Brazil is a country that boasts an impressive legacy in football. Its national team has consistently produced some of the most talented and skilled footballers in the world, who have made a name for themselves both on the local and international stage. These players, both past and present, have achieved legendary status in the sport, cementing their place in the history books.
Their tireless dedication and unwavering commitment to the national team and the football clubs they represented have earned them the respect and admiration of fans worldwide. It’s no surprise, therefore, that Brazil’s football culture is steeped in tradition, passion, and excellence.
Meet 10 Best Brazilian Soccer Players Of All Time
1. Pele
Edson Arantes do Nascimento, popularly known as Pelé, was a retired Brazilian professional soccer player who played as a forward. Born on October 23, 1940, in Três Corações, Minas Gerais, Brazil, Pelé is widely regarded as one of the greatest football players of all time.
Pelé’s illustrious career spanned over two decades, during which he played for Brazilian club Santos and the Brazilian national team. He won three FIFA World Cups with Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970 and was instrumental in leading Brazil to victory in all three tournaments.
In 1999, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History and Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century award. He was also elected Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee, further cementing his status as one of the greatest athletes of all time.
According to the IFFHS, Pelé is the most successful domestic league goal scorer in football history, scoring an incredible 650 goals in 694 league matches. In total, he scored 1281 goals in 1363 games, which is a Guinness World Record. During his playing days, Pelé was, for a period, the best-paid athlete in the world, a testament to his immense talent and popularity.
Pelé’s legacy continues to inspire generations of football players and fans worldwide, and his impact on the sport is immeasurable.
2. Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima is a retired professional footballer born on September 18, 1976. He is currently 48 years old. Ronaldo, also known as ‘O Fenomeno’, was a famous footballer who won his first FIFA World Player of the Year title at the age of 20 in 1996. He scored a total of 420 goals in his career, playing for Barcelona, Inter Milan, and Real Madrid. He won two World Cup Golden Boots and became the top scorer of the World Cup. However, injuries prevented him from achieving an even higher goal count.
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3. Garrincha
Manuel Francisco dos Santos was born with a crooked spine and uneven legs on October 28, 1933. Garrincha played as a right-winger and is considered to be among the greatest dribblers of all time. He earned the nickname Bent-Legged Angel because of how he used his deformity to fool defenders with his dazzling dribbles.
Garrincha was part of the 1958 Brazilian World Cup-winning team. And in 1962, when Pele couldn’t play because of an injury, Garrincha took the burden upon himself to deliver the World Cup. He became the first player to win the Golden Ball, the Golden Boot, and the World Cup in the same tournament. He died in 1983, and to immortalize him, the Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha in Brazil is named after him.
4. Ronaldinho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira was born in Porto Alegre, Brazil, on March 21, 1980, and is 45. He was an attacking midfielder in his playing days but could also be deployed as a forward or winger. Ronaldinho Gaucho, at the international level, played 97 matches for the Brazilian national team, scoring 33 goals and representing his country in two FIFA World Cups. He was an instrumental part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning team in Korea and Japan.
Ronaldinho was among the most entertaining footballers to grace the sport. With 50 goals in two seasons, the smiling magician helped Barcelona win the UEFA Champions League.
5. Kaka
Ricardo Iecson dos Santos Leite was born on April 22, 1982, in Gama, Federal District, Brazil. The retired 43-year-old was an elite attacking midfielder for both club and country. Kaka is among the few players to have won the FIFA World Cup, the UEFA Champions League, and the Ballon d’Or.
In 2003, he joined Serie A giants AC Milan, helping them win several titles, including the 2007 UEFA Champions League. He joined Real Madrid for a record fee of ₤67 million, which at the time was second to Zinedine Zidane’s ₤77.5 million.
6. Romario
Romario de Souza Faria was born in Rio de Janeiro on January 29, 1966, and is currently 59 years old. In his playing days, the former Brazilian star was a clinical finisher with superb ball control. Romario’s record of 55 goals in 70 Brazil caps is only behind Pele, Ronaldo, and Neymar in the all-time rankings.
Romário starred for Brazil in their 1994 FIFA World Cup success, receiving the FIFA Golden Ball as player of the tournament. He was named FIFA World Player of the Year the same year. At the club level, he also recorded a series of successes.
7. Zico
Born Arthur Antunes Coimbra on March 3, 1953, Zico is a 72-year-old former Brazilian player. Arguably the world’s best player of the late 1970s and early 80s, he is regarded as one of the best playmakers and free-kick specialists in history and was often referred to as the White Pele.
Zico is often considered one of the best players in football history not to have been on a World Cup-winning squad. Even though he didn’t attain national glory, he was able to compensate at the club level, scoring an astonishing 333 goals at the Maracana Stadium alone. He led Flamengo to four league titles, the Copa Libertadores, and the Club World Cup. In 1981, Flamengo humiliated Liverpool, defeating them 3-0.
8. Rivaldo
Former Brazilian forward and midfielder Rivaldo Vitor Barbosa Ferreira was born in Paulista, Brazil, on April 19, 1972. He is currently 53 years old. Despite being left-footed, he was lethal when positioned on either flank and was deployed several times as a winger. He scored arguably the greatest hat-trick ever against Valencia in 2001, which concluded with an overhead kick from the edge of the box.
Rivaldo played in 74 matches and scored 35 goals for Brazil. He helped Brazil reach the final of the 1998 FIFA World Cup and won the 1999 Copa América, where he was named player of the tournament. He won the Ballon d’Or and was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1999. In 2004, he was named by Pelé on the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players. He is an inductee into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame.
9. Socrates
Socrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira belongs to the pantheon of Brazil’s greatest footballers. He was born on February 19, 1954, in Belem, Para, and died on December 4, 2011, at the age of 57. He brought life to the stadium by playing as an attacking midfielder and making the no-look backheel pass his signature move. Because he had a degree in medicine, fans nicknamed him Doctor Socrates.
Socrates was named South American Footballer of the Year in 1983. He scored 22 goals while representing Brazil for seven years, played in two World Cups, and captained the team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup. He played for Botafogo-SP and Corinthians at club level before moving to Fiorentina in Italy and returning to Brazil in 1985 to end his career. In 2004, he was named one of the world’s greatest living players by Pelé on the FIFA 100 list.
10. Cafu (Marcos Evangelista de Morais)
Cafu, whose birth name is Marcos Evangelista de Morais, is a former Brazilian professional footballer. The retired defender was born on June 7, 1970, in Sao Paulo and is currently 54 years old. He made 142 appearances for Brazil’s national team, the Canarinha, and is regarded as the most-capped Brazilian player of all time. Cafu played for Brazil in four FIFA World Cups and won two of them. He also won the Copa América twice and the 1997 FIFA Confederations Cup. At the club level, he won many titles playing for São Paulo, Roma, and Milan.
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