Arthur Antunes Coimbra (Portuguese pronunciation: [aR'tuR a'tunis ko'ibra], born 3 March 1953 in Rio de Janeiro), better known as Zico (['ziku]), is a Brazilian coach and former footballer, who played as an attacking midfielder. Often called the "White Pele", he was a creative playmaker, with excellent technical skills, vision, and an eye for goal, who is considered one of the most clinical finishers and best passers ever, as well as one of the greatest players of all time. Arguably the world's best player of the late 1970s and early 80s, he is regarded as one of the best playmakers and free kick specialists in history, able to bend the ball in all directions.
International career
An episode related to Brazil national football team almost made Zico give up on his career. He made his international debut in the South American Qualifier to the 1972 Summer Olympics playing 5 matches and scoring the qualifying goal against Argentina. Despite this fact, he wasn't called up to the Munich games. He felt extremely frustrated and told his father in dismay he wanted to stop playing football. He even got absent from training at Flamengo for 10 days, being later convinced otherwise by his brothers.  In the opening group match of the 1978 World Cup against Sweden, Zico headed a corner kick into the goal in the final minute of the match, apparently breaking a 1-1 tie. However, in a call that became infamous, the Welsh referee Clive Thomas disallowed the goal, saying that he had blown the whistle to end the match while the ball was still in the air from a corner. In the secound round, he scored from a penalty in a 3-0 win over Peru. Zico eventually won a bronze medal with Brazil at the tournament, defeating Italy in the 3rd place final. Zico also won another bronze medal with Brazil in the 1979 Copa America.  The 1982 World Cup would see Zico as part of a fantastic squad, side by side with Falcao, Socrates, Eder, Cerezo and Junior. In spite of his 4 goals and the great amount of skill in that squad, the team was defeated 3-2 by Paolo Rossi and Italy in the final match of the second round group stage.  He played in the 1986 FIFA World Cup while still injured, and missed a penalty during regular time in the quarter-final match against France. The match ended in a tie which led to a shootout. Zico then scored his goal, but penalties missed by Socrates and Julio Cesar saw Brazil knocked out of the tournament.  Having been cleared of all the tax evasion charges by Italian officials in 1988, Zico decided to pay a tribute to Udine, the city that had madly welcomed him six years before, and played his farewell match for the Selecao in March 1989 losing 1-2 to a World All-Stars team at Stadio Friuli.

Q: What was his international career?
A: Brazil national football team

Q: Was he successful?
A: debut in the South American Qualifier to the 1972 Summer Olympics playing 5 matches and scoring the qualifying goal against Argentina.
Are there any other interesting aspects about this article?
Having been cleared of all the tax evasion charges by Italian officials in 1988,
Having been cleared of all the tax evasion charges by Italian officials in 1988,