The Brazil national football team (Portuguese: Seleço Brasileira de Futebol), nicknamed Seleço Canarinho, represents Brazil in men’s international football and is managed by the Brazilian Football Confederation (CBF), Brazil’s football governing body. They have been a FIFA member since 1923 and a CONMEBOL member since 1916.
Read Also
Brazil is the most successful national team in FIFA World Cup history, having won the tournament five times: in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. The Seleço also has the best overall record in the World Cup competition, both in proportion and absolute terms, with 73 victories in 109 matches played, a goal difference of 124, 237 points, and 18 losses.
It is the only national team to have competed in every World Cup edition without missing a game or needing to go to a playoff[15], as well as the only team to have won the World Cup on four different continents: once in Europe (1958 Sweden), once in South America (1962 Chile), twice in North America (1970 Mexico and 1994 United States), and once in Asia (2002 Korea/Japan). Brazil has also won the now-defunct FIFA Confederations Cup four times, in 1997, 2005, 2009, and 2013.
Brazil has the greatest average football Elo rating and the fourth highest all-time peak football Elo rating, both of which were recorded in 1962. [16] Brazil holds the record for the most Team of the Year first ranking victories in FIFA’s ranking system, with 12. [17] Many journalists, analysts, and former players regard Brazil’s 1970 team as the greatest football team ever. Other Brazilian teams are also highly regarded and frequently appear on lists of the finest teams of all time, such as the 1958-62 Brazil squads and the 1994-02 squads, with honorable mentions for the brilliant 1982 squad. The Brazilian national team was unbeaten in 35 consecutive matches in 1996, setting a global record that stood for 25 years.
Brazil has developed many rivalries over the years, the most notable of which are with Argentina (known as the Superclássico das Américas in Portuguese), Italy (known as the Clássico Mundial in Portuguese or the World Derby in English), Uruguay (due to the traumatic Maracanazo), and the Netherlands (due to several important meetings between the two teams at various World Cups).
Early history 1914-22
The first game of the Brazil national football team is thought to have been a 1914 match between a Rio de Janeiro and So Paulo select squad and Exeter City, played in Fluminense’s stadium. Brazil won 2-0 thanks to goals from Oswaldo Gomes and Osman, despite the match is said to have ended 3-3.
The national team’s early performances were subpar in comparison to its subsequent success. Other early encounters included multiple friendly games versus Argentina (which was lost 3-0), Chile (first in 1916), and Uruguay (first on 12 July 1916). They were victors at home in the South American Championships in 1919, led by the goalscoring talents of Arthur Friedenreich, and repeated their victory in 1922.
First World Cup and title drought 1930–49
Brazil competed in the inaugural World Cup, which was contested in Uruguay in 1930. The team overcame Bolivia but was eliminated from the competition after losing to Yugoslavia. [38] They were eliminated in the first round by Spain in Italy in 1934, but advanced to the semi-finals in France in 1938, when they were beaten 2-1 by eventual winners Italy. Brazil was the only South American team to compete in this tournament.
The South American Championship, held in Brazil in 1949, ended a 27-year drought of official titles.
The previous one was in the 1922 South American Championship, which was also held on Brazilian soil.
Pelé and the First Golden Era 1958–70
Brazil was drawn in a group with England, the Soviet Union, and Austria for the 1958 World Cup. They defeated Austria 3-0 in their first encounter before drawing 0-0 with England. Before the game, coach Vicente Feola made three crucial substitutions for Brazil to defeat the Soviets: Zito, Garrincha, and Pelé. They applied relentless pressure from the start, and after three minutes, which were later described as “the greatest three minutes in the history of football,”[42] Vavá gave Brazil the lead.
They won the game 2-0. Pelé scored the only goal in their quarter-final match against Wales, and they won the semi-final 5-2 over France. Brazil then defeated Sweden 5-2 in the final to win their first World Cup and become the first country to win a World Cup outside of their own continent. Pelé described it as “a nation coming of age.”
Brazil won its second World Cup with Garrincha as the star player, a mantle and responsibility bestowed upon him after Pelé was injured in the second group match against Czechoslovakia and unable to play the rest of the tournament.
