In Nílton Santos's time, full-backs were told to stay at home and kick anything that moved. The Brazilian left-back ignored the instruction. He carried the ball forward, played one-twos and joined the attack like a winger, and he showed the rest of the world that a defender could do that and still defend.
They called him "A Enciclopédia", the Encyclopedia, because of how completely he understood the game.
At the 1958 World Cup he scored against Austria after a run from deep. His own coach reportedly shouted at him to go back. He kept going, scored, and presumably did not apologise.
A lifetime at Botafogo
He played his entire club career for Botafogo, from 1948 to 1964. The club's ground in Rio de Janeiro is now called the Estádio Nilton Santos in his honour.
With Brazil he won the FIFA World Cup twice, in 1958 and 1962.
He changed the job description of a defender, and teams all over the planet still copy the style. Before Cafu and before Roberto Carlos there was the Encyclopedia, and he is our number 3.
Tomorrow: number 2.
