View source for Alcides Ghiggia

{{short description|Uruguayan footballer (1926-2015)}}
{{family name hatnote|Ghiggia|Pereyra|lang=Spanish}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name        = Alcides Ghiggia
| image       = AS Roma - Alcides Ghiggia.jpg
| caption     = Ghiggia with A.S. Roma in the mid-1950s
| fullname    = Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia Pereyra
| birth_date  = {{birth date|df=y|1926|12|22}}
| birth_place = [[Montevideo]], Uruguay
| death_date  = {{death date and age|df=y|2015|7|16|1926|12|22}}
| death_place = Montevideo, Uruguay
| height      = 1.69 m
| position    = [[Midfielder#Winger|Winger]]
| youthyears1 = 
| youthclubs1 = 
| years1      = 1945–1947
| years2      = 1948–1953
| years3      = 1954–1961
| years4      = 1961–1962
| years5      = 1963–1967
| clubs1      = [[Sud América]]
| clubs2      = [[CA Peñarol|Peñarol]]
| clubs3      = [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]
| clubs4      = [[A.C. Milan|Milan]]
| clubs5      = [[Danubio FC|Danubio]]
| caps1       =
| caps2       = 169
| caps3       = 201
| caps4       = 4
| caps5       = 128
| goals1      =
| goals2      = 26
| goals3      = 19
| goals4      = 0
| goals5      = 12
| totalcaps   = 502
| totalgoals  = 57
| nationalyears1 = 1950–1952
| nationalyears2 = 1957–1959
| nationalteam1  = [[Uruguayan national football team|Uruguay]]
| nationalteam2  = [[Italian national football team|Italy]]
| nationalcaps1  = 12
| nationalcaps2  = 5
| nationalgoals1 = 4
| nationalgoals2 = 1
| manageryears1  = 1980
| managerclubs1  = [[CA Peñarol|Peñarol]]
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|URU}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950 Brazil]]|}}
}}

'''Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia Pereyra''' ({{IPA|it|ˈɡiddʒa|pron}}; 22 December 1926 – 16 July 2015) was a [[Italian settlement in Uruguay|Uruguayan]] [[Association football|football]] player, who played as a right [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]]. He achieved lasting fame for his decisive role in the [[Uruguay v Brazil (1950 FIFA World Cup)|final match of the 1950 World Cup]], and at the time of his death exactly 65 years later, he was also the last surviving player of the Uruguay squad at the [[1950 World Cup]].

==Career==
Ghiggia's family was of [[Ticino|Ticinese]] descent, originally from [[Sonvico]].<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www4.ti.ch/can/oltreconfiniti/dalle-origini-al-1900/vite-di-emigranti-e-discendenti/alcides-edgardo-ghiggia/|title=Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia (1926)|website=ti.ch|publisher=Repubblica e Cantone Ticino|access-date=1 June 2015|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150722065607/http://www4.ti.ch/can/oltreconfiniti/dalle-origini-al-1900/vite-di-emigranti-e-discendenti/alcides-edgardo-ghiggia/|archive-date=22 July 2015}}</ref> He played for the national sides of both [[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]] and [[Italy national football team|Italy]] during his career. He also played for [[Peñarol]] and [[Danubio F.C.|Danubio]] in Uruguay and [[A.S. Roma]] and [[A.C. Milan]] in Italy.

In 1950, Ghiggia, then playing for Uruguay, scored the winning goal against [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] in the [[Uruguay v Brazil (1950 FIFA World Cup)|final match]] of that year's [[1950 FIFA World Cup|World Cup]], advancing down the right wing and taking a low shot which slid right in the space between Brazilian goalkeeper [[Moacir Barbosa]] (who was anticipating a cross, like the one that originated Uruguay's earlier equaliser through [[Juan Alberto Schiaffino]]) and the left post. Roberto Muylaert compares the black and white film of the goal with [[Abraham Zapruder]]'s chance images of the [[assassination of John F. Kennedy]] in [[Dallas]]: he says that the goal and the shot that killed the U.S. president have "the same dramatic pattern ... the same movement ... the same precision of an unstoppable trajectory. They even have the dust in common that was stirred up, here by a rifle and there by Ghiggia's left foot."<ref>{{cite book|first=Alex|last=Bellos|title=''Futebol The Brazilian Way of Life''|publisher=Bloomsbury, New York and London|year=2005}}</ref> The match is considered one of the biggest upsets in football history; Ghiggia would later remark that "only three people managed to silence the [[Maracanã Stadium|Maracanã]]: [[Frank Sinatra]], [[Pope John Paul II|the Pope]], and me."<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/magazine-27767298|title=How Uruguay broke Brazilian hearts in the 1950 World Cup|work=BBC News|date=13 June 2014 }}</ref>

