Zagallo inheritance fight draws Netflix contract scrutiny

Former Brazil national team star Mário Jorge Lobo Zagallo, who died in January 2024, is at the centre of a family inheritance dispute. His youngest son, Mario César Zagallo, was named in the will to receive 62.5% of the estate, while the other three children each receive 12.5%. Two of the daughters have challenged the allocation, prompting the Rio de Janeiro court to order the family to present the details of the inheritance and to summon Netflix to disclose the contracts for the series "Brasil 70: A saga do Tri," in which Zagallo is portrayed by actor Bruno Mazzeo.

The court’s order also seeks clarification of the financial situation: the estate’s assets total about R$205,000, but outstanding debts from two labor lawsuits exceed R$465,000. The legal battle, which has lasted for years, now includes scrutiny of the media agreements tied to the streaming platform’s miniseries about the 1970 World Cup triumph.