10. Gilmar
![Image]()
Gilmar
GK
1951-1968
Corinthians, Santos
This may be the most controversial selection, but I feel it is very important that the keeper position have a representative and there is no one better to fill the slot.
Perhaps the most victorious keeper ever in Brazil, Gilmar was able to round up the following trophies during his years at Corinthians, Santos and the national squad:
Corinthians
Campeonato Paulista 1951,1952,1954
Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo 1953,1954
National team
FIFA World Cup 1958,1962
Santos
Campeonato Paulista 1962,1964,1965,1967,1968
Taca Brasil 1962,1963,1964,1965
Copa Libertadores 1962,1963
Intercontinental Cup 1962,1963
Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo 1963,1964,1966
9. Ronaldinho Gaucho
![Image]()
Ronaldinho Gaucho
MF
1998-present
Gremio, PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan
Perhaps the most exciting player to come out of Brazil since the year 2000, Ronaldinho is still one of a very few who can still bring in fans to stadiums world wide.
Participant of the previous two World Cups, Ronaldinho was not able to resurrect his game in time for a third trip with the Selecao. Still however he continues to excite millions all over the globe.
A winner everyone he went, perhaps his best days are behind him but he still has a long list of individual titles that are un-matched. Below are his team successes
Gremio
Campeonato Gaúcho: 1999
Copa Sul: 1999
PSG
Copa Intertoto da UEFA: 2001
Barcelona
La Liga 2004-2005,2005-2006
Supercopa de España 200,2006
Champions League 2006
Selecao
FIFA u-17 World Cup 1997
Copa America 1999
Confederations Cup 2005
FIFA World Cup 2002
8. Sócrates
![Image]()
Sócrates
Attacking MF
1974-1989
Corinthians, Fiorentina, Flamengo, Santos
The 1983 South American Footballer Of The Year is perhaps best described as a true renaissance man. In 1978 he said he would only come and play after attending med school mid career.
The center figure in a movement labeled Democracia Corintiana (Corinthians Democracy) in 1982, along with other teammates they began to vote on everything in the team, since at the time Brazil was still under military rule and the individual voice was always quieted. They voted on everything, who started, who took free kicks, who they signed, who they cut even and so on. Every member they said, from the players to the president had an equal vote.
A player on the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads, he is perhaps the best player to never win a world cup for Brazil.
Socrates is the central figure in one of the best quotes ever to come out of Brazil. After receiving an offer from a French club for his best player, the then president of Corinthians, Vicente Matheus, uttered the phrase "Sócrates é Invendável, inegciável e imprestável" in English, Socrates is un-sellable, un-negotiable and un-loanable.
7. Romario
![Image]()
Romario
Forward
1985-2009
Vasco, Flamengo, Fluminense, PSV, Barcelona, Valencia, Al-Sadd, Miami FC, Adelaide United, America-RJ
O Baixinho is perhaps one of the most controversial players to wear the Brazil jersey. Despite a career that spanned 24 years, Romario managed to stay three consecutive years at one club three times. A constant picture on the beaches and teams of Rio, Romario has managed to find his way across the globe with stops in Australia and even a shocking season playing for FC Miami in 2006.
Voted FIFA Player of The Year in 1994, he has won titles at Vasco, Flamengo, PSV & Barcelona. On his way to his goal of 1,000 goals he managed to rack up the "high scorer" award in the following seasons:
Campeonato Carioca 1986,1987,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000 & 2005
Holland 1989,1990,1991
Champions League 1993
La Liga 1994
Torneio Rio-São Paulo 1997,2000
6. Zico
![Image]()
Zico
MF
1971-1994
Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers
The absolute best player to ever wear the Flamengo shirt, Zico left a trail of titles in the Rio club. He was a member of the fabled great 1982 World Cup squad and was a free kick master. Able to use both left and right feet with excellence he is the epitome of a "10".
Perhaps the center figure of an absolutely ridiculous call in the 1978 World Cup, against Sweden, Zico headed a corner kick into the goal in the final minute of the match, apparently breaking a 1-1 tie. However, in a call that became infamous, the Welsh referee Clive Thomas disallowed the goal, saying that he had blown the whistle to end the match while the ball was still in the air.
