View source for José Altafini

{{Short description|Brazilian-Italian footballer}}
{{Use British English|date=June 2025}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=August 2024}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name                 = José Altafini
| fullname             = José João Altafini
| image                = José Altafini (1974).jpg
| caption              = Altafini in 1974
| birth_date           = {{birth date and age|1938|7|24|df=y}}
| birth_place          = [[Piracicaba]], Brazil
| height               = 1.76 m
| position             = [[Forward (association football)#Striker|Striker]]
| years1               = 1956–1958
| years2               = 1958–1965
| years3               = 1965–1972
| years4               = 1972–1976
| years5               = 1976
| years6               = 1976–1979
| years7               = 1979–1980
| clubs1               = [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]]
| clubs2               = [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]]
| clubs3               = [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]
| clubs4               = [[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
| clubs5               = [[Canadian National Soccer League|Toronto Italia]]
| clubs6               = [[FC Chiasso|Chiasso]]
| clubs7               = [[FC Mendrisio-Stabio|Mendrisiostar]]
| caps1                = 114
| caps2                = 205
| caps3                = 180
| caps4                = 74
| caps5                = 
| caps6                = 60
| caps7                = 20
| goals1               = 89
| goals2               = 120
| goals3               = 71
| goals4               = 25
| goals5               = 
| goals6               = 18
| goals7               = 11
| totalcaps            = 653
| totalgoals           = 334
| nationalyears1       = 1957–1958
| nationalyears2       = 1961–1962
| nationalteam1        = [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
| nationalteam2        = [[Italy national football team|Italy]]
| nationalcaps1        = 8
| nationalcaps2        = 6
| nationalgoals1       = 4
| nationalgoals2       = 5
|medaltemplates =
{{MedalSport|Men's [[Association football|Football]]}}
{{MedalCountry|{{fb|BRA|1889}}}}
{{MedalCompetition|[[FIFA World Cup]]}}
{{Medal|W|[[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958 Sweden]]|}}
}}
'''José João Altafini''' ({{IPA|it|altaˈfiːni|lang}}; born 24 July 1938), also known as '''"Mazzola"''' in Brazil, is an [[Italian-Brazilian]] former [[association football|footballer]], who played as a [[Forward (association football)|forward]].<ref name="Carlisle2009">{{cite book|last=Carlisle|first=Jeff|title=Soccer's Most Wanted™ II: The Top 10 Book of More Glorious Goals, Superb Saves, and Fantastic Free-Kicks|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=WncFA9tjzRUC&pg=PT185|access-date=27 November 2012|date=28 February 2009|publisher=Potomac Books, Inc.|isbn=9781597976589|pages=185–}}</ref> Although, he began his career with [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]] in Brazil, he soon moved to play football in Italy, and is mostly remembered for his highly successful stint with Italian club [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]], with which he achieved a great domestic and international success; he later played for [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]] and [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], before ending his career in Switzerland with spells at [[FC Chiasso|Chiasso]] and [[FC Mendrisio-Stabio|Mendrisiostar]].<ref name=magliarossonera.it>{{cite web|url=http://www.magliarossonera.it/protagonisti/Gioc-Altafini.html|title=José Joao ALTAFINI ("Mazola")|publisher=magliarossonera.it|language=it|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref><ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI">{{cite web|url=http://www.tuttojuve.com/gli-eroi-bianconeri/gli-eroi-in-bianconero-josa-altafini-56771|title=Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI|publisher=TuttoJuve|language=it|author=Stefano Bedeschi|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org>{{cite web|url=http://www.storiedicalcio.altervista.org/jose_altafini.html|title=Josè ALTAFINI: l'uomo dalle mille vite|publisher=Storie di Calcio|language=it|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> A highly prolific goalscorer, Altafini also held the record for the most goals scored in a single [[European Cup and UEFA Champions League records and statistics|European Cup]] campaign for over 50 years; he is also one of only eight players to have scored five goals in a single [[UEFA Champions League records and statistics|European Cup match]].<ref name=magliarossonera.it/> He is the joint-fourth [[Football records in Italy|highest scorer]] in Italian [[Serie A]] history (along with [[Giuseppe Meazza]]) with 216 goals, and also holds the record for being the [[Football records in Italy#Youngest player to score 100 goals in Serie A|fifth-youngest player in Serie A history to score 100 goals]], a feat which he managed at the age of 24 years and 239 days.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/news/icardi-100-inter-captains-serie-a-landmark-opta-numbers|title=Icardi 100: Inter captain's Serie A landmark in Opta numbers|publisher=FourFourTwo|date=18 March 2018|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.football-italia.net/118692/icardi-hits-serie-century|title=Icardi hits Serie A Century|publisher=Football Italia|date=18 March 2018|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/icardi-passes-2-century-marks-with-4-goal-performance/2018/03/18/308400f2-2ab2-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180401075241/https://www.washingtonpost.com/sports/dcunited/icardi-passes-2-century-marks-with-4-goal-performance/2018/03/18/308400f2-2ab2-11e8-8dc9-3b51e028b845_story.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=1 April 2018|title=Icardi passes 2 century marks with 4-goal performance|newspaper=The Washington Post|author1=Andrew Dampf|date=18 March 2018|access-date=18 March 2018}}</ref><ref name=record26>{{cite news|url=http://www.goal.com/it/Articolo.aspx?ContenutoId=876148 |title=Solo Altafini come Gilardino: bomber a 26 anni|work=Goal.com|author=Redazione La Nazione|access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.violanews.com/news.asp?idnew=25184|title=Gila, numeri da urlo. Più decisivo di Altafini: alla sua età Bati era indietro|publisher=[[La Nazione]]|author=Giansandro Mosti |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140226225652/http://www.violanews.com/oldnews/?newsid=25184&idnew=25184 |archive-date=26 February 2014 |access-date=5 March 2016}}</ref> Regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, and as one of Serie A's and Milan's greatest-ever players, Altafini had an eye for goal and was quick, skilful and powerful.<ref name=magliarossonera.it/><ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name=icampionidellosport.com>{{cite web|url=http://www.icampionidellosport.com/2013/07/jose-altafini-incredibile-amisci-2/|title=Josè Altafini, "Incredibile amisci!"|language=it|access-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141228200446/http://www.icampionidellosport.com/2013/07/jose-altafini-incredibile-amisci-2/|archive-date=28 December 2014|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref name="treccani">{{cite web|url=http://www.treccani.it/enciclopedia/jose-altafini_(Enciclopedia-dello-Sport)/|title=ALTAFINI, Jose|publisher=Treccani: Enciclopedia dello Sport (2002)|language=it|author=Alberto Costa|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref>

