Emerson Leão was born in Ribeirão Preto, in the interior of São Paulo, on July 11, 1949. He started his career as a goalkeeper in the youth categories of São José and then went to Comercial FC, from Ribeirão Preto, where he became a professional. In 1968, he transferred to Palmeiras. At the Alviverde club, he was the winner of the Brazilian Championship in 1969, 1972 and 1973 and the São Paulo State Championship in 1972, 1974 and 1976.
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Brazilian National Team
Immortalized as one of the 22 three-time world champions with the Brazilian National Team, goalkeeper Leão was not on the first list made by coach Zagallo. In the initial call-up, the Old Wolf would only take two players for the position: Ado and Félix. But with the injury of Rogério, from Botafogo, this story changed and the coach called up goalkeeper Emerson Leão.
At the time, Leão was 20 years old. Despite his little experience, he was already standing out in front of Palmeiras’ goal. He was one of the youngest players in that group, behind only Clodoaldo, Marco Antônio and Edu.
Leão did not play during the 1970 World Cup, but he had a long career with the Brazilian National Team. The goalkeeper was constantly called up for almost a decade and was called up for three more World Cups, two of them as a starter (1974 and 1978) and one as a reserve (1986).
His call-up for the 1986 World Cup, also in Mexico, gave Leão a mark that has not been surpassed in the Brazilian National Team until today. He is the player with the most World Cup call-ups (4), along with Castilho, Cafu, Djalma Santos, Nilton Santos, Pelé and Ronaldo.
