool won the shootout 3-2. Dida faced criticism from the press for what was perceived as a poor reaction to Šmicer's shot. At the end of the season, Dida was one of five Milan players named to the inaugural FIFPro World XI, and he achieved a career-best second place for the 2005 IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award, behind winner Petr Čech. He was also nominated for the Serie A Goalkeeper of the Year award for a second time but again lost to Gianluigi Buffon and was shortlisted for the 2005 Ballon d'Or, though he did not receive any votes.
3.2.4. 2005-2010: Injuries, Decline, and Departure
The 2005-06 season marked a period of decline for Milan, as they finished trophyless in both domestic and European competitions for the first time since 2001-02. They ended up second in Serie A, three points behind Juventus, before being implicated in the Calciopoli match-fixing scandal. The Rossoneri lost as many matches (five) in the first half of the season as they had in the entire previous year, conceding 22 goals in that 19-game span. Dida did not keep a clean sheet until the fourth matchday, a 2-0 victory over Lazio. His form began to visibly wane, evidenced by errors such as dropping a cross in a 4-3 win over Parma on 8 January 2006, allowing Paolo Cannavaro to score, and an attempt to underhand-catch an Andrea Gasbarroni shot that bounced off his arm into the goal, resulting in a 1-1 draw with Sampdoria on 28 January. In February 2006, then-Brazil national team coach Carlos Alberto Parreira, who had previously coached Dida at Corinthians, publicly warned that Dida's starting position for the upcoming 2006 FIFA World Cup was at risk if his form did not improve. Milan was eliminated by Barcelona in the 2006 Champions League semi-final with a 1-0 aggregate score, though Dida received praise for his saves against Samuel Eto'o, Ronaldinho, and Henrik Larsson across both legs. However, his Champions League clean-sheet record of seven from the previous season was surpassed by Arsenal's Jens Lehmann, who finished the year with ten consecutive clean sheets.
As a consequence of their involvement in the Calciopoli scandal, Milan started the 2006-07 Serie A season with an eight-point deficit in the standings, ultimately finishing fourth behind Internazionale, Roma, and Lazio. After conceding a goal to Lazio's Stephen Makinwa in Milan's 2-1 season opener on 10 September 2006, Dida went on to not concede a league goal for the next 446 minutes. He played his 200th match for Milan in a 1-0 win over Ascoli on 20 September. However, the 2006-07 season was also Dida's first to be significantly plagued by injuries, beginning with knee ligament damage suffered in Milan's 1-0 loss to AEK Athens on 21 November 2006, which sidelined him for the remainder of the year. Reserve goalkeeper Zeljko Kalac deputized until Dida returned on 21 January 2007 in a goalless draw with Lazio. He missed a total of 13 Serie A matches due to recurring knee and shoulder problems, a stark increase compared to the ten games he had missed in the previous three seasons combined.
Milan also had to qualify for the 2006-07 Champions League, which they achieved by defeating Red Star Belgrade on aggregate. The Rossoneri then topped their group, with Dida keeping four clean sheets and conceding only twice in six matches. In the quarter-finals against Bayern Munich, Dida was criticized for conceding a stoppage-time equalizer from Daniel Van Buyten in the first leg on 3 April, resulting in a 2-2 home draw for Milan. He then kept a clean sheet in the second leg as Milan defeated Bayern 2-0 to advance to the semi-finals against Manchester United. Here, Dida again faced criticism for errors that led to goals from Cristiano Ronaldo and Wayne Rooney in a 3-2 defeat. Following this loss, an angry Milan fan mockingly listed Dida for sale on eBay, though the listing was quickly removed by the site. Dida subsequently kept another second-leg clean sheet in Milan's decisive 3-0 home win on 3 May, and also became the first goalkeeper to register an assist in the Champions League. The Rossoneri advanced to the 2007 final for a rematch against Liverpool. Dida made crucial saves against Jermaine Pennant, Steven Gerrard, and Peter Crouch, as Milan secured a 2-1 victory, lifting his second Champions League trophy (and the club's seventh overall) in five seasons.
