Palmeiras icon and Brazil goalscorer Leivinha dies aged 76

João Leiva Campos Filho, widely known as Leivinha, has died at the age of 76. He had been suffering from Alzheimer's disease.

Leivinha was one of the defining figures of the Palmeiras 'Second Academy' during the 1970s. Over his tenure with the club, he netted 108 goals in 267 appearances, securing his place among the 15 highest scorers in the club's history.

On the international stage, the midfielder represented Brazil at the 1974 World Cup in Germany. He is notably remembered for scoring the 1,000th goal in the history of the Brazilian national team.

Throughout his career, Leivinha won six titles with Palmeiras, including back-to-back Brazilian championships in 1972 and 1973. Beyond his time with the São Paulo club, he also played for Portuguesa, Atlético Madrid in Spain, and São Paulo, retiring at the age of 29.

"João Leiva Campos Filho, one of the eternal idols of Palmeiras, died this Thursday. A master with his feet and head, Leivinha was one of the symbols of the team that enchanted Brazil in the first half of the 1970s. He was a midfielder with quick touches, great presence in the box, and excellent finishing," the club stated in its official note.