At international level, he represented both [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] and [[Italy national football team|Italy]]; he was a member of the Brazilian side that won the [[1958 FIFA World Cup]], and later also represented Italy at the [[1962 FIFA World Cup]].

He was a football pundit on Italian TV for the [[SKY Italia]] and a commentator on Italian radio for [[RTL 102.5]], as well as being the secondary commentator on the ''[[Pro Evolution Soccer]]'' video games in Italy.<ref>{{cite web|title=Campioni Sportivi: José Altafini|url=http://www.mondi.it/almanacco/voce/6074|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> Altafini coined the expression "golaço" (or the Italianised "golazzo") whenever a notable goal is scored<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk>{{cite web|title=José Altafini: Italy-Brazil|url=http://www.world-football-legends.co.uk/index.php/bra/146-altafini-jose|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> and was known for his iconic exclamation "incredibile, amici!" ("incredible, friends!").<ref name=magliarossonera.it/><ref name=icampionidellosport.com/> In his career, Altafini scored 630 goals.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://docs.ufpr.br/~mmsabino/sstatistics/altafini.html |title = Altafini}}</ref>

==Early life==
Altafini was born on 24 July 1938 in Piracicaba, a city in the state of São Paulo, Brazil, with a large Italian community, mostly originating from [[Trentino Alto Adige]], where certain dialects are still spoken. He came from a working-class family of Italian origin, born to Gioacchino Altafini and Maria Marchesoni, his mother being from [[Caldonazzo]] ([[Trentino]]),<ref>{{cite AV media |orig-year=9 August 1998 |title=José Altafini a Caldonazzo |trans-title= José Altafini in Caldonazzo|medium=local TV |language=it |access-date=1 June 2015 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7ZA5Ie4hos8  |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211212/7ZA5Ie4hos8| archive-date=12 December 2021 |url-status=live|date=30 April 2008}}{{cbignore}}</ref> which enabled him to obtain Italian citizenship.<ref>{{cite web|title=Brasileiros no Calcio: José Altafini|url=http://www.quattrotratti.com/2010/04/brasileiros-no-calcio-jose-altafini.html|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> José's father worked in a sugar factory, while his mother worked as a housemaid for a wealthy family.<ref name="Altafini e il film su Pelé"/> José began playing football for the youth side of his city at the age of 16, the [[XV de piracicaba|XV de Novembro]] Sporting Club. It was during this time that he earned his nickname "Mazzola", due to his physical resemblance with legendary Italian attacking midfielder [[Valentino Mazzola]].<ref name=magliarossonera.it/> At the age of 17, he began to play for the youth side of the Italian-Brazilian São Paulo club [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]], initially as an [[Midfielder#Attacking midfielder|attacking midfielder]] or [[Midfielder#Winger|winger]], before being moved to a more offensive position as a forward.<ref name=icampionidellosport.com/><ref name=milanworld.net/>