Dida secured his second career UEFA Super Cup after Milan defeated Sevilla on 31 August 2007, and his second FIFA Club World Cup with Milan's 4-2 win over Boca Juniors on 16 December. He also set a record with his sixth match played in the competition, though this mark was surpassed the following year by several Al Ahly players. Despite these triumphs, Dida endured his worst season with the club, marked by continued poor form and a string of injuries that ultimately signaled the end of his six-season tenure as Milan's number one. The Rossoneri finished fifth in Serie A, missing out on Champions League qualification for the subsequent season.
On 3 October 2007, during Milan's Champions League group stage match against Celtic in Glasgow, Celtic striker Scott McDonald scored the winning goal in the 90th minute, securing a 2-1 victory. Amidst the Celtic players' celebrations, 27-year-old fan Robert McHendry entered the pitch and tapped Dida on the shoulder while running through Milan's penalty area. Dida initially pursued him but then dramatically collapsed to the ground, holding the side of his face. He was subsequently stretchered off and substituted. McHendry later surrendered to the police and received a lifetime ban from Celtic Park. However, UEFA charged Dida with breaching rules of "loyalty, integrity and sportsmanship," deeming that he had feigned injury. Dida was initially handed a two-match suspension, while Celtic was fined £25.00 K GBP for the pitch invasion. Milan appealed the ruling, arguing that the sentence "turned Dida into the protagonist of the incident." Dida never publicly addressed the incident, but in Milan's first home game after the Celtic match-a 1-0 loss to Empoli on 21 October-he offered an apology to the fans by bowing to each section of the crowd during warmups, receiving applause in return. His ban was later reduced to one match, causing him to miss Milan's 4-1 first-leg victory over Shakhtar Donetsk on 24 October. He returned for the 3-0 second-leg victory on 6 November. The culmination of Dida's challenging season came in Milan's 2-1 derby loss to Inter on 23 December, when he inexplicably dived in the opposite direction of Esteban Cambiasso's game-winning goal, drawing widespread criticism from fans and the press. He started Milan's 5-2 win over Napoli on 13 January 2008, but a knee injury the following week saw him replaced by backup Zeljko Kalac. Kalac's strong performances kept him as first choice for the remainder of the season, including the Champions League, until Milan were eliminated by Arsenal in the knockout round.
At the beginning of the 2008-09 season, Milan's squad had a surplus of goalkeepers, including Kalac, Christian Abbiati, and the recently signed Marco Storari. Dida was ultimately designated as the second-choice goalkeeper, behind Abbiati, after Kalac was demoted to third choice for conceding five goals in Milan's Russian Railways Cup loss to Chelsea on 3 August, and Storari was loaned to Fiorentina. Dida featured in Milan's UEFA Cup campaign, where he kept only one clean sheet in six matches as the Rossoneri were eliminated by eventual finalists Werder Bremen. On 15 March 2009, Dida made his first Serie A appearance in over a year after Abbiati sustained a season-ending knee injury during Milan's 5-1 victory at Siena. He completed the season as the starting goalkeeper, recording six clean sheets in a career-low ten league appearances, as Milan finished third behind Inter and Juventus and secured a return to the Champions League.
In the 2009-10 season, with Leonardo having replaced Carlo Ancelotti as head coach, Milan finished third in Serie A for the second consecutive year and were eliminated by Manchester United with a 7-2 aggregate score in the Champions League round of 16. Dida was initially unable to compete for the starting spot due to missing the preseason with an injury, serving as Storari's backup. He made his season debut as an injury substitute for the third time in his Milan career in a 2-1 victory over Roma on 18 October 2009. On 21 October, in his first Champions League appearance of the season against Real Madrid during the group stage, Dida made a significant error. After catching an Esteban Granero header in the 18th minute, he hurried to move the ball upfield without full control, causing it to bounce off his knee directly into the path of Raúl, who slotted the loose ball into an empty net. However, his mistake did not prove costly as Real Madrid goalkeeper Iker Casillas also erred on two goals, enabling Milan to secure their first-ever victory (3-2) at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.
