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?

footballer Ronaldo playing on the pitch — Ronaldo Nazario, one of the greatest Brazilian footballers

Brazil has produced countless talented and skilful players since the start of time. 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 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 football excellence.

But, where do these Brazilian stars rank on The Sporting Blog? Let’s take a look at the top 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 683 goals and made 369 assists in 739 appearances

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 football ever witnessed.

Pelé 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 scored six goals in that event, including a semi-final hat-trick and a brace in the finale versus Sweden.

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. He scored 683 goals and made 369 assists in 739 appearances at both club and international levels.

2. Garrincha

Nicknamed “Joy of the People”
He was elected Player of the Tournament in the 1962 World Cup in Chile
He scored nearly 135 goals and made 92 assists in around 350 appearances

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 - and Garrincha was referred to as "Joy of the People.”

Djalma Santos, Garrincha’s teammate, said:

"He had a childish spirit. Garrincha was football's answer to Charlie Chaplin.”

He became a spotlight 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 did not impact his ability to run at speed and play football.

His skills were noticed globally, with Garrincha voted into 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, has played most of his football with Botafogo Club and Brazil's national team.

He scored nearly 135 goals and made 92 assists in around 350 appearances at both club and international levels.

3. Zico

He helped Flamengo win the Copa Libertadores in 1971
He netted four goals in five appearances at the 1982 World Cup
He scored nearly 260 goals in 420 appearances at both club and international levels

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 1971, ultimately 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 having participated 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 Club, Udinese, Kashima Antlers and Brazil's national team. He scored nearly 260 goals in 420 appearances at both club and international levels.

4. Romário

He scored 74 goals in 88 starts for Brazil
He scored five goals at the 1994 World Cup
He bagged nearly 620 goals in around 800 matches

In the football world, few players dominated the mastery of goal scoring quite like Romário, making him one of the top goal scorers in football history.

Romário was a clinical and ice-cool scorer who acquired superb ball control. His record of 74 goals in 88 starts for Brazil is only behind Pelé, Ronaldo Nazario and Neymar in all-time rankings.

His performances for the Seleção during the 90s were indeed remarkable!

However, due to injury and discipline issues, Romário was restricted to participating in just two World Cups; one in 1990 as a reserve player and a second in 1994 as Brazil's main attacker.

He achieved major success at European clubs too, helping PSV Eindhoven lift three cups before evolving into a key performer of Johan Cruyff's ‘Dream Team' at FC Barcelona in the 1993-94 season.

Cruyff praised Romário by quoting:

"The best player I have coached? It has to be Romário. You could expect anything from him. His technique was extraordinary."

Romário's most promising spell came at the 1994 World Cup when he scored five goals during Brazil's booming endeavour in the United States. He was awarded the Golden Boot for this performance.

Romário was a genius in the penalty area. He bagged nearly 620 goals in around 800 matches, a versatile player to be remembered.

5. Ronaldo Nazario

He claimed his first ever FIFA World Player of the Year title at age 20
He helped Brazil win their fifth World Cup victory in 2002
He tallied 280 goals in 385 matches between 1993 and 2011

Ronaldo Nazario, nicknamed 'O Fenomeno', 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 ever FIFA World Player of the Year title at the very young age of 20 in 1996 - and he later became the World Cup’s top scorer.

A big moment arrived in 2002 when Ronaldo returned after an injury with a boom to score eight goals at the World Cup and guarantee a fifth trophy for Brazil. He then went on to claim his second Ballon d’Or after 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!