He collected the following titles while at Flamengo, amongst others
Campeonato Carioca 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1979, 1981, 1986
Campeonato Brasileiro 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987
Copa Libertadores 1981
Intercontinental Cup 1981
5. Rivellino
![Image]()
Rivellino
MF/LW
1965-1981
Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal
Rivellino, and his wonderful mustache, found their way into Sao Paulo's biggest club Corinthians during the longest title drought the team faced. Participating in the Campeonato Paulist with Corinthians, he constantly ran into Santos and wonderboy Pele. In his ten attempts at the Paulista he came in second three times and only once did the team come in worst than fourth. Even with the lack of hardware, Rivellino is regarded as one of the biggest idols ever to wear a Corinthians shirt.
Scoring the first goal from a masterful left footed free kick for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup, Rivellino was an integral part on the way to the Tri.
Rivellino has also been credited with the invension of the "elástico" move, where with he pushes the ball one way and quickly brings it back the other way with the same foot, leaving defenders to run into their own legs in an attempt to stop it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMXn5hpxaxE is a great example
4. Nilton Santos
![Image]()
Nilton Santos
LB
1948-1964
Botafogo
Nilton Santos, a.k.a. the encyclopedia, is the most famous left back in Brazilian history. He played in a time where the fullback positions were simply an extension of the sweepers, he redeveloped what it ment to be a fullback. He was the originator of the style Roberto Carlos plays today, running up and being part of the attack, and better than RC, he managed to always return for his defensive duties.
A player during one of Brazil's worst soccer moments in the 1950 final, Nilton Santos was able to shake it off and help bring home the trophy in both 1958 & 1962. He is considered the greatest player in the history of Botafogo, even having a statue erected in front of the teams current stadium.
3. Ronaldo
![Image]()
Ronaldo
Forward
1993-Current
Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Internazionale, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Corinthians
Ronaldo, O Fenômeno, is perhaps this generations greatest talent. In a career filled with wonderful dribbles, unbeleavable goals and horrible injuries he has managed to shine brighter than most the last 15 years.
As a young 17-year-old, he watched from the bench in 1994 as teammates Romario & Bebeto helped to push Brazil back to the top of the soccer world.
Four years later he suffered the worst episode of his career just before the World Cup final versus France. Already the best player in the world at the time, the pressure may have been too much and thus hours before the game he had a "spell" in the team hotel. Descriptions vary but it is generally believed he had some sort of seizure, and it showed in his slugish, horrible play during the final.
Like a phoenix he rose from the bottom he was in in 1998 and perhaps helped by his unusual hair cut took his nation back to the promise land in 2002 capturing Brazil's fifth trophy.
With passages in the world's biggest clubs, Barca, Real, Inter and AC Milan, Ronaldo now belongs to Corinthians and its droves of "fiel" followers. Already a year and half into his return to Brazilian soccer, he has led Corinthians to both the 2009 Campeonato Paulista title, the first time a team has done it without losing a match in over 30 years and the 2009 Copa do Brasil.
Ronaldo's name was mentioned late in 2009 as a hopeful in Dunga's 2010 squad but recent form has quickly erased his name from the list. Regarded as one of the greatest strikers ever, Ronaldo holds the all time scoring record for the FIFA World Cup with 15 goals.
A bit more robust than before, Ronaldo is still a genius on the field.
2. Garrincha
![Image]()
Garrincha
RW
1953-1972
Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo
Known as "O Anjo das Pernas Tortas" or The Angel With Crooked Legs, Garrincha was a master dribler despite suffering from bow-leggedness. Even today he is considered the greatest dribbler in Brazil.
An integral part of the 1958 Cup winners he became the focus and center piece of the 1962 conquest in Chile after Pele was taken off due to injuries.
When both were healthy and in the line up, Brazil managed to remain undefeated through their careers. Absolutely one of the worlds greatest ever, there are those in Brazil who would actually place him ahead of Pele as the nations best ever.