Dida retained the starting position due to strong league performances, even after Storari returned to fitness. Notable performances included a stoppage-time save from Pablo Granoche in a 2-1 win over Chievo on 25 October, and remarkable double and triple saves within minutes of each other in a 2-2 draw at Napoli on 28 October. Dida kept four clean sheets and conceded an average of one goal per game as Milan enjoyed an eight-match unbeaten league run, which ended with a 2-0 loss to Palermo on 13 December. As Dida continued to wear the number-one jersey into 2010 and Abbiati recovered from injury, Storari was loaned to Sampdoria on 15 January. However, after Abbiati returned for his first match in ten months on 31 January (a 1-1 draw with Livorno that Dida missed due to a back injury), Leonardo struggled to establish a definitive number one, often rotating the two goalkeepers. Abbiati's heroics in Milan's 2-0 win over Bari on 21 February eventually relegated Dida to the bench. When Abbiati was sidelined with tendinitis on 28 March, Dida took over as starter for the remainder of the season, making his most Serie A appearances (23) in four years. On 1 May, he played his 300th match in all competitions for Milan in a 1-0 win over Fiorentina. He was substituted for Abbiati in the 88th minute of the Rossoneri's 3-0 season-finale victory over Juventus on 15 May, receiving a standing ovation as he left the field. His final game for Milan was a postseason friendly against Major League Soccer (MLS) team Chicago Fire.
Dida's contract with Milan expired on 30 June 2010, concluding his decade-long tenure with the club. He made a total of 302 appearances in goal for Milan, which ranks as the third-highest number behind Christian Abbiati (380) and Sebastiano Rossi (330). He also holds the currently sixth-highest number of Champions League clean sheets (35) and the second-highest percentage of clean sheets in games played (49%), behind Edwin van der Sar's 52%. Additionally, he maintained the fourth-highest unbeaten mark (623 minutes) in Champions League history.
Even after his departure, Dida continued to participate in team-related events. He joined Milan Glorie (a selection of club alumni) for charity friendlies against other veteran teams, such as HJK Helsinki and Vélez Sársfield, often playing in attack rather than in goal during these matches. In May 2012, he represented Milan in the 2012 Mundialito de Clubes beach soccer tournament, where the Rossoneri were eliminated in the group stage without a win in three games.
3.3. Return to Brazil
After two years of being unable to secure a contract to continue playing in Europe, Dida decided to return to Brazil to resume his career.
3.3.1. Portuguesa (2012)
On 24 May 2012, Portuguesa signed Dida for the remainder of the Brasileiro season, bringing him in as a replacement for the departing goalkeeper Weverton. He made his debut on 26 June in a 1-0 victory over São Paulo. On 1 July, Dida helped Portuguesa secure a goalless draw against Santos in a match that was widely promoted as a "duel of generations" between him and Santos' young star, Neymar, who was 18 years his junior. Dida made 32 starts for Portuguesa, conceding 31 goals, as the club successfully avoided relegation from the Campeonato Brasileiro top flight. He departed after the season when his contract expired.
3.3.2. Grêmio (2013)
On 19 December 2012, Dida joined Porto Alegre-based club Grêmio on a deal of undisclosed duration, which was finalized after he agreed to a reduction of his initial wage demands. His signing was at the insistence of coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, who sought an experienced backup to the incumbent goalkeeper, Marcelo Grohe. By January 2013, Dida had surpassed the 26-year-old Grohe to become Grêmio's first-choice goalkeeper. He conceded 34 goals in 37 league starts as Grêmio finished runner-up to Cruzeiro. He also helped the team advance to the semi-final of the Copa do Brasil by eliminating Corinthians in a penalty shootout, during which Dida famously stopped three spot kicks, including former Milan teammate Alexandre Pato's botched panenka attempt. Grêmio was unable to progress past the round of 16 in the Copa Libertadores, losing on away goals to Independiente Santa Fe, a result that led to Luxemburgo's dismissal on 30 June.
