Sócrates: the Brazilian footballer who gave his goals to a better world.

Give my goals to a better world was not only set up to highlight the links between sport and social justice. It is also a small tribute to the legendary footballer and socialist Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira. 

Sócrates was not only the captain of Brazil’s 1982 World Cup squad, a team that did not win the World Cup but is still widely seen as one of the best footballing teams of all time and a personification of the beautiful game, but also a medical doctor, a musician, an author, a news columnist, a political activist and a TV pundit. 

Sócrates played a leading role in challenging the Brazilian military dictatorship. During his time at Corinthians, he co-founded the Corinthians Democracy movement, in opposition to the then-ruling military government. Sócrates and his team mates protested against the regime's treatment of footballers, and showed support to the wider movement for democratisation, an example being the wearing of shirts with "Democracia" written on them during games. To put this bravery into context the dictatorship did not look kindly on any dissent and Socrates would have been arrested  instantly but for his poetic football skills and popularity with the wider public making him untouchable to the regime. 

Sócrates tragically died in 2011 at the young age of 57. Up until his death he remained a voice for social justice. When asked by the Guardian earlier in 2011 if the coming World Cup would help the poor of Brazil, Sócrates replied, “There will be lots of public money disappearing into people’s pockets. Stadiums will be built and they will stay there for the rest of their lives without anyone using them. It’s all about money. What we need to do is keep up public pressure for improvements in infrastructure, transport, sewerage, but I reckon it will be difficult…What needs to change here is the focus on development. We need to prioritise the human being. Sadly, in the globalised world, people don’t think about individuals as much as they think about money, the economy, etc.”

Sócrates continues as an inspiration to the millions of people around the world who strive for an equitable society, as well as influencing former and current players such as World Cup winner Romario and current Brazilian star Fred both of whom have recently spoken out in favour of Social Justice. Sócrates was a great man who gave his goals to a better world.