==Club career==

===Palmeiras===
Altafini made his debut for the Italian-Brazilian [[Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras|Palmeiras]] team of São Paulo in Brazil on 29 January 1956, scoring a brace on his debut, and becoming the youngest goalscorer for the club, at the age of 17, a record which still stands today.<ref name=icampionidellosport.com/> He played for the Brazilian club for two seasons (1956 and 1957), scoring 32 goals in 63 matches competitive, and 89 goals in 114 matches including semi-official matches and friendly matches.<ref name=paixaopalmeirense.com.br>{{cite web|title=os vinte maiores artilheiros do palmeiras|url=http://www.paixaopalmeirense.com.br/wiki/os_vinte_maiores_artilheiros_do_palmeiras|access-date=28 December 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121231055124/http://www.paixaopalmeirense.com.br/wiki/OS_VINTE_MAIORES_ARTILHEIROS_DO_PALMEIRAS|archive-date=31 December 2012|url-status=dead}}</ref> His goalscoring ratio of 0.74 goals per game is the fifth best ever average for a Palmeiras player.<ref name=paixaopalmeirense.com.br/> On 9 June 1957, he scored all five goals in Palmeiras's 5–0 win over [[Esporte Clube Noroeste|Noroeste]], which is also a joint-club record for the most goals by a single player in a Palmeiras match.<ref name=paixaopalmeirense.com.br/> On 6 March 1958, Altafini scored two goals in an historic match against the legendary [[Santos FC|Santos]] team of [[Pelé]], [[Pepe (footballer, born 1935)|Pepe]] and [[Zito (footballer, born 1932)|Zito]] in the [[Torneio Rio – São Paulo|Torneio Rio-São Paulo]]. Altafini was one of the protagonists of the match, which ended in a 7–6 win to Santos, despite his goals.<ref name=paixaopalmeirense.com.br/>

===AC Milan===
[[File:José Altafini - Milan (1950s-60s) - CROPPED.jpg|thumb|left|Altafini playing for [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]]]]
Altafini began his career in Italy with [[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]] in 1958, following the World Cup in Sweden; his talent and offensive potential had been noticed by Milan's agents during some friendly matches in Italy against [[Internazionale Milano FC|Inter]] and [[AC Fiorentina|Fiorentina]] in preparation for the upcoming tournament, in which Altafini scored. He was purchased by the Italian club prior to the World Cup in Sweden for 135 million Lire.<ref name=milanworld.net>{{cite web|url=http://www.milanworld.net/jose-altafini-vt4888.html|title=Hall of Fame: José Altafini|date=3 March 2013 |publisher=milanworld.net|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> Altafini made his scoreless Milan debut on 21 September 1958, at the age of 20, and, in his first season, he played 32 games and scored 28 goals, winning the [[1958–59 Serie A]] title along the way, and demonstrating his goalscoring prowess; he also managed 4 goals in 4 [[Coppa Italia]] appearances that season, finishing the season with a total of 32 goals in 36 appearances in all competitions.<ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name=milanworld.net/><ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini">{{cite web|url=https://www.acmilan.com/en/jose-altafini|title=A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini|publisher=A.C. Milan|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> His first league goal came on 5 October in a win against [[A.S. Bari|Bari]]. Altafini was the top scorer of the 1960–61 [[Coppa Italia]], with 4 goals, although Milan were not able to make it past the second round of the competition. On 27 March 1960, he scored four goals in the [[Derby della Madonnina|Milan derby]] against local rivals [[Internazionale Milano FC|Inter]], which ended in a 5–3 victory for Milan. During these next few seasons, Milan managed a third and second-place finish, as Altafini continued to reach the 20 goal season mark.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/> On 12 November 1961, he also managed four goals against [[Juventus FC|Juventus]], as Milan went on to win the [[Serie A]] title again during the [[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62 season]], in which Altafini finished as the [[Capocannoniere|league's joint top scorer]] with 22 goals in 33 games, alongside [[Aurelio Milani]].<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/><ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/>
[[File:1961–62 Associazione Calcio Milan.jpg|thumb|260px|right|Altafini (top row, center) with AC Milan in the [[1961–62 AC Milan season|1961–62 season]]]]

