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Home | Football Player | Dida (goalkeeper)
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Nélson de Jesus Silva (born 7 October 1973), best known as Dida (-ptˈdʒidɐ), is a Brazilian goalkeeper currently being a free agent. He first rose to prominence in Brazilian club football in the 1990s with Vitória, Cruzeiro EC and SC Corinthians, where he gained a reputation as a penalty-saving specialist. However, Dida is probably best remembered for his successful and often tumultuous ten-year stint with Italian Serie A club A.C. Milan from 2000 to 2010. During his tenure with the Rossoneri, he became equally known for mistakes as well as excellent gameplay, from a notorious error during a UEFA Champions League match against Leeds United in September 2000, to suffering a lengthy decline in form after being hit with a lit flare in a Champions League quarterfinal match against crosstown rival F.C. Internazionale in April 2005, and feigning injury following an October 2007 run-in with a Celtic F.C. supporter. One of only two goalkeepers in Milan history to make over 200 Serie A appearances, Dida won the Champions League twice in 2003 and 2007, with the former coming after he saved three penalties in a shoot-out against Juventus F.C. He is also the first two-time winner of the FIFA Club World Cup, the inaugural winner of the FIFPro Goalkeeper of the Year award, and a five-time nominee of the IFFHS World's Best Goalkeeper award. In 2003, Dida became the first Brazilian keeper to be shortlisted for the Ballon d'Or, with a second nomination in 2005. On the international level, Dida earned 91 caps in eleven years for the Brazilian national team, including the most appearances in FIFA Confederations Cup history (22). He notably broke a color barrier by becoming the first Afro-Brazilian goalkeeper to start for the Seleção since Moacyr Barbosa in the 1950 FIFA World Cup following his international debut in July 1995. Dida won the 2002 World Cup with Brazil without playing a game, and was the starter in 2006, conceding only twice in five matches. He retired from international play after Brazil were eliminated in the quarterfinals. |
