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Branco (footballer)

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Branco
Branco with Brescia in 1986–87
Personal information
Full name Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal
Date of birth (1964-04-04) 4 April 1964 (age 62)
Place of birth Bagé, Brazil
Height 1.80 m (5 ft 11 in)
Position Left back
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1980–1981 Guarany 15 (2)
1982–1986 Fluminense 46 (21)
1986–1988 → Brescia (loan) 50 (12)
1988–1991 Porto 60 (17)
1991–1993 Genoa 71 (18)
1993 Grêmio 6 (1)
1994 Fluminense
1994 Corinthians 20 (4)
1995 Flamengo 35 (9)
1995 Internacional
1996 Middlesbrough 9 (0)
1997 Mogi Mirim
1997 NY/NJ MetroStars 11 (1)
1998 Fluminense ? (?)
Total 323 (80)
International career
1985–1995 Brazil 72 (9)
Managerial career
2012 Figueirense
2013 Sobradinho
2013 Guarani
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA World Cup
Winner1994
Copa América
Winner1989 Brazil
Runner-up1991 Chile
* Club domestic league appearances and goals

Cláudio Ibrahim Vaz Leal (born 4 April 1964), better known as Branco, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a left back.[1] A member of the Brazilian team which won the 1994 FIFA World Cup, Branco was a free-kick specialist with accurate control of the ball.[2]

During a match against Argentina in the 1990 FIFA World Cup, Branco was allegedly drugged with Rohypnol during the first half.[3][4] The following day, he reported that he had felt dizzy after drinking water handed to him by assistant coach Galíndez under Carlos Bilardo’s orders, and noticed that an Argentina national team player had been prevented from drinking from the same bottle. In December 2004, Diego Maradona insinuated during a TV interview that Branco's accusations were true.[3][4][5] Bilardo later said "I don't know, but that doesn't mean that it didn't happen, I can't say for certain that it didn't happen."[4][6]

Club career

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At club level, Branco played for Internacional (1980–81), Fluminense (1981–86, 1994 and 1998), Brescia (1986–88), FC Porto (1988–91), Genoa (1991–93), Grêmio (1992–94), Flamengo (1995), Corinthians (1995), Middlesbrough (1996), and MetroStars (1997). Branco's late career in England and the United States was marred by weight problems.[citation needed]

During his spell at Middlesbrough, he scored twice, both goals coming against Hereford in the League Cup second round, once at home in the first leg and once away in the second.[7] However, he played just nine times in the Premier League, and in late 1996 he left the club on a free transfer.[citation needed]

International career

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Branco appeared 72 times for Brazil, between April 1985 and February 1995, and scored nine goals. He took part in three World Cups (1986, 1990, and 1994).[citation needed]

In the 1990 FIFA World Cup, the Brazilians were considered one of the favourites.[8] Brazil were beaten 1-0 by Argentina in the round of 16. During an injury break in the match, Branco drank from a water bottle provided by Argentine physio Miguel di Lorenzo. The drink was allegedly laced with tranquillisers. Branco said he felt drowsy after the drink. Dubbed the "holy water" scandal by the Argentinian media, Diego Maradona later insinuated the allegation to be true in a 2004 interview.[3][4][5]

After sitting out the first four games at the 1994 World Cup, he replaced Leonardo on the left after Leonardo was banned for a deliberate elbow on Tab Ramos in the second-round game against the United States. Branco scored with a late free kick from 35 metres to eliminate the Netherlands in the quarter-finals,[9] and took one of Brazil's penalties in the shootout when they beat Italy in the final. He played in a total of twelve matches in three World Cup tournaments.[citation needed]

Personal life

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Branco is of Lebanese descent.[10][11]

Honours

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Club

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Internacional[12]

Fluminense[12]

Porto[12]

Grêmio[12]

International

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Brazil[12]

References

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  1. ↑ da Cunha, Pedro Jorge. "Branco: "O Artur Jorge apanhou-me a imitá-lo e foi o fim do mundo"" [Branco: "Artur Jorge caught me imitating him and it was the end of the world"]. Mais Futebol (in Portuguese). Media Capital. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
  2. ↑ Branco Statistics Archived 23 October 2014 at the Wayback Machine FIFA; Retrieved 22 January 2010
  3. 1 2 3 "Argentina, Brasil y el bidón: 80 segundos para intoxicar a Branco - TyC Sports". www.tycsports.com (in Spanish). 25 March 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  4. 1 2 3 4 Agnew, Paddy. "Maradona backs Branco's claim of 'drug-laced' bottle at Italia '90". The Irish Times. Retrieved 22 July 2026.
  5. 1 2 Bellos, Alex (21 January 2005). "Brazil revive drug row after 15 years". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  6. ↑ Filho, William Helal (15 July 2026). "Como lateral brasileiro foi drogado por seleção argentina na Copa de 1990" [How a Brazilian full-back was drugged by the Argentine national team at the 1990 World Cup]. O GLOBO (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 15 July 2026. Retrieved 19 July 2026.
  7. ↑ Moore, Glenn (5 April 1997). "Leicester rely on heart to counter international art". The Independent. Retrieved 11 March 2010.
  8. ↑ Davison, Phil (15 March 2005). "The Maradona diet: a gastric bypass, holy water and a pinch of salt". The Independent. Archived from the original on 16 December 2023. Retrieved 24 April 2025.
  9. ↑ Branco bullet wins Cotton Bowl thriller FIFA; Retrieved 26 May 2021
  10. ↑ Bzeih, Bachar (31 May 2023). "The Lebanese-Brazilian Football Player Who Won A World Cup". Beirut.com. Retrieved 5 July 2026.
  11. ↑ Bossi, Dominic (9 June 2018). "Mr Lebanon: Nabbout flying the flag for his community in Russia". The Sydney Morning Herald. Elsewhere, Branco and Mario Zagallo both won World Cups playing for Brazil.
  12. 1 2 3 4 5 Profile – Branco Archived 5 March 2016 at the Wayback Machine Sambafoot
[edit]
  • Branco at National-Football-Teams.com
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