In addition he was a football genius. Languid, lithe, feline and quick he was part of the arguably best ever Brazilian team of 1982-86. He didn't play footballs so much as tame them and then unleash them. His goals in the 1982 finals - in a team that also included Zico and Edhino - were magnificent and he was the star player and the leader. Balls dipped and swerved around the pitch from his foot and then he would burst past an opponent with a flick or feint that was too quick to watch never mind defend against.
He even turned out for Garforth Town, a small club on the outskirts of Leeds, for one match just to help out his friend Simon Clifford in 2004 when the club were struggling financially. He was 50 and allegedly smoked a couple of fags at half time but mesmerised the opposition.
Socrates was better to watch than Pele. In a team seemingly composed almost entirely of midfield players he still stood out as the most creative and exciting Brazilian ever - and a die hard Socialist.
Salute comrade and rest in peace http://www.guardian.co.uk/football/2011/dec/04/socrates