Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, or just Sócrates, a player famous for his time with Corinthians and the Brazilian national team, will be honored in memoriam this Friday (12) at the Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo (Alesp). Sócrates, represented by family members, will receive the Necklace of Honor for Legislative Merit, being recognized as one of the greatest idols in the history of Brazilian football, as well as one of the main leaders of Corinthian Democracy. Related news: Ballon d'Or will have an award in honor of former player Sócrates. Caminhos da Reportagem remembers the 40th anniversary of the Diretas Já! . The Necklace of Honor is the highest decoration granted by Alesp to personalities who have provided relevant services to the state of São Paulo and Brazilian society. Sócrates, also called Doctor Sócrates, due to his training in medicine, was introduced to football by Botafogo, a team from Ribeirão Preto (SP), where he started in the youth categories in the early 1970s. He played for the team from the interior of São Paulo between 1973 and 1977. His excellent football, intelligence and great performances in midfield aroused the interest of Corinthians, who signed him in 1978. Sócrates quickly stood out in the team from the capital of São Paulo and also became one of the leaders of the squad. With Corinthians, the athlete won the São Paulo championship in 1979, 1982 and 1983. He played for Timão until 1984, when he transferred to Fiorentina, in Italy.   1982 Brazilian team: Sócrates (bearded) crouched, flanked by Toninho Cerezo, Serginho and Zico - CBF Archive The player also played in two World Cups for the Brazilian team, in 1982 and 1986, when he was captain of the national team. Sócrates' great recognition in the world of football does not come only because he was a highly talented athlete, standing out for his backheel passes, one of the hallmarks of his playing style. His political activities are also always well remembered. Corinthian Democracy Sócrates was one of the leaders of the so-called Corinthian Democracy, a political movement of players that lasted from 1982 to 1984, a period in which the country lived under military dictatorship. During the Corinthian Democracy, athletes ended mandatory concentration before matches and all internal decisions – such as hiring, training and awards – were made by the athletes. Along with other Corinthians players such as Casagrande and Vladimir, Sócrates also took to the streets to participate in demonstrations for direct elections, which had been abolished by the dictatorship. Direct Now   Direct Now - DCS Collection - Apesp Between 1983 and 1984, the athlete was at several Diretas Já rallies alongside politicians such as Lula, Ulysses Guimarães, Mario Covas, Fernando Henrique Cardoso, among others. Born on February 19, 1954, in Belém, Pará, Sócrates died on December 4, 2011, at the age of 57. The player's relatives receive the Necklace of Honor this Friday, at Alesp, at 6pm.