One of the first Northeasterners to wear the Brazilian national team jersey, the first Paraíba native to play in a World Cup (Switzerland, 1954), a key player in the qualifiers for the 1958 World Cup in Sweden, the first Black player to play for Espanyol Barcelona, ​​one of Flamengo's greatest idols, and the 10th-highest scorer in the history of the Mais Querido (Most Beloved). This is the resume of Paraíba native Aluísio Francisco da Luz, the late former player known as Índio, a native of Cabedelo, a port city in Paraíba.

In April 2020, the striker passed away, leaving a significant legacy in the sport that deserves to be told. It was with this in mind that Brazilian football enthusiast Fábio Henrique Alves decided to delve deeper into the story of the Cabedelo native and create his biography.

With a glorious and accomplished career spanning the 50s and 60s, Índio has remarkable and meaningful stories. Fábio Henrique, making his debut as a writer, delved deeply into his research and was captivated by the story of the Paraíba star.

The nickname "Índio" (Indian) came to him while still in school, where he was already playing and showing signs of his potential on the soccer field. After playing for Bangu's youth team in the late 1940s, he was discovered by Togo Renan Soares, known as Kanela, then Flamengo's coach. By 1951, he was already a standout on Flamengo's first European tour. His goals helped the Gávea club transform from a discredited team into a legendary squad, winning three Rio de Janeiro state championships (1953-55), with the Paraíba native earning the top scorer award.

The top scorer of the 1953 season, Índio was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time in 1954, becoming one of the first Northeasterners to wear the yellow jersey. He went to the 1954 World Cup in Switzerland, where he played in the iconic Battle of Bern, a historic match that saw Brazil defeat Hungary 2-4.

The Paraíba native felt at home in the greatest temple of football, the Maracanã Stadium, where he scored half of his goals for Flamengo. During his second stint with the Seleção Canarinha, Índio was remembered for scoring the winning goal in Lima, in a draw against the surprising Peruvian team, in the 1957 qualifiers that qualified Brazil for the World Cup in Sweden. In 1958, the year the "Amarelinha" won its first world title. 

An injury robbed Índio of his dream of shining in the World Cup in Sweden. The Cabedelo native then watched from afar as his spot went to a young striker: Pelé.

The biographical book 'Índio, o Herói de 57', by Fábio Henrique Alves, narrates these and other facts in detail, with a wealth of details, about the career of this player with relevant importance for Brazilian football and for his state, Paraíba. 

Book launch "Indian - The 57" Hero

Biography of Aluísio Francisco da Luz, 'Índio', former player of the Brazilian National Team (1954-57) and Three-time Carioca Champion (1953-55) for the Clube de Regatas do Flamengo. 

Order date: June 16, 2022, Thursday

Open Hours: 17 hrs 

Location: Entrance Hall of the Flamengo Regatta Club (in front of the museum) - Borges de Medeiros Avenue, 997 - Gávea, Rio de Janeiro - RJ