1. Pele
![Image]()
Pele
Forward
1956-1977
Santos, NY Cosmos
No introduction needed here. Pele is absolutely, undeniably the best player ever. EVER.
As a boy in 1950 Brazil, Pele sat with his father at the kitchen table listening to the 1950 final where Brazil lost to Uruguay in Rio. Pele has said this is the only instance of his life where he saw his father, a man's man, cry. What was a nine year old supposed to do in this situation? Probably something we would all do, he told his father don’t cry, its ok. I will win a cup for you and Brazil.
And win he did. And once he started there was no stopping this skinny little man. As a 17-year-old he led Brazil to its first title over host Sweden, marking the only instance where a South American nation won a World Cup on European soil, something no European nation has been able to do (win on South American soil).
The highest scorer for the national team ever, Pele put in 95 goals in just 114 games. It is almost as if he only felt joy when he scored goals, leading him to score a total of 1,284 goals in his career.
He was the leading scorer in the Campeonato Paulista 11 times, being champion ten times (out of 15). He was also champion with Santos in the following tournaments:
Campeonato Paulista: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1973
Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1959, 1963, 1964, and 1966
Taça Brasil: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965
Copa Libertadores: 1962 and 1963
Intercontinental Cup: 1962 and 1963
In 1970 he became the first and only player ever to win three World Cups, along with 1958 and 1962.
For anyone who doubts the power of Pele perhaps this will help:
It was the year 1969 and his team, Santos, went on an exhibition tour of Africa. Upon landing in present day Congo, the team learned of the conflict that led Congo into a civil war and decided to cancel the games for safety concerns. Unwilling to miss the opportunity to see O Rei, the warring factions decided to declare a cease fire during Pele's visit, of course only if he and Santos played a game in a city on each side of the conflict. To this day, Pele is the only athlete who managed to singlehandedly stop a war.
By Andre Rojter
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/394837-the-best-of-the-best-top-10-brazil-players-ever#page/11
Gilmar
GK
1951-1968
Corinthians, Santos
This may be the most controversial selection, but I feel it is very important that the keeper position have a representative and there is no one better to fill the slot.
Perhaps the most victorious keeper ever in Brazil, Gilmar was able to round up the following trophies during his years at Corinthians, Santos and the national squad:
Corinthians
Campeonato Paulista 1951,1952,1954
Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo 1953,1954
National team
FIFA World Cup 1958,1962
Santos
Campeonato Paulista 1962,1964,1965,1967,1968
Taca Brasil 1962,1963,1964,1965
Copa Libertadores 1962,1963
Intercontinental Cup 1962,1963
Torneio Rio-Sao Paulo 1963,1964,1966
9. Ronaldinho Gaucho
Ronaldinho Gaucho
MF
1998-present
Gremio, PSG, Barcelona, AC Milan
Perhaps the most exciting player to come out of Brazil since the year 2000, Ronaldinho is still one of a very few who can still bring in fans to stadiums world wide.
Participant of the previous two World Cups, Ronaldinho was not able to resurrect his game in time for a third trip with the Selecao. Still however he continues to excite millions all over the globe.
A winner everyone he went, perhaps his best days are behind him but he still has a long list of individual titles that are un-matched. Below are his team successes
Gremio
Campeonato Gaúcho: 1999
Copa Sul: 1999
PSG
Copa Intertoto da UEFA: 2001
Barcelona
La Liga 2004-2005,2005-2006
Supercopa de España 200,2006
Champions League 2006
Selecao
FIFA u-17 World Cup 1997
Copa America 1999
Confederations Cup 2005
FIFA World Cup 2002
8. Sócrates
Sócrates
Attacking MF
1974-1989
Corinthians, Fiorentina, Flamengo, Santos
The 1983 South American Footballer Of The Year is perhaps best described as a true renaissance man. In 1978 he said he would only come and play after attending med school mid career.
The center figure in a movement labeled Democracia Corintiana (Corinthians Democracy) in 1982, along with other teammates they began to vote on everything in the team, since at the time Brazil was still under military rule and the individual voice was always quieted. They voted on everything, who started, who took free kicks, who they signed, who they cut even and so on. Every member they said, from the players to the president had an equal vote.