In the [[1963 European Cup Final]], Altafini scored two goals against [[S.L. Benfica|Benfica]] to secure Milan's first European triumph.<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/> The game ended 2–1, and Altafini finished [[1962–63 European Cup|the competition]] as the [[List of UEFA Champions League top scorers|top scorer]] with a [[UEFA Champions League records and statistics|record of 14 goals]],<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/><ref name="Messi sets UEFA Champions League goal record">{{cite web|title=Messi sets UEFA Champions League goal record| date=3 April 2012 |url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01fc-0e7d9b082a6a-67b8ad54fb32-1000--messi-sets-uefa-champions-league-goal-record/|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> which was only broken during the [[2013–14 UEFA Champions League|2013–14]] season by [[Cristiano Ronaldo]], who managed 17 goals.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cdc68c5ee7f-854c7d82fcc8-1000--record-breaking-ronaldo-takes-scoring-honours/|title=Record-breaking Ronaldo takes scoring honours|publisher=UEFA|date=24 May 2014|access-date=15 March 2015}}</ref> In Milan's 5–0 win over [[Union Luxembourg|l'Union Luxembourg]], he managed to score five goals in a single match of the competition, a record which he shares with eight other footballers, including [[Lionel Messi]].<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/><ref name="Messi sets UEFA Champions League goal record"/> Milan were defeated in the [[1963 Intercontinental Cup|1963 Intercontinental Cup final]] 1–0 by Pelé's Santos in a play-off match following a 6–6 draw on aggregate; Altafini scored one goal in the competition, in Milan's 4–2 second leg defeat. Altafini's performances led him to be nominated for the [[1963 Ballon d'Or|1963]] and [[1964 Ballon d'Or]] awards, in which he finished in 11th and 16th place respectively. His appearances became more limited during the next few seasons at the club, as Milan went trophyless, finishing in second place behind Inter during the [[1964–65 Serie A|1964–65 season]].<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/> During his seven seasons with Milan, Altafini was able to win two [[Serie A]] titles, and a [[European Cup]], as well as the top goalscoring awards in [[Serie A]], the [[Coppa Italia]] and the [[European Cup]].<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/>

===Napoli===
[[File:SSC Napoli 1965-1966 José João Altafini.jpg|thumb|Altafini with Napoli in 1965]]

In 1965, Altafini joined [[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]], due to his disagreements with [[Amarildo Tavares da Silveira|Amarildo]] and Paolo Ferrario at Milan,<ref name=magliarossonera.it/> where he formed a notable attacking partnership with Italo-Argentine advanced [[playmaker]] [[Omar Sívori]], who had been his Italy teammate at the 1962 World Cup in Chile.<ref name=icampionidellosport.com/> He remained at the club for seven years, until 1972. On 31 December 1967, in a 2–2 home draw against [[Torino F.C.|Torino]], Altafini scored an acrobatic goal from a bicycle kick, a "golaço" which made him extremely popular with the Napoli fans.<ref>{{cite web|title=Serie A 1967-68 - Enciclopedia del Calcio|url=http://www.enciclopediadelcalcio.it/6768-13.html|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> During his time at the club, he helped Napoli to compete for the title regularly, and he was able to lead Napoli to their best ever Serie A finish up until that point, helping them to finish second in the [[1967–68 Serie A]] campaign, behind his former club Milan, also finishing as the second highest goalscorer in Serie A that season. He also helped them finish in third place in [[1965–66 Serie A|1966]] and [[1970–71 Serie A|1971]]. During the [[1971–72 Serie A|1971–72]] season, Altafini also helped Napoli to the [[1971–72 Coppa Italia]] final, although they were defeated 2–0 by his previous club, Milan. Despite his role in the club's history,<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/> during his time at Napoli, Altafini only managed to win a minor trophy, the [[Coppa delle Alpi]], during the 1966–67 season.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/>

===Juventus===
After his time at Napoli, Altafini joined [[Juventus FC|Juventus]] along with his former Napoli teammate goalkeeping legend [[Dino Zoff]]. Despite his advancing age, which often led him to be used as a substitute, Altafini was decisive in helping Juventus to win two more Serie A titles during the [[1972–73 Serie A|1972–73]] and the [[1974–75 Serie A|1974–75]] seasons. During the 1972–73 season, Juventus were point behind Milan, who were leading the Serie A table, before their final match of the season against [[A.S. Roma|Roma]]. Juventus were trailing at half-time, but Altafini scored a crucial equaliser (his ninth of the season), before [[Antonello Cuccureddu]] scored the late match winner. Milan were defeated in [[Hellas Verona F.C.|Verona]], and Juventus's victory allowed them to capture the Serie A title.<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/><ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/> Another one of his most notable moments during his Juventus career was his goal against his former club, Napoli, during the 1974–75 season, at the age of 37.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/> Before the match, Juventus were in first place, two points ahead of Napoli, in second place; Altafini came off the bench a few minutes before the end of the match, scoring the match winner in the 88th minute, helping Juventus to a 2–1 victory, which allowed them to increase their lead over Napoli and win the title; Altafini managed eight goals in 20 appearances that season.<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/> A few days after the match, a banner with the writing "José core 'ngrato" was placed on one of the gates of the [[Stadio San Paolo|San Paolo stadium]], referencing the fact that Altafini had previously played for the Neapolitan club.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/>
[[File:Juventus FC 1972-1973 José Altafini.jpg|thumb|200px|left|Altafini with Juventus in the [[1972–73 Juventus FC season|1972–73 season]]]]

