The 5 Greatest Brazilian Footballers of All Time
The 5 Greatest Footballers to Play For Brazil
Brazil lives and breathes football - and Brazilian footballers are idolised and worshipped by fans across the world.
But who are the greatest Brazilian footballers of all time? The Sporting Blog ranks the top 5!
Ronaldo Nazário, one of the greatest Brazilian footballers
Brazil has produced countless talented and skilful players over the years. From Pelé to Garrincha, this land has a rich, truly unbelievable history in world football. All of these players are responsible for the beauty of Brazilian football.
Brazil’s World Cup team in 1970 is still considered one of the greatest football sides of all time, as well as their 1958 and 1982 teams. World Cup-winning endeavours in 1994 and 2002 also contributed to Brazil’s historic football excellence.
But, where do Brazil’s top football talents rank on The Sporting Blog? Let’s take a look at the 5 greatest footballers in Brazil's history.
1. Pelé
He was the youngest player to feature in a World Cup final (1958)
He played for Santos FC, New York Cosmos and Brazil's national team
He scored 77 goals in 92 international matches for Brazil
Pelé was a legend, an artist and a master of play. Nelson Mandela once said:
“To watch him play was to watch the delight of a child combined with the extraordinary grace of a man in full.”
Arguments about the greatest footballer of all time will go on forever. Yet, in a fair comparison with other players, we can say without any doubt that Pelé was the most iconic player that football ever witnessed. He was an encyclopedia of skill, speed and creativity in football.
At the tender age of 17, Pelé became the youngest player to feature in a World Cup final in 1958 in Sweden. He played an integral role in Brazil’s victory, scoring two goals in the finale versus Sweden, including an iconic header in stoppage time.
Pelé had the aura, tenacity and speed to beat players one-on-one, and his vision and play have been praised by all those who partnered with him. His prowess and agility in the air were legendary, and of course, there can be no debate over his ability to finish, as seen by his goal record.
The legendary Pelé represented Santos FC, New York Cosmos and Brazil's national team, one of the most successful national teams of all time. The number of goals Pelé scored over his whole career is up for debate, but he scored 77 goals in 92 international matches for his country.
2. Garrincha
Nicknamed “Joy of the People”
He was elected Player of the Tournament in the 1962 World Cup in Chile
He scored 12 goals in 50 official international appearances for Brazil
Garrincha was one of the most sumptuously skilful footballers of the 20th century. Famous for his meticulous plays, he was the greatest dribbler the game has ever seen.
Djalma Santos, Garrincha’s teammate, said:
"He had a childish spirit. Garrincha was football's answer to Charlie Chaplin.”
Referred to as “Joy of the People”, Garrincha became a star all over Brazil. With his tricks and feints, he entertained adoring fans. He had a bent right leg following surgery to fix physical deformities since his birth, but it didn’t impact his ability to run at speed and play football.
His skills were noticed globally, with Garrincha voted into the Team of the Tournament at the 1958 World Cup, before being elected Player of the Tournament in the 1962 World Cup in Chile. And Brazil won both competitions, too!
An explosive, agile and diminutive right winger, Garrincha was a gifted talent. Welsh defender Mel Hopkins, who faced Garrincha in the 1958 World Cup, said:
"Garrincha was more of a danger than Pelé I believe at the time, a phenomenon, capable of sheer magic.”
Garrincha, the creative master, played most of his football with Botafogo Club and Brazil's national team. He scored 12 goals in 50 international appearances.
3. Zico
He helped Flamengo win the Copa Libertadores in 1981
He netted four goals in five appearances at the 1982 World Cup
He scored 48 goals in 71 official appearances for Brazil
Another star of the esteemed 80s era, Zico was earning praise in Brazil's capital with Flamengo Club from an early age. After dominating his small stature in his early days as a young player, he helped Flamengo win the Copa Libertadores in 1981, going on to win multiple championships in Brazil and South America.
Developing a crucial partnership with Socrates and others in the midfield, Zico was a combination of multiple South American attributes:
Passing with vision
Showing smooth skills on the ball
Elegant control coupled with a genuine pace
Zico was famous for his skills and finishing, and he was also a set-piece maestro. It was his flamboyant vision, though, that set him apart from his rivals.
Selected into the Seleção in 1976, Zico was a backup to Mendonça for a starting role at the 1978 World Cup. However, in 1982, he was installed in the midfield as the central playmaker. While Brazil's unforgettable journey in 1982 finished in desperation, Zico netted four goals in five appearances and was named to the FIFA All-Star Team of the Tournament.
Despite participating in three World Cups, Zico failed to win the most celebrated tournament, and for this, he is considered one of the greatest footballers who fell short of winning the World Cup.
Zico played most of his football with Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers and Brazil's national team. He scored 48 goals in 71 official appearances for Brazil.
4. Romário
He scored 55 goals in 70 official caps for Brazil
He helped Brazil achieve their fourth World Cup victory
He bagged over 700 goals during his career
In the football world, few players dominated the mastery of goal scoring quite like Romário, making him one of the top 10 goal scorers in football history. Romário was a clinical and ice-cool scorer who acquired superb ball control. His performances for the Seleção during the 90s really were remarkable!
However, due to injury and discipline issues, Romário only participated in two World Cups: one in 1990 as a reserve player and a second in 1994 as Brazil's main attacker.
He scored five goals during Brazil's booming endeavour in the United States, helping his country win their fourth World Cup. Romário went on to win the Golden Ball as the tournament’s best player.
Romário also achieved major success at European clubs, helping PSV Eindhoven win the Eredivisie in 1989, 1991 and 1992, before evolving into a key performer of Johan Cruyff's ‘Dream Team' at FC Barcelona in the 1993-94 season.
Cruyff praised Romário:
"The best player I have coached? It has to be Romário. You could expect anything from him. His technique was extraordinary."
Romário was a genius in the penalty area. He bagged over 700 careers during his career. A versatile player to be remembered.
5. Ronaldo Nazário
He claimed his first FIFA World Player of the Year title at age 20
He helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup victory in 2002
He scored 62 goals in 98 international caps for Brazil
Ronaldo Nazário, nicknamed “O Fenômeno”, didn’t take much time to make his reputation known around the globe. The one truly potent striker of football in the late 90s, Ronaldo was one of the most destructive finishers Brazil has ever produced.
A flawless and immaculate centre forward, Ronaldo claimed his first FIFA World Player of the Year title at the very young age of 20 in 1996, making him the youngest winner of the award. He later became the World Cup’s second-highest scorer, with 15 goals.
A big moment arrived in 2002, when Ronaldo returned to football after an injury. He scored an incredible eight goals at the World Cup and guaranteed a fifth trophy for Brazil. He then went on to claim his second Ballon d’Or, having won his first in 1997.
The Brazilian spent the majority of his time in Spain and Italy playing for derby rivals in both leagues. He tallied 280 goals in 384 matches for Cruzeiro EC, PSV, FC Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid, AC Milan and Corinthians between 1993 and 2011.
Rob Smyth from The Guardian once said:
"There were two Ronaldos: the one that returned after long-term injury in 2002 was a great goalscorer, but the 1990s version was a great everything. At his fearsome peak for PSV, Barcelona and Inter Milan he was arguably the most dangerous striker the world has ever witnessed."
Do you agree with our picks? Have we missed anyone off our list? Tell us in the comments!
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