A player on the 1982 and 1986 World Cup squads, he is perhaps the best player to never win a world cup for Brazil.
Socrates is the central figure in one of the best quotes ever to come out of Brazil. After receiving an offer from a French club for his best player, the then president of Corinthians, Vicente Matheus, uttered the phrase "Sócrates é Invendável, inegciável e imprestável" in English, Socrates is un-sellable, un-negotiable and un-loanable.
7. Romario
Romario
Forward
1985-2009
Vasco, Flamengo, Fluminense, PSV, Barcelona, Valencia, Al-Sadd, Miami FC, Adelaide United, America-RJ
O Baixinho is perhaps one of the most controversial players to wear the Brazil jersey. Despite a career that spanned 24 years, Romario managed to stay three consecutive years at one club three times. A constant picture on the beaches and teams of Rio, Romario has managed to find his way across the globe with stops in Australia and even a shocking season playing for FC Miami in 2006.
Voted FIFA Player of The Year in 1994, he has won titles at Vasco, Flamengo, PSV & Barcelona. On his way to his goal of 1,000 goals he managed to rack up the "high scorer" award in the following seasons:
Campeonato Carioca 1986,1987,1996,1997,1998,1999,2000 & 2005
Holland 1989,1990,1991
Champions League 1993
La Liga 1994
Torneio Rio-São Paulo 1997,2000
6. Zico
Zico
MF
1971-1994
Flamengo, Udinese, Kashima Antlers
The absolute best player to ever wear the Flamengo shirt, Zico left a trail of titles in the Rio club. He was a member of the fabled great 1982 World Cup squad and was a free kick master. Able to use both left and right feet with excellence he is the epitome of a "10".
Perhaps the center figure of an absolutely ridiculous call in the 1978 World Cup, against Sweden, Zico headed a corner kick into the goal in the final minute of the match, apparently breaking a 1-1 tie. However, in a call that became infamous, the Welsh referee Clive Thomas disallowed the goal, saying that he had blown the whistle to end the match while the ball was still in the air.
He collected the following titles while at Flamengo, amongst others
Campeonato Carioca 1972, 1974, 1978, 1979, 1979, 1981, 1986
Campeonato Brasileiro 1980, 1982, 1983, 1987
Copa Libertadores 1981
Intercontinental Cup 1981
5. Rivellino
Rivellino
MF/LW
1965-1981
Corinthians, Fluminense, Al-Hilal
Rivellino, and his wonderful mustache, found their way into Sao Paulo's biggest club Corinthians during the longest title drought the team faced. Participating in the Campeonato Paulist with Corinthians, he constantly ran into Santos and wonderboy Pele. In his ten attempts at the Paulista he came in second three times and only once did the team come in worst than fourth. Even with the lack of hardware, Rivellino is regarded as one of the biggest idols ever to wear a Corinthians shirt.
Scoring the first goal from a masterful left footed free kick for Brazil in the 1970 World Cup, Rivellino was an integral part on the way to the Tri.
Rivellino has also been credited with the invension of the "elástico" move, where with he pushes the ball one way and quickly brings it back the other way with the same foot, leaving defenders to run into their own legs in an attempt to stop it.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SMXn5hpxaxE is a great example
4. Nilton Santos
Nilton Santos
LB
1948-1964
Botafogo
Nilton Santos, a.k.a. the encyclopedia, is the most famous left back in Brazilian history. He played in a time where the fullback positions were simply an extension of the sweepers, he redeveloped what it ment to be a fullback. He was the originator of the style Roberto Carlos plays today, running up and being part of the attack, and better than RC, he managed to always return for his defensive duties.
A player during one of Brazil's worst soccer moments in the 1950 final, Nilton Santos was able to shake it off and help bring home the trophy in both 1958 & 1962. He is considered the greatest player in the history of Botafogo, even having a statue erected in front of the teams current stadium.
3. Ronaldo
Ronaldo
Forward
1993-Current
Cruzeiro, PSV, Barcelona, Internazionale, Real Madrid, AC Milan, Corinthians
Ronaldo, O Fenômeno, is perhaps this generations greatest talent. In a career filled with wonderful dribbles, unbeleavable goals and horrible injuries he has managed to shine brighter than most the last 15 years.