He also helped Juventus to a [[Coppa Italia]] and a [[1973 European Cup Final|European Cup Final]] in 1973, scoring a goal in the quarter-finals of the [[1972–73 European Cup]] against [[Újpesti Dózsa]], and two goals in the semi-final against [[Derby County F.C.|Derby County]]. Juventus narrowly missed out on a [[Treble (association football)|treble]] by losing both cup finals despite their 1973 league title.<ref name=icampionidellosport.com/> Their Coppa Italia defeat came at the hands of Altafini's former club, Milan, once again, on penalties, while Juventus were defeated by [[Ajax F.C.|Ajax]] in the European Cup final.<ref name=icampionidellosport.com/><ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/> During the [[1973–74 Serie A|1973–74 season]], Juventus went trophyless, although Altafini managed 7 goals in 21 appearances, and in his [[1975–76 Serie A|final season]], Altafini made only 10 appearances however, as Juventus missed out on the title, finishing in second place behind local rivals Torino; Altafini decided to leave Serie A after 18 seasons in Italy.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/>

By the time he left Juventus at the age of 38 in 1976, Altafini had played 459 games in Serie A and had scored 216 goals, although he had scored most of these in the early part of his career. In fact, he only scored 53 goals in his last 8 seasons in Italy, whereas he had scored 134 in his first 8. He is currently the fourth highest goalscorer of all time in Serie A, alongside [[Giuseppe Meazza]], and behind only [[Silvio Piola]], [[Francesco Totti|Totti]] and [[Gunnar Nordahl|Nordahl]]. He also holds the second highest number of appearances in Serie A by a non-Italian born player, behind [[Javier Zanetti]].<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/>

===Later career in Switzerland and retirement===
After leaving Italy in 1976, Altafini briefly played in the [[Canadian National Soccer League|National Soccer League]] with [[Canadian National Soccer League|Toronto Italia]], where he appeared in the [[1976 CONCACAF Champions' Cup]].<ref name=":0">{{Cite book|last=Jose|first=Colin|title=On-Side - 125 Years of Soccer in Ontario|publisher=Ontario Soccer Association and Soccer Hall of Fame and Museum|year=2001|location=Vaughan, Ontario|pages=189}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.corriere.ca/politica/hall-of-fame-toronto-si-celebra-il-calcio-che-fu/|title=Hall of Fame Toronto, si celebra il calcio che fu {{!}} Corriere Canadese|last=Sparano|first=Nicola|date=11 April 2018|website=corriere.ca|publisher=Corriere Canadese|language=en-US|access-date=26 March 2020}}</ref> He later played for four years in Switzerland for [[FC Chiasso|Chiasso]], playing in the second division, and earning a promotion into the [[Swiss Super League|Super League]] thanks to his goals, scoring 14 goals in 26 league games in his first season. He later played for [[FC Mendrisio-Stabio|Mendrisiostar]], another team in the Swiss second division, before retiring at the age of 42 in 1980, after a 25-season professional footballing career.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/>

==International career==

===Brazil===
Altafini made his international debut for [[Brazil national football team|Brazil]] at the age of 18 and 327 days on 16 June 1957, marking his first appearance with a goal against [[Portugal national football team|Portugal]] in a 3–0 friendly victory.<ref name="Seleção Brasileira">{{cite web|url=http://www.rsssfbrasil.com/sel/brazil195758.htm|title=Seleção Brasileira (Brazilian National Team) 1957-1958|publisher=RSSSF Brasil|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> On the 7 and 10 July, he helped Brazil to win the [[Copa Roca]] against rivals [[Argentina national football team|Argentina]], alongside debutant [[Pelé]], scoring a goal.<ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name="Seleção Brasileira"/>
[[File:Mazola.jpg|thumb|Altafini (left) in 2008]]

Altafini, playing as Mazzola, was a member of the Brazil team that won the [[1958 FIFA World Cup]] in Sweden, and at 19 was the second-youngest member of the squad, after Pelé, to be called up. He started the tournament strongly, scoring two goals in the opening group match against [[Austria national football team|Austria]] on 8 June, which ended in a 3–0 win, but he was injured during the second group match against [[England national football team|England]] three days later, which ended in a 0–0 draw, and as a result he missed the final group match against the [[Soviet Union national football team|Soviet Union]] on 15 June, which Brazil won 2–0.<ref>{{cite web|title=Tardes de Pacaembu: O FUTEBOL SEM AS FRONTEIRAS DO TEMPO ~ Um resumo biográfico de 475 craques com 8.300 fotos.|url=http://tardesdepacaembu.wordpress.com/?s=mazola|publisher=tardesdepacaembu.wordpress.com|language=pt|access-date=28 December 2014}}</ref> He returned to the starting line-up in the quarter-final match against [[Wales national football team|Wales]] on 19 June, putting on a strong performance and helping Pelé to score the only goal of the match.<ref name=icampionidellosport.com/> 
He later scored a brilliant overhead kick from the edge of the penalty area, which was unfortunately disallowed by the referee. He was replaced by [[Vavá]] for the semi-final victory against [[France national football team|France]] (5–2) on 24 June, and manager [[Vicente Feola]] also left him out in favour of Vavá once again from the squad that would lift the World Cup in the [[1958 FIFA World Cup Final|final]] over hosts [[Sweden men's national football team|Sweden]] on 29 June, following a 5–2 victory.<ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref>{{cite web|title=Group D|url=http://www.planetworldcup.com/CUPS/1958/wc58groupd.html|publisher=Planet World Cup}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/teenage-kicks-as-altafini-strikes-in-sweden-2925510 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180709215723/https://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/teenage-kicks-as-altafini-strikes-in-sweden-2925510 |url-status=dead |archive-date=9 July 2018 |title=Teenage kicks as Altafini strikes in Sweden |publisher=FIFA.com |date=21 December 2017 |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref> In total he made 8 appearances for the Brazilian national side, scoring 4 goals.<ref name="storiedicalcio.altervista.org" />

