Walking the length and breadth of Rio

Panoramic: Christ the Redeemer overlooking Rio De Janeiro.

All eyes are on Brazil, especially after last weekend’s World Cup draw. This writer walks the streets, beaches, mountains and favelas of Rio de Janeiro – and bumps into a football legend along the way.

I’D spent all day walking in the heat and humidity of Rio, and my first beer didn’t touch the sides. I was about to dispatch my second when a greying, pot-bellied man appeared next to me at the bar. I froze. He no longer looked anything like the powerful Brazilian striker who had torn defences to shreds in the 1970 World Cup, one of the stars of the greatest football team of all time. But there was little doubt who he was.