As a young 17-year-old, he watched from the bench in 1994 as teammates Romario & Bebeto helped to push Brazil back to the top of the soccer world.
Four years later he suffered the worst episode of his career just before the World Cup final versus France. Already the best player in the world at the time, the pressure may have been too much and thus hours before the game he had a "spell" in the team hotel. Descriptions vary but it is generally believed he had some sort of seizure, and it showed in his slugish, horrible play during the final.
Like a phoenix he rose from the bottom he was in in 1998 and perhaps helped by his unusual hair cut took his nation back to the promise land in 2002 capturing Brazil's fifth trophy.
With passages in the world's biggest clubs, Barca, Real, Inter and AC Milan, Ronaldo now belongs to Corinthians and its droves of "fiel" followers. Already a year and half into his return to Brazilian soccer, he has led Corinthians to both the 2009 Campeonato Paulista title, the first time a team has done it without losing a match in over 30 years and the 2009 Copa do Brasil.
Ronaldo's name was mentioned late in 2009 as a hopeful in Dunga's 2010 squad but recent form has quickly erased his name from the list. Regarded as one of the greatest strikers ever, Ronaldo holds the all time scoring record for the FIFA World Cup with 15 goals.
A bit more robust than before, Ronaldo is still a genius on the field.
2. Garrincha
Garrincha
RW
1953-1972
Botafogo, Corinthians, Flamengo
Known as "O Anjo das Pernas Tortas" or The Angel With Crooked Legs, Garrincha was a master dribler despite suffering from bow-leggedness. Even today he is considered the greatest dribbler in Brazil.
An integral part of the 1958 Cup winners he became the focus and center piece of the 1962 conquest in Chile after Pele was taken off due to injuries.
When both were healthy and in the line up, Brazil managed to remain undefeated through their careers. Absolutely one of the worlds greatest ever, there are those in Brazil who would actually place him ahead of Pele as the nations best ever.
1. Pele
Pele
Forward
1956-1977
Santos, NY Cosmos
No introduction needed here. Pele is absolutely, undeniably the best player ever. EVER.
As a boy in 1950 Brazil, Pele sat with his father at the kitchen table listening to the 1950 final where Brazil lost to Uruguay in Rio. Pele has said this is the only instance of his life where he saw his father, a man's man, cry. What was a nine year old supposed to do in this situation? Probably something we would all do, he told his father don’t cry, its ok. I will win a cup for you and Brazil.
And win he did. And once he started there was no stopping this skinny little man. As a 17-year-old he led Brazil to its first title over host Sweden, marking the only instance where a South American nation won a World Cup on European soil, something no European nation has been able to do (win on South American soil).
The highest scorer for the national team ever, Pele put in 95 goals in just 114 games. It is almost as if he only felt joy when he scored goals, leading him to score a total of 1,284 goals in his career.
He was the leading scorer in the Campeonato Paulista 11 times, being champion ten times (out of 15). He was also champion with Santos in the following tournaments:
Campeonato Paulista: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1962, 1964, 1965, 1967, 1968, 1969 and 1973
Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1959, 1963, 1964, and 1966
Taça Brasil: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965
Copa Libertadores: 1962 and 1963
Intercontinental Cup: 1962 and 1963
In 1970 he became the first and only player ever to win three World Cups, along with 1958 and 1962.
For anyone who doubts the power of Pele perhaps this will help:
It was the year 1969 and his team, Santos, went on an exhibition tour of Africa. Upon landing in present day Congo, the team learned of the conflict that led Congo into a civil war and decided to cancel the games for safety concerns. Unwilling to miss the opportunity to see O Rei, the warring factions decided to declare a cease fire during Pele's visit, of course only if he and Santos played a game in a city on each side of the conflict. To this day, Pele is the only athlete who managed to singlehandedly stop a war.
By Andre Rojter
http://bleacherreport.com/articles/394837-the-best-of-the-best-top-10-brazil-players-ever#page/11
