The former captain of Brazil was taken to Albert Einstein Hospital late Friday after suffering food poisoning.

　　He passed way at 0630GMT on Sunday after being placed on a life support machine in septic shock.

　　A member of the 1982 Brazilian side which was widely-regarded as the finest team never to win a World Cup, Socrates was honored by the Brazilian Football Federation (CBF) as "one of the most brilliant players in the history of the Brazilian national side".

　　He helped Brazilian giants Corinthians win three Sao Paulo league title in 1980s, scoring 172 goals in 297 matches in six years.

　　Socrates, also a qualified doctor, recognized that he had problems with alcohol, especially during his playing days, after being hospitalized twice in last August and September.

　　His funeral is reported to be held later on Sunday in a private ceremony in the town of Ribeirao Preto, 300 kilometers outside Sao Paulo, where he began his playing career in 1974 for Botafogo.