famous soccer players from brazil
Famous Soccer Players from Brazil
With the most World Cup triumphs, Brazil is one of the most successful soccer playing nations in the world. Obviously, it has a history of many greats who mesmerized fans all over with their amazing skills. Let's have a look at the most famous Brazilian soccer players of all time.
Brazil is the only country to have played in each and every edition of the FIFA World Cup.
Soccer is most popular game in the world. But, it is next to impossible to talk about this game without the mention of Brazil (Brasil). Brazilians eat, breathe, and live soccer. They are the only country to have won the FIFA World Cup in 4 different continents. The popularity of the game here can be judged from the fact that, Brazil have given the world so many great players over the decades, who are idols to millions of fans the world over. The game in this country is governed by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF).
Brazil has churned out world-class players year after year for decades. Their flamboyant style of play makes them a treat to watch. Without further delay, let's check out who have been the most famous soccer players from Brazil over the years.
Pelé: The Best Ever
Before we move on to other famous soccer plays from Brazil, Pelé needs a special mention. He is considered by most experts, critics, players, and fans to be the best football player the world has ever seen. Pelé, or Edson Arantes do Nascimento, was born in 1940, and began to play serious soccer at the age of 15. In no time, he found himself making it into the national team at the young age of 16. He made his first World Cup appearance at 17, and made his country proud by winning the World Cup. He played as an inside forward, striker, and also as a playmaker. Pele had his own unique technique and natural athleticism, that was universally praised by one and all. He was famous for his excellent dribbling and passing, his pace, powerful shots, and not to forget prolific goal scoring capabilities. He has been the all time leading scorer for the national team of Brazil, and is also the only football player who has been a part of three World Cup winning squads. He holds the Guinness World Record for the most career goals in football―1,281 in 1,363 games (including friendlies and tour games).
Pelé
Born: October 21, 1940
Position: Attacking Midfielder, Forward
Clubs
Santos (1956 - 1974)
New York Cosmos (1975 - 1977)
National Team
Brazil (1957 - 1971)
Ronaldo
Born: September 18, 1976
Position: Striker
Clubs
Cruzeiro (1993 - 1994)
PSV (1994 - 1996)
Barcelona (1996 - 1997)
Inter Milan (1997 - 2002)
Real Madrid (2002 - 2007)
AC Milan (2007 - 2008)
Corinthians (2009 - 2011)
National Team
U17 (1993)
U23 (1996)
Brazil (1994 - 2011)
Ronaldinho
Born: March 21, 1980
Position: Attacking Midfielder, Forward
Clubs
Grêmio (1998 - 2001)
Paris Saint-Germain (2001 - 2003)
Barcelona (2003 - 2008)
Milan (2008 - 2010)
Flamengo (2010 - 2012)
Atlético Mineiro (2012 - present)
National Team
U17 (1996)
U20 (1999)
U23 (1999 - 2005)
Brazil (1999 - present)
Roberto Carlos
Born: April 10, 1973
Position: Left Back
Clubs
União São João (1991 - 1993)
Palmeiras (1993 - 1995)
Internazionale (1995 - 1996)
Real Madrid (1996 - 2007)
Fenerbahçe (2007 - 2009)
Corinthians (2010 - 2011)
Anzhi Makhachkala (2011 - 2012)
National Team
Brazil (1992 - 2006)
Romário
Born: January 29, 1966
Position: Striker
Clubs
Vasco da Gama (1985 - 1988)
PSV (1988 - 1993)
Barcelona (1993 - 1995)
Flamengo (1995 - 1996)
Valencia (1996 - 1998)
Flamengo (1997 - 1999)
Vasco da Gama (2000 - 2002)
Fluminense (2002 - 2004)
Al-Sadd (2003)
Vasco da Gama (2005 - 2006)
Miami (2006)
Adelaide United (2006)
Vasco da Gama (2007)
America-RJ (2009)
National Team
Brazil (1987 - 2005)
Zico
Born: March 3, 1953
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Clubs
Flamengo (1971 - 1983)
Udinese (1983 - 1985)
Flamengo (1985 - 1989)
Kashima Antlers (1991 - 1994)
National Team
Brazil (1976 - 1986)
Kaká
Born: April 22, 1982
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Clubs
São Paulo (2001 - 2003)
Milan (2003 - 2009)
Real Madrid (2009 - 2013)
Milan (2013 - present)
National Team
U20 (2001)
Brazil (2002 - present)
Cafu
Born: June 7, 1970
Position: Right Back
Clubs
São Paulo (1990 - 1994)
Real Zaragoza (1994 - 1995)
Juventude (1995)
Palmeiras (1996 - 1997)
Roma (1997 - 2003)
Milan (2003 - 2008)
National Team
Brazil (1990 - 2006)
Falcão
Born: October 16, 1953
Position: Central Midfielder
Clubs
Internacional (1972 - 1980)