3.3.3. Internacional (2013-2015)
After Grêmio declined his request for a contract extension at the end of the 2013 season, Dida signed a two-year deal with archrival Internacional on 26 December 2013. He downplayed the intensity of the rivalry between the clubs, stating his desire to remain in Porto Alegre for family reasons. Due to an injury, Dida did not make his debut for Internacional until 23 February 2014, in a 1-0 loss to Veranópolis. Despite this, he managed to displace brothers Alisson and Muriel for the starting spot, making 27 first-team appearances as Internacional finished third in Série A and won the 2014 Campeonato Gaúcho.
Following a poor performance in a 2-0 loss to his former club, Vitória, on 10 September, Dida was benched in favor of Muriel for Internacional's 2-0 win over Botafogo four days later, though he entered the match as an injury substitute in the second half. He made six consecutive starts while Muriel recovered from a thigh injury, but permanently lost the starting job after Internacional suffered a resounding 5-0 defeat to Chapecoense on 5 October, a match during which Dida was sent off for a late challenge. Alisson Becker was subsequently established as the Colorado's (Internacional's nickname) number one, with Dida demoted to third choice. His final professional appearance came on 5 April 2015, in a 2-0 victory over Passo Fundo in the first round of the 2015 Campeonato Gaúcho. At 41 years and six months old, he became the oldest player to ever take the field for Internacional. On 25 August, an online video of Dida performing a series of acrobatic practice saves during a team training session went viral, showcasing his enduring athleticism. In 2016, he unsuccessfully sought a new club to continue playing until the end of the calendar year, and subsequently retired from professional football.
4. Coaching Career
After his contract with Internacional expired in 2015, Dida temporarily remained with the club in an internship role, focusing on obtaining his coaching badges. In December 2015, he participated in courses required by the Brazilian Football Confederation, alongside former Brazil teammates Taffarel and Ricardinho.
From October to November 2016, Dida served as an assistant and consultant for China League One club Shenzhen, accepting an invitation from his former Milan teammate and then-head coach, Clarence Seedorf. In August 2018, Dida joined the technical staff of Egyptian Premier League side Pyramids FC to provide specialized goalkeeper training. A year later, in August 2019, he returned to AC Milan as a goalkeeping coach for the club's youth sector. His expertise led to a promotion in August 2020, when he became the goalkeeping coach for AC Milan's senior squad for the 2020-21 season.
5. International Career
Dida's international career with the Brazilian national team spanned over a decade, marked by youth triumphs, significant senior successes, and breaking long-standing racial barriers. He notably became the first major Brazilian goalkeeper to be widely known by a nickname, diverging from the traditional practice of using either a first or last name.
5.1. Youth Career and Early Selection
Dida first represented the Seleção at the under-20 level as the first-choice goalkeeper at the 1993 FIFA World Youth Championship. He demonstrated early promise, keeping four clean sheets in six matches and conceding only two goals as Brazil clinched the championship title.
His first senior national team cap came at the age of 21. This opportunity arose during the 1995 Copa América, when Cláudio Taffarel was suspended for the first two games due to a uniform violation. Dida debuted in a 1-0 victory over Ecuador and subsequently started in Brazil's 2-0 win over Peru.
In 1996, Dida was called up by coach Mário Zagallo as the backup to Danrlei for the 1996 CONCACAF Gold Cup, where Brazil fielded their under-23 squad. He remained on the bench throughout the tournament as the Seleção finished as runner-up to Mexico. Dida was then named the starting goalkeeper for the 1996 Summer Olympics. However, Brazil experienced a disappointing campaign, ultimately securing a bronze medal. During the tournament, Dida gained notoriety for a collision with teammate Aldair in a 1-0 loss to Japan, as they both pursued a long ball into the penalty area, inadvertently leaving an open net for Japan to score.
