Brazilian football legend Zico paid a surprise visit to the offices of the Rio 2016 Organising Committee on Thursday (7 April) and, remembering his “trauma” at not making his country’s Olympic team in 1972, urged staff to seize the moment. The 63-year-old, who was one of the stars of the 1982 World Cup, told an audience of 500 Rio 2016 employees: “You have a great responsibility. You’re going to stage an event for the whole world and make history for this city. It’s an opportunity I didn’t have.”

Zico, who is the eternal darling of Rio’s best-supported club, Flamengo, scored his first goal for Brazil in 1971, aged 18, to earn his side a 1-0 win over Argentina and a place in the Munich 1972 Olympic Games. But the following year, coach Antoninho did not select the young forward, leaving Zico distraught.

“It was a traumatic moment. I thought about giving up football. But I overcame it, I worked hard to offer my team even more” 
 

Zico takes on Poland during the 1986 World Cup in Mexico (Photo: Getty Images/Allsport UK)

The former Japan coach, whose full name is Arthur Antunes Coimbra, showed his renowned good nature and patience, posing smilingly for endless photos. Earlier, he had stressed the importance of preparing well for decisive moments, saying he was always known for staying behind after training to practise his shooting. 

“Success does not happen by chance. The harder I worked, the more things happened for me”

As word of Zico's visit spread around the building, staff came to meet the football idol (Photo: Rio 2016/Gabriel Nascimento)

Zico spoke about the Brazilian culture of using creativity to resolve issues and the nation’s talent for improvision, but stressed again the importance of preparation and training for success. “We have to be prepared for the great challenge, individually and collectively,” he said, comparing the responsibility of each member of the Rio 2016 staff with how he felt playing in front of 150,000 fans at the Maracanã in the 1970s and 1980s (he still holds the record for the most goals scored at the stadium, 333). 

“I had the opportunity to live in many places, experienced different cultures in Japan, Italy, Turkey, Greece, Uzbekistan, Iraq, India... in all those places, people speak of Rio as an incredible city, a special place,” he said.

“We know what the Games can bring to Rio. As well as the legacy, it’s important that we know how to host well so we don’t disappointment people”

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