Barbosa is mainly associated with Brazil's defeat against underdogs Uruguay in the decisive match of the 1950 FIFA World Cup, an upset dubbed the Maracanazo.

At club level, Barbosa had his greatest successes with Rio de Janeiro side CR Vasco da Gama.

[2] Thirty years later, the president of the Brazilian Football Confederation, Ricardo Teixeira, did not allow him to be a commentator for the broadcast of an international match.

A Brazilian short film named Barbosa, premiered in 1988, in which a 49-year-old man (played by Antônio Fagundes) travels back in time trying to prevent Ghiggia's goal.

Racing Club (both Argentina) ²) with CR Vasco da Gama, Millonarios (Bogotá) and CSD Colo-Colo (Santiago)