5.2. Major Tournaments and Successes
Dida was not included in Brazil's squad for the 1997 Copa América. However, he returned to the starting lineup for the inaugural 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup later that year. He played a crucial role, keeping five clean sheets and conceding only two goals in total as the Seleção lifted the trophy with a commanding 6-0 victory over Australia in the final. Despite this success, when he was called up for the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Zagallo persuaded Taffarel to come out of a three-year retirement to be the first-choice goalkeeper, relegating Dida to third choice behind backup Carlos Germano. Brazil ultimately finished as runner-up to the hosts, France. Dida did not play for the national team at all in 1998, a factor that influenced his decision to leave club team Cruzeiro for AC Milan at the beginning of the following year.
In 1999, under new coach Vanderlei Luxemburgo, Dida won his only Copa América title with Brazil, securing a 3-0 victory over Uruguay in the final. He conceded only two goals throughout the competition and notably blocked a game-tying penalty from Roberto Ayala in a 2-1 quarter-final victory over archrival Argentina. Later that year, he made his second consecutive Confederations Cup start. Brazil kept a clean sheet throughout the group stage and defeated hosts Saudi Arabia 8-2 in the semi-finals, but were again thwarted by the champions, Mexico, losing 4-3 in the final.
Dida made his third consecutive Confederations Cup appearance in 2001. He maintained clean sheets in every group stage match for the second time in a row as Brazil finished second behind Japan with one win and two draws. However, they were eliminated by eventual winners France in the semi-finals, losing 2-1, and then lost 1-0 to Australia in the third-place play-off.
With his success at Corinthians gaining the attention of coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, Dida was called up for the 2002 FIFA World Cup as the backup to Marcos, whom Scolari had previously coached at Palmeiras. Dida and third-choice goalkeeper Rogério Ceni remained on the bench as the Seleção clinched its fifth World Cup title. On the afternoon of the final, Ronaldo asked Dida to accompany him to avoid a recurrence of the events prior to the 1998 final, where Ronaldo had suffered a convulsive fit in his sleep that contributed to his poor performance in Brazil's 3-0 loss to France. They spent the time talking and playing golf before heading to International Stadium in Yokohama. Ronaldo went on to score both goals in Brazil's 2-0 victory over Germany and won the tournament's Golden Shoe award.
Dida started his fourth Confederations Cup in 2003, where Brazil experienced its worst-ever finish, being eliminated in the group stage. He returned for his fifth and final Confederations Cup appearance in 2005. In Brazil's 1-0 group stage loss to Mexico, Dida saved a penalty from Jared Borgetti that had to be retaken twice due to repeated player encroachment into the penalty area; Borgetti had scored on the first attempt but hit the crossbar on the second. Dida was rested by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira for a 2-2 draw with Japan on 22 June, a match in which Marcos earned his final cap for Brazil. In a thrilling 3-2 semi-final victory over hosts Germany, Dida faced his second penalty of the competition, which Michael Ballack converted despite Dida guessing the correct direction. Dida made history by becoming the first two-time Confederations Cup winner after the Seleção's decisive 4-1 victory over Argentina in the final, marking the last trophy of his international career.
5.3. 2006 World Cup and International Retirement
After earning 86 caps and being an unused reserve in two previous World Cups, Dida started in the 2006 FIFA World Cup finals in Germany. At 32 years and eight months old, he became the second-oldest World Cup goalkeeper for Brazil, only behind Gilmar (who was 35 in 1966). He was an integral part of Brazil's highly praised defensive unit, alongside players like Lúcio and Juan, which conceded only one goal in victories over Croatia, Australia, and Japan in the group stage. In a 3-0 round-of-sixteen victory over Ghana, Dida made a crucial point-blank save from John Mensah using his leg, a stop that 1970 World Cup winner Tostão personally selected as the moment of the match. However, Brazil's overall offensive performance struggled throughout the tournament, and they were ultimately eliminated after a 1-0 loss to France in the quarter-finals. Dida and the defense were among the few players who largely escaped media criticism for the team's disappointing outcome. Notably, Dida became the first goalkeeper to wear the captain's armband for Brazil since Émerson Leão in 1978, when regular captain Cafu was rested in the 4-1 win over Japan on 22 June.