Brazil’s performance in the 1966 World Cup was their poorest in a World Cup. Pelé was one among the players most affected by the tournament’s unusually violent play in 1966. Against Portugal, Pelé was forced to exit the game and the competition due to many brutal tackles by the Portuguese defenders. Brazil was eliminated in the first round of the World Cup for the first time since 1934 after losing this match. Since then, they have never failed to advance to the competition’s knockout stages.
Following Italy in 1950, Brazil became the second nation to be eliminated in the first round while holding the World Cup trophy. France, Italy, Spain, and Germany were added to this list following the World Cups in 2002, 2010, 2014, and 2018. Pelé stated after the tournament that he did not want to play in the World Cup again. Despite this, he returned in 1970.
Brazil won their third World Cup in 1970, in Mexico. It fielded what is widely regarded as the best World Cup football squad ever, led by Pelé in his final World Cup finals, captain Carlos Alberto Torres, Jairzinho, Tosto, Gérson, and Rivelino. Even though Garrincha had retired, this team remained a formidable opponent. They won all six of their games, including those against Czechoslovakia, England, and Romania in group play and Peru, Uruguay, and Italy in the knockout rounds.
Jairzinho finished second in scoring with seven goals and is the only player to score in every World Cup match; Pelé ended with four goals. Brazil won the Jules Rimet trophy for the third time (the first country to do so), allowing them to keep it. A replacement was then ordered, but it would be another 24 years before Brazil won it again.
The Second Golden Era 1994–2002
Brazil spent 24 years without winning or even appearing in a World Cup final. Their problems came to an end in 1994, when a strong team led by Romário and Bebeto in attack, captain Dunga in midfield, goalkeeper Cláudio Taffarel, and defender Jorginho won the World Cup for a then-record fourth time. Highlights of their campaign included a 1-0 round-of-16 victory over the United States at Stanford University, a 3-2 quarter-final victory over the Netherlands in Dallas, and a 1-0 semi-final victory over Sweden at Pasadena’s Rose Bowl.
This set up a final between Brazil and Italy in Pasadena. After a goalless tie, with Italy’s defense led by Franco Baresi keeping out Romário, penalty kicks loomed, and Brazil crowned winners with Roberto Baggio missing Italy’s final attempt. [50] Despite their victory, Brazil’s 1994 World Cup winning team is not held in the same regard as their other World Cup-winning teams. The 1994 team was labeled “unloved” in Brazil by FourFourTwo magazine due to their pragmatic, defensive style over the more typical Brazilian style of attacking flair.
Brazil finished second in the 1998 World Cup despite being the reigning champions. Brazil defeated the Netherlands on penalties in the semi-finals after topping their group and winning the next two rounds. Ronaldo, the tournament’s MVP, scored four goals and assisted on three others on his way to the final. The buildup to the final was marred by Ronaldo’s convulsive fit only hours before kickoff. [51] The starting lineup without Ronaldo was revealed to a stunned world media, but after pleading that he was fine and requesting to play, Ronaldo was reinstated by the coach, only to give a subpar performance as France, led by Zidane, won 3-0.
Brazil won their fifth World Cup, contested in South Korea and Japan, thanks to the “Three R’s” (Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho). Brazil defeated all three opponents in South Korea and won the group. Rivaldo collapsed to the ground clutching his face in Brazil’s opening game against Turkey in Ulsan after Turkey’s Hakan Ünsal kicked the ball towards his knees.
Rivaldo avoided punishment but was fined £5,180 for play-acting, making him the first player ever penalised in FIFA’s anti-diving campaign. Brazil beat Belgium 2-0 in the round of 16 in Japan in their knockout round matches. Brazil defeated England 2-1 in the quarterfinals in Shizuoka, with Ronaldinho scoring on a surprise free kick from 40 yards out. [53] Brazil defeated Turkey 1-0 in the semi-finals in Saitama. In Yokohama, the final was against Germany and Brazil, and Ronaldo scored twice in Brazil’s 2-0 victory. [54] Ronaldo also took home the Golden Shoe as the tournament’s top scorer, with eight goals. [55] Brazil’s success saw them receive the Laureus World Sports Award for Team of the Year.