===Italy===
In the [[1962 FIFA World Cup]], he played for Italy under his own name, stating: "It was very simple. Back then Brazil never called on players who were based overseas. Never. I was only 23 or 24 and I would have been devastated at missing a World Cup. It wasn't me who left Brazil. It was Brazil that left me."<ref>{{cite news|title=Brazilian football's Italian connection|url=https://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/destination/news/newsid=2076993/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130615041105/http://www.fifa.com/confederationscup/destination/news/newsid=2076993/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=15 June 2013|newspaper=[[FIFA]]|date=10 May 2013}}</ref>

Altafini made his debut for [[Italy national football team|Italy]] on 15 October 1961, in a play-off against [[Israel national football team|Israel]] for a place at the [[1962 FIFA World Cup]]. He scored in a 4–2 victory in [[Ramat Gan]] and also featured in the second leg as the Italians booked their place at the tournament. Prior to the World Cup, he scored two braces in friendly wins over [[France national football team|France]] and [[Belgium national football team|Belgium]]. Altafini played in the first two group matches of the 1962 World Cup, against [[Germany national football team|West Germany]] and [[Chile national football team|Chile]], as Italy were eliminated in the first round.<ref>{{cite web|title=José Altafini|url=http://eu-football.info/_player.php?id=384|publisher=EU Football}}</ref> Despite being only 24, he did not receive another call-up for Italy following Italy's disappointing World Cup campaign, and he was criticised throughout the tournament for avoiding physical challenges and giving up possession too easily.<ref name="icampionidellosport.com" /> Altafini made six appearances for Italy, scoring five goals, bringing his total international tally to nine goals in 14 appearances.<ref name="magliarossonera.it" /><ref name="storiedicalcio.altervista.org" /><ref name="FIGC">{{cite web|url=http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=64&squadra=1|title=Nazionale in cifre: Altafini, José|website=figc.it|publisher=FIGC|language=it|access-date=20 April 2015|archive-date=7 July 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180707062652/http://www.figc.it/nazionali/DettaglioConvocato?codiceConvocato=64&squadra=1|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Style of play==
Regarded as one of the best strikers of his generation, Altafini was a complete striker, with good skills, fast feet and an eye for goal, who was quick, agile and physically strong. In addition to his pace and physical attributes, he was gifted with excellent control, technique, flair and [[Dribbling#Association football|dribbling]] ability; he was also a highly creative player, having started his career as an attacking midfielder or winger, before being switched to a more offensive role as a [[Forward (association football)#Centre-forward|centre-forward]]. He made a name for himself as a highly prolific goalscorer throughout his career, due to his powerful, accurate shot and ability to make attacking runs, as well as his intelligence and instinctive opportunism inside the penalty area.<ref name=magliarossonera.it/><ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/><ref name=storiedicalcio.altervista.org/><ref name=icampionidellosport.com/><ref name="treccani"/><ref name=milanworld.net/>

==Media==
===Punditry===
After retiring from football, Altafini became a notable football commentator in Italy, where he coined the term ''golazzo'', a transliteration of the word ''golaço'' from his native [[Portuguese language|Portuguese]], which roughly translates into English as 'great goal'; although it is not actually a word in Italian. A sound bite of his use of the phrase while commentating was used at the start and finish of [[Channel 4]]'s ''[[Football Italia]]''.<ref name=world-football-legends.co.uk/>

===Film===
In the biographical film ''[[Pelé: Birth of a Legend]]'', Altafini is portrayed by Mexican actor [[Diego Boneta]].<ref name="Altafini e il film su Pelé">{{cite web|url=http://www.gazzetta.it/Calcio/23-05-2016/altafini-film-pele-io-o-rei-maracanazo-mondiale-150800374062.shtml|title=Altafini e il film su Pelé: "Io e O Rei, dal Maracanazo al Mondiale"|publisher=La Gazzetta dello Sport|language=it|author1=Franco Dassisti|date=23 May 2016|access-date=21 February 2017}}</ref>