Dida did not play for Brazil again following the July 2006 hiring of new coach Dunga, and he officially retired from the national team on 1 October 2006. He concluded his international career with a total of 91 caps, placing him third all-time among Brazilian goalkeepers behind Taffarel (101) and Gilmar (94). He conceded 70 goals during his international career. Dida remains the most successful player in the history of the Confederations Cup, holding the record for most appearances (22) and total clean sheets (12), and is the only player to have participated in five editions of the competition. Throughout his international career, he faced a total of eight penalties, successfully saving six of them.
6. Playing Style and Reception
Dida is widely regarded by several pundits as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation and one of the Brazilian national team's greatest keepers. However, his playing style often received a mixed response, particularly during his tenure with AC Milan. He was noted for his exceptional performance as a Brazilian goalkeeper in Italy, a country renowned for producing top-quality keepers. He trained extensively with then-Rossoneri goalkeeping coach Villiam Vecchi, who had previously mentored Gianluigi Buffon at Parma. Vecchi observed that Dida was "more reflective" in his gameplay, whereas Buffon tended to act primarily on instinct.
6.1. Strengths and Attributes
In his prime, Dida was highly praised for his exceptional shot-stopping ability and his commanding presence within the penalty area. He possessed remarkable athleticism and reflexes that belied his imposing physique, enabling him to perform acrobatic "miracle" saves without resorting to excessive histrionics. Former coaches have lauded him for his ability to maintain composure and keep his emotions in check even after conceding a goal. Dida's most renowned attribute is his expertise in saving penalties, a skill widely recognized, especially in Brazil, due to his achievements with Cruzeiro and Corinthians. He is also noted for his reserved disposition both on and off the pitch, his general reluctance to grant interviews, and his commitment to physical conditioning and a strong work ethic.
6.2. Criticisms and Controversies
Despite his many strengths, Dida also faced criticism for occasional lapses in concentration that sometimes led to errors or conceded goals. The infamous goal he conceded against Leeds United in 2000, where he mishandled a seemingly straightforward shot, remains his most prominent example of such a mistake. He has also been scrutinized for sometimes suspect footwork, a perceived hesitance in coming off his goalline, and issues with fielding crosses.
At the height of his success with Milan from 2003 to 2005, Dida was considered one of the world's best goalkeepers, and there was a perceived rivalry with Buffon for the title of the best overall goalkeeper in world football. However, the April 2005 Internazionale flare incident is frequently cited as a turning point, seen as the catalyst behind the decline in his consistently high form. In 2006, The Guardian provocatively labeled Dida "Brazil's answer to David James", referring to James's own reputation for goalkeeping errors during his time at Liverpool in the 1990s. Furthermore, he came under fire from former Milan goalkeepers for his drops in performance. Fabio Cudicini opined in 2007 that Dida's mistakes were due to psychological factors, while Enrico Albertosi was more blunt, stating in 2009 that Dida was "never a guarantee" in goal, "even when he was at his best."
6.3. Nicknames
Throughout his club career, Dida earned a variety of nicknames reflecting his playing style and personality:
- A muralha azul (A muralha azulthe blue wallPortuguese): This nickname was given to him during his time at Cruzeiro, referring to his formidable presence in goal.
- São Dida (São DidaSaint DidaPortuguese): At Corinthians, he was affectionately called "Saint Dida" due to his miraculous saves.
