Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade (born 25 January 1947 in Belo Horizonte), better known as Tostão, is a former Brazilian footballer. In his prime he was one of the best strikers in the world and also contributed with many assists thanks to his great passing.

Like the majority of Brazilian footballers he was given a nickname early in his football career. His was Tostão, the little coin. Legend has it that as a 6 year old school boy, Tostão netted 47 goals in one game for his primary school football team.Tostão was an intelligent forward who played for the Brazilian club Cruzeiro and formed a lethal partnership with Pelé in the national team which won the 1970 FIFA World Cup. After the World cup he played for Vasco da Gama.

Tostão suffered a detached retina in 1969 when he was hit in the face by a ball during a match against Corinthians. This injury almost stopped him playing in the 1970 World Cup, and when he damaged his eye again in 1973 he decided to retire from football at the age of 26.

Weary of football and fame he became a medical doctor. In the last ten years he has rejoined the football world by working as a journalist and a pundit on TV.

He scored 46 goals in just 22 starts for his first club, América MG, and then he joined Cruzeiro where he became a cult hero, netting no less than 249 goals in 378 matches. After the World Cup, he joined Vasco da Gama, again proving his ability as a prolific striker by netting 71 goals in just 35 matches. In total, Tostão scored 366 goals in 435 career league games.

External links

• Tostão’s weekly column on Brazilian newspaper Jornal do Brasil

and Coritba Footbal Club 1976