===Author===
Altafini also co-wrote two books: ''Incredibile amici! Il mio manuale del calcio'', along with Pierluigi Pardo, and ''Futebol e alegria. Personaggi, fatti, aneddoti del mio calcio'', along with Maurizio Barberis.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.mondadoristore.it/libri/Jose-Altafini/aut00444215/|title=Libri - Jose Altafini|publisher=www.mondadoristore.it|language=it|access-date=21 February 2017}}</ref>

== Career statistics ==

=== In Italy ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/braz-players-in-it.html |title=Brazilian Players and Coaches in Italy |author1=Davide Rota |date=5 November 2005 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.rsssf.org/players/altafini-in-ec.html |title=José João Altafini - Matches in European Cups |author1=Marcel Haisma |date=15 February 2004 |website=[[RSSSF]] |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myjuve.it/giocatori-juventus/jose_joao-altafini-107.aspx |title=José Altafini |publisher=www.myjuve.it |language=it |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref>
|-
!rowspan="2" width="100"|Club
!rowspan="2" |Season
!colspan="2" |League
!colspan="2" |Cup
!colspan="2" |Europe
!colspan="2" |Other
!colspan="2" |Total
|-
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
!width="40"|Apps
!width="40"|Goals
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[A.C. Milan|AC Milan]]
|1958–59
||32||28|||4||4||–||–||2||2||38||34
|-
|1959–60
||33||20||–||–||4||2||2||4||39||26
|-
|1960–61
||34||22||2||4||–||–|||2||0||38||26
|-
|1961–62
||33||22||–||–||2||0||–||–||35||22
|-
|1962–63
||31||11||2||1||9||14||4||5||46||31
|-
|1963–64
||30||14||1||0||4||4||3||1||38||19
|-
|1964–65
||12||3||–||–||–||–||–||–||12||3
|-
!colspan="1"|Total
!205||120||9||9||19||20||13||12||246||161
|-
|rowspan="8"|[[S.S.C. Napoli|Napoli]]
|1965–66
||34||14||2||1||-||-||5||7||41||22
|-
|1966–67
||27||16||1||1||5||1||–||–||33||18
|-
|1967–68
||29||13||2||1||3||3||–||–||34||17
|-
|1968–69
||21||5||4||2||3||1||–||–||28||8
|-
|1969–70
||15||8||3||0||3||0||5||3||26||11
|-
|1970–71
||25||7||11||4||–||–||–||–||36||11
|-
|1971–72
||29||8||5||2||2||0||–||–||36||10
|-
!colspan="1"|Total
!180||71||28||11||16||5||10||10||234||97
|-
|rowspan="5"|[[Juventus FC|Juventus]]
|1972–73
||23||9||6||0||6||3||–||–||35||12
|-
|1973–74
||21||7||8||2||2||1||1||0||32||10
|-
|1974–75
||20||8||6||0||9||5||–||–||35||13
|-
|1975–76
||10||1||4||1||3||0||–||–||17||2
|-
!colspan="1"|Total
!74||25||24||3||20||9||1||0||119||37
|-
!colspan="2"|Career total
!459||216||61||23||55||34||24||22||599||295
|}

''*European competitions include the UEFA Champions League, UEFA Cup Winners' Cup & UEFA Cup''

=== International ===
{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="NFT">{{cite web |url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/player/18175/Jose_Mazzola_Altafini.html |title=Altafini, José João 'Mazzola' |publisher=www.national-football-teams.com |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myjuve.it/giocatori-juventus/jose-altafini-nazionale-107.aspx |title=José Altafini – Carriera in Nazionale |publisher=www.myjuve.it |language=it |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref><ref name="SW"/>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Brazil national football team|Brazil]]
|1957||3||2
|-
|1958||5||2
|-
!colspan="2"|Total||8||4
|}

{| class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
|+ Appearances and goals by national team and year<ref name="FIGC"/>
|-
!National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals
|-
|rowspan="2"|[[Italy national football team|Italy]]
|1961||2||1
|-
|1962||4||4
|-
!colspan="2"|Total||6||5
|}