Roma (1980 - 1985)
São Paulo (1985 - 1986)
National Team
Brazil (1976 - 1986)
Sócrates
Born: February 19, 1954
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Clubs
Botafogo-SP (1974 - 1978)
Corinthians (1978 - 1984)
Fiorentina (1984 - 1985)
Flamengo (1986 - 1987)
Santos (1988 - 1989)
Botafogo-SP (1989)
Garforth Town (2004)
National Team
Brazil (1979 - 1986)
Júnior
Born: June 29, 1954
Position: Left Back, Midfielder
Clubs
Flamengo (1974 - 1984)
Torino (1984 - 1987)
Pescara (1987 - 1989)
Flamengo (1989 - 1993)
National Team
Brazil (1979 - 1992)
Roberto Rivellino
Born: January 1, 1946
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Clubs
Corinthians (1965 - 1973)
Fluminense (1973 - 1978)
Al-Hilal (1979 - 1981)
National Team
Brazil (1965 - 1978)
Nilton Santos
Lived: May 16, 1925 - November 27, 2013
Position: Left Back
Clubs
Botafogo (1948 - 1964)
National Team
Brazil (1949 - 1962)
Garrincha
Lived: October 28, 1933 - January 20, 1983
Position: Winger
Clubs
Botafogo (1953 - 1965)
Corinthians (1966)
Portuguesa Carioca (1967)
Atlético Junior (1968)
Flamengo (1968 - 1969)
Olaria (1972)
National Team
Brazil (1955 - 1966)
Gérson
Born: January 11, 1941
Position: Midfielder
Clubs
Flamengo (1959 - 1963)
Botafogo (1963 - 1969)
São Paulo (1969 - 1972)
Fluminense (1972 - 1974)
National Team
Brazil (1961 - 1972)
Rivaldo
Born: April 19, 1972
Position: Attacking Midfielder
Clubs
Santa Cruz (1991 - 1992)
Mogi Mirim (1992 - 1994)
Corinthians (1993 - 1994)
Palmeiras (1994 - 1996)
Deportivo La Coruña (1996 - 1997)
Barcelona (1997 - 2002)
Milan (2002 - 2004)
Cruzeiro (2004)
Olympiacos (2004 - 2007)
AEK Athens (2007 - 2008)
Bunyodkor (2008 - 2010)
Mogi Mirim (2010 - 2011)
São Paulo (2011)
Kabuscorp (2012)
São Caetano (2013)
Mogi Mirim (2014)
National Team
U20 (1992 - 1993)
U23 (1996)
Brazil (1993 - 2003)
Careca
Born: October 5, 1960
Position: Striker
Clubs
Guarani (1976 - 1982)
São Paulo (1983 - 1987)
Napoli (1987 - 1993)
Kashiwa Reysol (1993 - 1996)
Santos (1997)
Campinas (1998)
São José (1999)
National Team
Brazil (1982 - 1993)
Carlos Alberto Torres
Born: July 17, 1944
Position: Right Back
Clubs
Fluminense (1963 - 1966)
Santos (1966 - 1974)
Fluminense (1974 - 1977)
Flamengo (1977)
New York Cosmos (1977 - 1980)
California Surf (1981)
New York Cosmos (1982)
National Team
Brazil (1964 - 1977)
Jairzinho
Born: December 25, 1944
Position: Winger
Clubs
Botafogo (1959 - 1974)
Olympique de Marseille (1974 - 1975)
Kaizer Chiefs (1975)
Cruzeiro (1976)
Portuguesa (1977)
Noroeste (1978 - 1979)
Fast Club (1979)
Jorge Wilstermann (1980 - 1981)
Botafogo (1981 - 1982)
9 de Octubre (1982)
National Team
Brazil (1964 - 1982)
Didi
Lived: October 8, 1928 - May 12, 2001
Position: Central Midfielder
Clubs
Americano (1946)
Lençoense (1946 - 1948)
Madureira (1948 - 1949)
Fluminense (1949 - 1956)
Botafogo (1957 - 1959)
Real Madrid (1959 - 1960)
Botafogo (1960 - 1962)
Sporting Cristal (1963)
São Paulo (1964)
Botafogo (1964 - 1965)
CD Veracruz (1965 - 1966)
São Paulo (1966)
National Team
Brazil (1952 - 1962)
Tostão
Born: January 25, 1947
Position: Forward
Clubs
América (1962 - 1963)
Cruzeiro (1964 - 1971)
Vasco da Gama (1972 - 1973)
National Team
Brazil (1966 - 1972)
Leônidas da Silva
Lived: September 6, 1913 - January 24, 2004
Position: Center Forward
Clubs
São Cristóvão (1929)
Sírio e Libanês (1929 - 1930)
Bonsucesso (1931 - 1932)
Peñarol (1933)
Vasco da Gama (1934)
Botafogo (1935 - 1936)
Flamengo (1936 - 1942)
São Paulo (1943 - 1950)
National Team
Brazil (1932 - 1946)
Heleno de Freitas
Lived: February 12, 1920 - November 8, 1959
Position: Striker
Clubs
Botafogo (1939 - 1948)
Boca Juniors (1948)
Vasco (1949 - 1950)
Atlético Junior (1950)
América (1951)
National Team
Brazil (1942 - 1950)
Neymar
Born: February 5, 1992
Position: Forward, Winger
Clubs
Santos (2009 - 2013)
Barcelona (2013 - present)
National Team
U17 (2009)
U20 (2011)
U23 (2012)
Brazil (2010 - present)
Fio Maravilha
Jonathas de Jesus
Bebeto
Júlio César da Silva
Dino Sani
Ederson Tormena
Hermínio de Brito
David Luiz
Fernando Prass
Marcelo Saragosa
Gilberto Flores
Gustavo Nery
Jair da Rosa Pinto
Zito
Alexandre Gallo
Cristian Chagas Tarouco
Leônidas da Silva
Luiz Adriano
Ademir
Edu Marangon
Nininho
Paulo Isidoro
André Luiz Moreira
Alex da Silva
Álvaro Lopes Cançado
Josimar
Djalma Santos
Eduardo Antunes Coimbra
Marcelinho Paulista
Mauro Ramos
Abel Braga
Ederson Alves Ribeiro Silva
Jorge Luis da Silva Brum
Leandro Teixeira Dantas
Neto
Ayres Cerqueira Simao
Alexandre D'Acol Joaquim
Oscar
Muller Santos da Silva
Gilmar
Pamplona
João dos Santos