- O rei dos pênaltis (O rei dos pênaltisKing of PenaltiesPortuguese): Also earned at Corinthians, this nickname highlighted his exceptional skill in saving penalties.
- Baghera la pantera (Baghera la panteraBagheera the PantherItalian): Milan Channel announcer Carlo Pellegatti coined this nickname, referencing the agile character from The Jungle Book, to describe Dida's acrobatic saves.
- L'Ammiraglio (L'AmmiraglioThe AdmiralItalian): Milan supporters referred to him as "The Admiral," a playful nod to his first name, Nelson, in reference to Horatio Nelson.
- Didastro (DidastroDidastroItalian): Conversely, after poor performances, he was sometimes derisively called "Didastro," a play on the Italian word disastro (disaster).
- A geladeira (A geladeirathe refrigeratorPortuguese) and Homem de gelo (Homem de gelothe icemanPortuguese): Placar magazine used these nicknames to describe his emotionless and composed demeanor during matches.
7. Legacy and Influence
Dida holds a unique and significant place in Brazilian football history, particularly as the first notable Afro-Brazilian goalkeeper to achieve widespread success for both club and country since Moacir Barbosa. Barbosa, a celebrated goalkeeper for Vasco da Gama and Brazil, earned seventeen caps for the national team but was infamously blamed for Uruguay's winning goal in the 1950 World Cup final. This event tragically led to decades of discrimination against black goalkeepers in Brazilian football.
Dida was widely lauded by Brazilian media outlets for breaking this deeply ingrained racial barrier. This recognition began with his 1995 national team debut, continued when he started in the 1999 Copa América, and peaked in 2006, when he became the first black goalkeeper in 56 years to start in a FIFA World Cup for Brazil. On 27 May 2006, during a press conference in Weggis, Switzerland, where the Seleção was holding public training sessions, Dida called upon his countrymen to forgive Barbosa and to instead remember his positive contributions to Brazilian football. On 11 June, two days before Brazil's opening match against Croatia in the 2006 World Cup, Folha de S.Paulo commented, "Black, Northeastern, and in his thirties, Dida will break barriers for a Brazilian goalkeeper." Despite the accolades Dida received after the tournament and his international retirement, he and Barbosa remain the only Afro-Brazilian goalkeepers to start a World Cup finals match for Brazil.
At the club level, Dida's extraordinary success with AC Milan is frequently cited as a key factor in the increased presence of black goalkeepers on Brazilian teams. Along with Taffarel, Dida is credited with influencing the growing number of Brazilian goalkeepers playing in European clubs. Upon his signing with Internacional in January 2014, Zero Hora reported that Dida had become the first black goalkeeper to play for the club since 1971, highlighting his continued impact on breaking color barriers within Brazilian club football. As a testament to his influence, some goalkeepers have adopted his playing name as an homage, while others have been given the nickname due to perceived physical resemblances.
8. Outside Football
Dida acquired Italian citizenship on 18 December 2013, further solidifying his ties to the country where he achieved significant professional success. In the same year, a gymnasium in his home municipality of Lagoa da Canoa was named in his honor. In April 2014, he met with the mayor of Lagoa da Canoa, Álvaro Melo, to discuss initiatives promoting youth participation in sports. On 11 September 2015, Dida received the title of honorary citizen of Alagoas, the state where he was raised. His former left back teammate at Milan from 2000 to 2008, Serginho, currently serves as Dida's agent and manager.
In 2014, Dida, along with then-Internacional teammates Juan and Andrés D'Alessandro, participated in public service announcements for the Pan American Health Organization (PAHO). These campaigns emphasized the critical importance of vaccinations in preventing the spread of various diseases.
On 17 October 2018, Dida was invited to present the Copa do Brasil trophy at Arena Corinthians at the start of the second leg of the finals between Cruzeiro and Corinthians. He had a special connection to the trophy, having won it with both clubs in 1996 (with Cruzeiro) and 2002 (with Corinthians).
