Tato played for Fluminense between 1983 and 1988, in one of the club’s most successful periodsDisclosure
Published 01/27/2026 09:55 | Updated 01/27/2026 10:08
Fluminense idol Tato has died. The club released the news on social media this Tuesday morning (27), and offered solidarity to the family, in addition to praising the 64-year-old former player, Brazilian champion in 1984 and three-time Rio champion in 1983, 1984 and 1985.
“All our strength and solidarity with friends, family and all the fans and admirers of our idol at this very difficult time. Tato is forever marked in the history of Fluminense Football Club”, says the note.
It is with great sadness that we receive the news of the death of the idol Tato, Brazilian champion in 1984 and three-time Rio champion in 1983, 84 and 85.
Carlos Alberto Araújo Prestes arrived at Fluminense in 1983, at the age of 22, and quickly identified with the three colors. Fundamental part of… pic.twitter.com/tHOWUaEere
— Fluminense FC (@FluminenseFC) January 27, 2026
Tato was the nickname of Carlos Alberto Araújo Prestes, who was signed in 1983 with Goiâniaafter stints at Internacional and Coritiba. He was 22 years old and became one of the great names of the victorious generation of the 80s.
Tato’s career until Fluminense
With him in the team, Fluminense also won the Seoul Tournament, the Paris Tournament and the Kirin Cup. In total, the left-winger competed 236 matches with the tricolor shirt and scored 17 goals.
Left-handed and dribbler, Tato used to go forward to beat the opponent and then go to the baseline to cross into the box. But he also cut to the middle to try to finish.
In the historic 1984 Brazilian campaign, Tato scored a goal in the semi-final against Corinthians. “One of the most important goals of my career ended up coming with my right leg. One of the few I didn’t score left-handed,” he said in 2020 in an interview with Flu TV.
“I always had to look good because I knew someone could take my position. So I worked hard in training. But the group was sensational. Of course, each one wanted to be a starter, but it was a healthy fight for space”, he revealed.
Champion also for Vasco
After leaving Fluminense in 1988, Tato had a brief spell at Elche, in Spain, and then went to Vasco de Gama, where he was Brazilian champion in 1989, leaving in 1990. He also played for Sport, Santos and returned to Coritiba to end his career in 1992.
He has three matches for the Brazilian team.
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