Amaral (footballer, born 1954)

João Justino Amaral dos Santos (25 December 1954 – 31 May 2024), best known as Amaral or Amaral II, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a defender.

Career
At club level he played for Guarani (1971–1978), Corinthians (1978–1981), Santos (1981–1982), in Mexico with Leones Negros de la Universidad de Guadalajara (1981–1985), and closed his career in 1987 with Blumenau.

Amaral won one Campeonato Paulista (1979) with Corinthians and one Mexican First Division (1983–84) with Club América.

At international level, he was capped 41 times by the Brazil national team, from August 1975 to June 1980, and with them he won the Bicentennial Tournament in 1976 and participated in seven games at the 1978 FIFA World Cup, where the team finished third.

Death
On 31 May 2024, Amaral died from cancer in São Paulo, at the age of 69.

Honours
Corinthans
 * Campeonato Paulista: 1979

América
 * Liga MX: 1983–84

Brazil
 * USA Bicentennial Cup: 1976
 * Taça do Atlântico: 1976
 * Copa Rio Branco: 1976
 * Copa Roca: 1976