João Batista da Silva

João Batista da Silva, best known as "Batista" (born in Porto Alegre, March 8, 1955) is a former Brazilian football (soccer) player in defensive midfielder role.

For the Brazil national football team he won 38 international caps from April 1978 to June 1983, but did not score a goal. He played also in two editions of the FIFA World Cup, in 1978 and 1982. In the 1978 tournament, Batista played throughout all seven of Brazil’s matches, with the team not losing a single match, and only conceding three goals. Brazil failed to qualify for the final on goal difference. In 1982, Batista was a reserve. He played once as a substitue for Zico, coming on in the final minutes against Argentina. Famously, Diego Maradona was sent off for his foul on Batista as his team were about to be knocked out of the competition.

Clubs

* Internacional: 1975-1981.
* Grêmio: 1982.
* Palmeiras: 1983.
* Lazio: 1983 - 1985.
* Avellino: 1985.
* Belenenses: 1985 - 1987.
* Avaí: 1988 - 1989.

Honours

* Campeonato Gaúcho: Four time (1975, 1976, 1978 and 1981)
* Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: (1975, 1976 and 1979)
* Campeonato Catarinense: 1988.