Biography

Hilderaldo Bellini is a Brazilian footballer of Italian origin who played as a defender and was known in Brazil as one of the nation's greatest central defenders ever. He won the 1958 and 1962 World Cup with the Brazil National Football Team. In 1958, he captained the team to victory in Sweden. He also played in the 1966 World Cup in England. Bellini played 51 matches for the Brazilian national team. At club level, he spent most of his career with C.R. Vasco da Gama and São Paulo F.C..
- IMDb mini biography by: Bazza the Beast

Bellini is credited with starting the tradition of lifting the trophy into the air in football. He initially did this so that photographers could have a better view of the trophy and, as the photos were published around the world, the gesture became associated with victory.

The musical group Bellini (debut megahit 'Samba de Janeiro'), created in 1997, is named in his honor.

He was honoured with a statue at the entrance of the Maracanã stadium, which depicts him lifting the 1958 World Cup trophy.

Bellini is inducted into the Hall of Fame at the Brazilian Football Museum in São Paulo.