He managed Peñarol in 1980.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://girasolweb.tripod.com/tecnicos.htm%7ctitle=Tecnicos%7cwork=tripod.com|title=Tripod - Not Available For Download|access-date=19 July 2015}}</ref>

On 29 December 2009, Brazil honoured Ghiggia by celebrating his decisive goal in the 1950 World Cup. Ghiggia returned to Maracanã Stadium almost 60 years later for this honour and planted his feet in a mould to take his place alongside greats including Brazil's [[Pelé]], Portugal's [[Eusébio]] and Germany's [[Franz Beckenbauer]] on the Maracanã's walk of fame. Ghiggia was very emotional and thanked Brazil for the warm reception and recognition he received even when the game is considered the most disappointing in Brazilian football history.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/ozasp-soccer-brazil-ghiggia-20091230-idAFJOE5BT02J20091230|title=''Brazil's Tormentor Ghiggia Honoured at Maracana ''|date=30 December 2009 |work=Reuters|access-date=2022-11-30}}</ref>

==Later years==
Ghiggia lived out his last years at his home in [[Las Piedras, Uruguay]]. He died on 16 July 2015 in a private hospital in Montevideo at the age of 88.<ref>{{cite news |last1=The Associated Press |title=Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia, Who Led Uruguay to World Cup Title, Dies at 88 |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2015/07/21/sports/soccer/alcides-edgardo-ghiggia-88-dies-led-uruguay-to-world-cup-title.html |access-date=30 November 2022 |work=The New York Times |date=21 July 2015}}</ref> Coincidentally, it was the 65th anniversary of the ''Maracanazo''.<ref>{{cite news|title=Falleció Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia|url=http://www.ovaciondigital.com.uy/futbol/fallecio-alcides-edgardo-ghiggia.html|access-date=16 July 2015|publisher=Ovación|language=es}}</ref> At the time of his death, Ghiggia was the oldest living World Cup champion.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/football/teams/uruguay/10900135/World-Cup-2014-Meet-Uruguays-Alcides-Ghiggia-the-man-who-broke-Brazils-heart.html|title=World Cup 2014: Meet Uruguay's Alcides Ghiggia, the man who broke Brazil's heart|date=15 June 2014|work=The Daily Telegraph}}</ref>

Ghiggia was the last surviving member from either the Brazilian or Uruguayan squads involved in the historic 1950 World Cup game.<ref>Soccerama 01, p162</ref>

==Career Statistics==
===International===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref>{{Cite web|title=Alcides Edgardo Ghiggia - International Appearances|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/ghiggia-intlg.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="3"|[[Uruguay national football team|Uruguay]]
|1950||7||4
|-
|1952||5||0
|-
!Total!!12!!4
|-
|rowspan="4"|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|1957||3||1
|-
|1958||1||0
|-
|1959||1||0
|-
!Total!!5!!1
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!17!!5
|}

*''Ghiggia's team's score listed first, score column indicates score after each Ghiggia goal.''

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ International goals by Alcides Ghiggia
|-
! scope=col | {{abbr|No.|Number}}
! scope=col | Team
! scope=col | Date 
! scope=col | Venue 
! scope=col | Opponent 
! scope=col | Score 
! scope=col | Result
! scope=col | Competition
! scope=col class=unsortable| {{abbr|Ref|Reference(s)}}
|-
|style="text-align:center"|1
|rowspan="4"|{{fb|Uruguay}}
|{{dts|2 July 1950}}
|[[Arena Independência|Estádio Independência]], [[Belo Horizonte]], Brazil
|{{fb|Bolivia}}
|style="text-align:center"|8–0
|style="text-align:center"|8–0
|[[1950 FIFA World Cup]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uruguay v Bolivia, 02 July 1950|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/uruguay-v-bolivia-02-july-1950-225861/|website=11v11|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|{{dts|9 July 1950}}
|[[Pacaembu Stadium]], [[São Paulo]], Brazil
|{{fb|Spain|1945}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|1950 FIFA World Cup
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Spain 2-2 Uruguay (9 Jul, 1950) Final Score|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/197573/uruguay-spain|website=ESPN|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|{{dts|13 July 1950}}
|Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo, Brazil
|{{fb|Sweden}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|style="text-align:center"|3–2
|1950 FIFA World Cup
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Uruguay 3-2 Sweden (13 Jul, 1950) Final Score|url=https://www.espn.co.uk/football/match/_/gameId/197575/sweden-uruguay|website=ESPN|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|{{dts|16 July 1950}}
|[[Maracanã Stadium]], [[Rio de Janeiro]], Brazil
|{{fb|Brazil}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|1950 FIFA World Cup
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=World Cup 1950|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tables/50full.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|5
|{{fb|Italy}}
|{{dts|4 December 1957}}
|[[Windsor Park]], [[Belfast]], Northern Ireland
|{{fb|Northern Ireland}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Northern Ireland v Italy, 04 December 1957|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/northern-ireland-v-italy-04-december-1957-227028/|website=11v11|access-date=6 December 2024}}</ref>
|}