9. Career Statistics
9.1. Club
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Vitória | 1992 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| 1993 | 24 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 24 | 0 | |
| Total |24 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 24 | 0 | ||
| Cruzeiro | 1994 | 23 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | - | - | 29 | 0 |
| 1995 | 20 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | - | 31 | 0 | |
| 1996 | 22 | 0 | 9 | 0 | - | - | - | - | 31 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 25 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 48 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 30 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 14 | 0 | - | - | 49 | 0 | |
| Total |120 | 0 | 19 | 0 | 48 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 188 | 0 | ||
| Lugano | 1998-99 | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - | - |
| Corinthians (loan) | 1999 | 25 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 25 | 0 |
| 2000 | - | - | - | - | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 15 | 0 | |
| Total |25 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 40 | 0 | ||
| AC Milan | 2000-01 | 1 | 0 | - | - | 6 | 0 | - | - | 7 | 0 |
| 2002-03 | 30 | 0 | - | - | 14 | 0 | - | - | 44 | 0 | |
| 2003-04 | 32 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 0 | |
| 2004-05 | 36 | 0 | - | - | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 50 | 0 | |
| 2005-06 | 36 | 0 | - | - | 12 | 0 | - | - | 48 | 0 | |
| 2006-07 | 25 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 13 | 0 | - | - | 41 | 0 | |
| 2007-08 | 13 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |
| 2008-09 | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 0 | - | - | 19 | 0 | |
| 2009-10 | 23 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 0 | |
| Total |206 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 86 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 302 | 0 | ||
| Corinthians | 2001 | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 8 | 0 |
| 2002 | - | - | 9 | 0 | - | - | 18 | 0 | 27 | 0 | |
| Total |8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 18 | 0 | 35 | 0 | ||
| Portuguesa | 2012 | 32 | 0 | - | - | - | - | - | - | 32 | 0 |
| Grêmio | 2013 | 37 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 9 | 0 | 60 | 0 |
| Internacional | 2014 | 27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 0 | 41 | 0 |
| 2015 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total |27 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 42 | 0 | ||
| Career total |479 | 0 | 45 | 0 | 153 | 0 | 37 | 0 | 723 | 0 | ||
9.2. International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 1995 | 3 | 0 |
| 1996 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1997 | 6 | 0 | |
| 1998 | 0 | 0 | |
| 1999 | 17 | 0 | |
| 2000 | 10 | 0 | |
| 2001 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2002 | 5 | 0 | |
| 2003 | 11 | 0 | |
| 2004 | 9 | 0 | |
| 2005 | 12 | 0 | |
| 2006 | 6 | 0 | |
| Total |91 | 0 | ||
10. Honours
Cruzeiro
- Copa de Oro: 1995
- Copa do Brasil: 1996
- Copa Libertadores: 1997
- Copa Master de Supercopa: 1994
- Campeonato Mineiro: 1994, 1996, 1997, 1998
Corinthians
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1999
- Copa do Brasil: 2002
- Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 2002
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2000
AC Milan
- Serie A: 2003-04
- Coppa Italia: 2002-03
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2004
- UEFA Champions League: 2002-03, 2006-07
- UEFA Super Cup: 2003, 2007
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2007
- Trofeo Luigi Berlusconi: 2002, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009
Internacional
- Campeonato Gaúcho: 2014, 2015
Brazil Youth
- South American Youth Championship: 1992
- FIFA World Youth Championship: 1993
- CONMEBOL Men Pre-Olympic Tournament: 1996
- Summer Olympics Bronze Medal: 1996
Brazil
- FIFA World Cup: 2002
- Copa América: 1999
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 1997, 2005
Individual
- Placar Bola de Prata: 1993, 1996, 1998, 1999
- IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper silver ball: 2005
- IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper bronze ball: 2004
- FIFPro World XI: 2005
- FIFPro Goalkeeper of the Year: 2005
- IFFHS Best Brazilian Goalkeeper of the 21st Century
- AC Milan Hall of Fame