Founded by a group of students in 1909, Atletico Mineiro won the inaugural edition of the Campeonato Mineirao in 1915. At the time, football in Brazil was exclusive to upper class, white society, played behind the locked doors of expensive social clubs. Atletico Mineiro was one of the only clubs in the country to open their doors to players from any social class, nationality or ethnicity, earning it the reputation of being a “people’s club”.

 

It’s unbeknownst to most people, but between 1927 and 1931, the club from Belo Horizonte in Brazil had perhaps the most dangerous forward line the world has ever seen. This strike force was known as Trio Maldito – The Unholy Trio. The trio comprised of three academics, two studying medicine and one studying law, who continually delayed their degrees in favour of football. Obviously, their priorities were in the right place. Of the three, Mario de Castro is the best known due to having possiboy the highest goals to game ratio in all of football, but the story of the Trio Maltido is virtually unknown outside of Brazil. 

As youngsters, all three of them displayed exceptional promise in the academic realm, and their parents were keen on them attending university and obtaining respectable, well paid occupations. Castro was raised by his four siblings and his mother, who took a particularly hard line on his love of football. She banned him from even playing the sport just in case he might one day pursue football instead of more solid career. To counteract this, Castro played under a fake name to ensure that his mum would never knowingly hear or read about his football exploits on the radio or in newspapers. In the footballing world therefore, Castro was known simply as “Oriam”, basically the reverse of his first name, Mario. On his debut for Atletico, he scored a hat-trick in a win that saw the club claim the 1926 state championship. Additional titles came in 1927 and 1931, with “Oriam” finishing as top scorer in 1926 and 1927. Incidentally, Castro was the first player from outside Rio or Sao Paolo to be called up to the national team. He was invited to play in the 1930 World Cup but refused when he found out he would be second choice striker. 

The other players in the trio were Jairo de Assis Almeida and Said Paul Arges – both also exceptional footballers. Said was meant to finish his law degree in 1932, but was no engrossed in his football that it took him until 1942. A right winger, he played for the team from 1926 to 1932 and again in 1934, scoring 142 goals. He didn’t even end up putting his law degree to work but ended up employed as a TV director instead. 

Then there was Jairo – supremely fit, he divided his time between studying medicine, football and working out in the gym.  He scored 122 goals for Atletico before leaving in 1933. 

All three of these players retired before the age of 30, but it’s Castro’s story that’s the saddest. He hung up his boots at 26, even though he was the most prolific striker in Brazil. In the last game of the season, Atletico needed a win to earn another Mineiro Championship, but at half time they found themselves 3-0 down. Miraculously, Castro scored four times in the second half to produce a 4-3 victory and to claim the championship for Atletico. Unfortunately, in the aftermath of the game, celebrations got out of hand and one of Atletico’s directors shot and killed a supporter of their opponents, Villa Nova. Castro was outraged and shocked by this incident, and refused to play football ever again. Castro said, “Football is meant to end violence, not cause it.” By this time, he had scored 195 goals in 100 games, giving him a goal ratio of 1.95, claimed to be the most clinical in football’s history. After retiring, he practiced medicine in Belo Horizonte for 22 years.

 

Despite his footballing story ending in tragedy, Castro and the Trio Maltido remain legends of the Brazilian game. All together, the trio scored an unbelievable 467 goals in 99 games. The club went on to win two more state titles in the early 1930’s, before turning professional in 1933.