==Honours==
[[File:At Montevideo 2023 485.jpg|thumb|right|Plaque at the Suns of the Paseo de los Soles, Montevideo, Uruguay]]

===Club===
;Peñarol
*[[Uruguayan Primera División|Primera División]]: [[1949 Uruguayan Primera División|1949]], [[1951 Uruguayan Primera División|1951]]
;Roma
*[[Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|Fairs Cup]]: [[1960–61 Inter-Cities Fairs Cup|1960–61]]
; Milan
*[[Serie A]]: [[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62]]

===International===
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]

===Individual===
*[[FIFA World Cup awards#All-Star Team|FIFA World Cup All-Star Team]]: [[1950 FIFA World Cup|1950]]
*[[Golden Foot]]: 2006 (as a [[Golden Foot#Award legends|legend]])<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |title=Legends |publisher=Golden Foot |access-date=23 September 2015 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150925120930/http://www.goldenfoot.com/legends.php?l=en |archive-date=25 September 2015}}</ref>
*[[A.S. Roma Hall of Fame]]: 2014<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.asroma.com/it/club/hall-of-fame|title=Hall of Fame|publisher=A.S. Roma|language=it|access-date=27 July 2016}}</ref>
* IFFHS Uruguayan Men's Dream Team (Team B)<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.iffhs.com/posts/2118 |title=IFFHS All-Time Uruguay Men's Dream Team |publisher=IFFHS |date=5 August 2021 |access-date=9 January 2023}}</ref>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==

{{Commons category}}
*{{FIFA|174559}}
*{{Cite web |url=http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.com/Ghiggia.html |title=enciclopediadelcalcio.com |access-date=30 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070927003353/http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.com/Ghiggia.html |archive-date=27 September 2007 |url-status=dead}}
*{{Cite web |url=http://webs.montevideo.com.uy/chcesar/ghiggia.html |title=webs.montevideo.com.uy |access-date=30 April 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20040125021759/http://webs.montevideo.com.uy/chcesar/ghiggia.html |archive-date=25 January 2004 |url-status=dead}}
*[http://www.futbol.com.uy/noticia_13424_1.html futbol.com.uy]

{{s-start}}
!colspan="3" style="background:#C1D8FF;"| [[List of FIFA World Cup winning players|World Cup-winners status]]
|-
|  style="width:25%; text-align:center;"| Preceded by<br/>'''[[Nílton Santos]]'''
|  style="width:50%; text-align:center;"| '''Oldest Living Player '''<br>27 November 2013 &ndash; 16 July 2015 
|  style="width:25; text-align:center;"| Succeeded by<br/>'''[[Hans Schäfer]]'''
{{s-end}}

{{Navboxes
| title = Awards
| bg = gold
| fg = navy
| list =
{{1950 FIFA World Cup Team of the Tournament}}
{{Golden Foot Legends Award}}
{{A.S. Roma Hall of Fame}}
}}
{{Uruguay squad 1950 FIFA World Cup}}
{{C.A. Peñarol managers}}

{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Ghiggia, Alcides}}
[[Category:1926 births]]
[[Category:2015 deaths]]
[[Category:Uruguayan men's footballers]]
[[Category:Uruguayan expatriate sportspeople in Italy]]
[[Category:Italian men's footballers]]
[[Category:Italy men's international footballers]]
[[Category:Uruguayan Primera División players]]
[[Category:Serie A players]]
[[Category:Peñarol players]]
[[Category:Danubio F.C. players]]
[[Category:AS Roma players]]
[[Category:AC Milan players]]
[[Category:Uruguay men's international footballers]]
[[Category:1950 FIFA World Cup players]]
[[Category:FIFA World Cup–winning players]]
[[Category:Dual internationalists (men's football)]]
[[Category:Uruguayan emigrants to Italy]]
[[Category:Uruguayan sportspeople of Italian descent]]
[[Category:Uruguayan people of Swiss-Italian descent]]
[[Category:Uruguayan football managers]]
[[Category:Peñarol managers]]
[[Category:Footballers from Montevideo]]
[[Category:Men's association football wingers]]
[[Category:Burials at Cementerio del Buceo, Montevideo]]
[[Category:20th-century Italian sportsmen]]
[[Category:20th-century Uruguayan sportsmen]]