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

{| class="wikitable plainrowheaders sortable"
|+ International goals by José Altafini<ref>{{Cite web|title=José João Altafini - International Appearanches|url=https://www.rsssf.org/miscellaneous/altafini-intlg.html|website=RSSSF|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
! 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)}}
|-
|rowspan="4"|{{fb|Brazil}}
|style="text-align:center"|1
|{{dts|16 June 1957}}
|[[Pacaembu Stadium]], [[São Paulo]], Brazil
|{{fb|Portugal}}
|style="text-align:center"|–
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|[[Friendly (association football)|Friendly]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazil v Portugal, 16 June 1957|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/brazil-v-portugal-16-june-1957-226913/|website=11v11|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|2
|{{dts|10 July 1957}}
|Pacaembu Stadium, São Paulo, Brazil	
|{{fb|Argentina}}
|style="text-align:center"|–
|style="text-align:center"|2–0
|[[Roca Cup|1957 Roca Cup]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazil v Argentina, 10 July 1957|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/brazil-v-argentina-10-july-1957-226938/|website=11v11|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|3
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|8 June 1958}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Rimnersvallen]], [[Uddevalla]], Sweden
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Austria}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–0
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–0
|rowspan="2"|[[1958 FIFA World Cup]]
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Brazil vs. Austria|url=https://www.national-football-teams.com/matches/report/14827/Brazil_Austria.html|website=National Football Teams|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|4
|style="text-align:center"|3–0
|-
|rowspan="5"|{{fb|Italy}}
|style="text-align:center"|5
|{{dts|15 October 1961}}
|[[Ramat Gan Stadium]], [[Ramat Gan]], Israel
|{{fb|Israel}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–2
|style="text-align:center"|4–2
|[[1962 FIFA World Cup qualification (UEFA)|1962 FIFA World Cup qualification]]
|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Israel v Italy, 15 October 1961|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/israel-v-italy-15-october-1961-228010/|website=11v11|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|6
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|5 May 1962}}
|rowspan="2"|[[Stadio Artemio Franchi|Stadio Comunale]], [[Florence]], Italy
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|France}}
|style="text-align:center"|1–1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|2–1
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Italy v France, 05 May 1962|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/italy-v-france-05-may-1962-228114/|website=11v11|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|7
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|-
|style="text-align:center"|8
|rowspan="2"|{{dts|13 May 1962}}
|rowspan="2"|[[King Baudouin Stadium|Stade du Heysel]], [[Brussels]], Belgium
|rowspan="2"|{{fb|Belgium}}
|style="text-align:center"|2–1
|rowspan="2" style="text-align:center"|3–1
|rowspan="2"|Friendly
|rowspan="2"|<ref>{{Cite web|title=Belgium v Italy, 13 May 1962|url=https://www.11v11.com/matches/belgium-v-italy-13-may-1962-228123/|website=11v11|access-date=24 October 2024}}</ref>
|-
|style="text-align:center"|9
|style="text-align:center"|3–1
|}

==Honours==

===Club===
'''AC Milan'''<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1958–59 Serie A|1958–59]], [[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62]]
*[[European Cup]]: [[1962–63 European Cup|1962–63]]

'''Juventus'''<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/><ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.myjuve.it/giocatori-juventus/jose-altafini-palmares-107.aspx |title=José Altafini – Palmarés |publisher=www.myjuve.it |language=it |access-date=9 July 2018 |archive-date=10 July 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180710010322/http://www.myjuve.it/giocatori-juventus/jose-altafini-palmares-107.aspx |url-status=dead }}</ref>
*[[Serie A]]: [[1972–73 Serie A|1972–73]], [[1974–75 Serie A|1974–75]]

'''Napoli'''<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/>
*[[Coppa delle Alpi]]: 1966

===International===
'''Brazil'''<ref name="Gli eroi in bianconero: Josè ALTAFINI"/><ref name="SW">{{cite web |url=https://int.soccerway.com/players/jose-joao-altafini/107472/ |publisher=Soccerway |title=Altafini |access-date=9 July 2018 }}</ref>
*[[FIFA World Cup]]: [[1958 FIFA World Cup|1958]]

===Individual===
*[[Coppa Italia]] top Goal-scorer: 1960–61<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.rsssf.org/tablesi/italcuptops.html |title=Italy - Coppa Italia Top Scorers |author1=Roberto Di Maggio |author2=Davide Rota |date=4 June 2015 |access-date=15 June 2015 |url-status=live |website=[[RSSSF]] |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151029033413/http://www.rsssf.com/tablesi/italcuptops.html |archive-date=29 October 2015 }}</ref>
*[[Capocannoniere|Serie A top Goal-scorer]]: [[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62]]<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/>
*[[List of UEFA Champions League top scorers|European Cup top goalscorer]]: [[1962–63 European Cup|1962–63]]<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/>
*AC Milan Hall of Fame<ref name="A.C. Milan Hall of Fame: Josè Altafini"/>
*[[Golden Foot]]: 2019, as [[Golden Foot#Award legends|football legend]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{commons category}}
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20150906051951/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=174341/index.html FIFA Profile]

{{Navboxes
|bg=gold
|fg=navy
|title= Awards
|list1=
{{s-start}}
{{s-sports}}
{{succession box|title=[[Serie A]] [[Football records in Italy#Top scorers (capocannonieri) by season|Top Scorer]] (Shared with [[Aurelio Milani]]) |before=[[Sergio Brighenti]] | |after=[[Harald Nielsen]]<br />[[Pedro Manfredini]] |years=[[1961–62 Serie A|1961–62]]}}
{{s-end}}
{{UEFA Champions League top scorers}}
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{{Brazil Squad 1958 World Cup}}
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{{Portal bar|Biography|Brazil|Italy|Association football}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Altafini, Jose}}
[[Category:1938 births]]
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