Brazil won the Copa América in 2004, their third victory in four seasons since 1997. [57] Brazil won the FIFA Confederations Cup for the second time in 2005. [58] Carlos Alberto Parreira formed his team in a 4-2-2-2 system. The offense, dubbed the “Magic Quartet,” was structured around four players: Ronaldo, Adriano, Kaká, and Ronaldinho.
World Cup drought 2006–present
Brazil won their first two World Cup games, 1-0 against Croatia and 2-0 against Australia (2-0). (2–0). In the last group game, Brazil beat Japan 4-1. Ronaldo scored twice, tying the World Cup record for most goals scored in a single tournament. In the round of 16, Brazil beat Ghana 3-0. Ronaldo’s goal broke the previous record of 14 goals in World Cup history. Brazil, on the other hand, was eliminated in the quarter-finals by France, which defeated them 1-0 thanks to Thierry Henry’s goal.
In 2006, Dunga was appointed as Brazil’s new squad manager. [60] Brazil went on to win the 2007 Copa América, with forward Robinho winning the Golden Boot and being named the tournament’s best player. Brazil won the FIFA Confederations Cup two years later, defeating the United States 3-2 in the final to claim their third Confederations Cup title. [61] Kaká was named tournament MVP, while striker Lus Fabiano was named top goalscorer.
Brazil won their first two World Cup matches in South Africa, defeating North Korea (2-1) and the Ivory Coast (3-1). Their most recent encounter, against Portugal, concluded in a 0-0 tie. They defeated Chile 3-0 in the round of 16, but were defeated 2-1 by the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. [63]
Mano Menezes was chosen Brazil’s new coach in July 2010.
[64] Brazil was eliminated in the quarter-finals of the 2011 Copa América after losing to Paraguay. Brazil was rated 11th in the FIFA ranking on July 4, 2012, due to a lack of competitive matches as the squad had already qualified for the 2014 World Cup as tournament hosts.
2014 FIFA World Cup
Two goals from Neymar and one from Oscar got the Seleço off to a winning start in their first World Cup on home soil in 64 years in the opening match of the 2014 World Cup against Croatia. [72] After drawing with Mexico, the squad advanced to the knockout stage by defeating Cameroon 4-1, with Neymar scoring twice again and Fred and Fernandinho adding goals. [73] [74] Brazil faced Chile in the round of 16, drawing 1-1 after taking an 18th-minute lead through David Luiz’s first goal for the Seleço. Brazil won 3-2 on penalties, with Neymar, David Luiz, and Marcelo scoring and goalkeeper Jlio César saving three times.
In the quarter-finals, the squad faced South American opponents again, defeating Colombia 2-1 with to goals from central defenders David Luiz and team captain Thiago Silva. Neymar was stretchered off late in the game when Juan Camilo Ziga’s knee made contact with the forward’s back. Neymar was transported to the hospital and diagnosed with a broken vertebra, putting him out of the tournament for the rest of it. [76] Neymar had previously scored four goals, supplied one assist, and been chosen man of the match twice.
Thiago Silva was to serve a one-match suspension for receiving his second yellow card of the tournament in the quarter-finals, complicating Brazil’s semi-final against Germany.
The Seleço went on to lose 1-7 against the Germans, their worst World Cup setback and their first home loss in a competitive competition since 1975. [78] The home fans began to “olé” each pass from the German team at the end of the game, then booed their own players off the field after the final whistle. [79] The match has been dubbed the Mineirazo, after the country’s previous World Cup defeat on home soil, the Maracanazo against Uruguay in 1950, and the Estádio do Mineiro, where it was played.
Brazil was then defeated 0-3 by the Netherlands in the third-place play-off match. [81] [82] The squad finished with the lowest defensive record among the 32 competing nations, conceding 14 goals. [83] Only North Korea and Saudi Arabia have conceded 12 or more goals in the current World Cup format. [84] Scolari resigned in the aftermath of these results.
Return of Dunga 2014–2016
Dunga was named Brazil’s new manager on July 22, 2014, returning to the position for the first time since the team’s World Cup exit in 2010.
Dunga’s first match as Brazil’s manager was a friendly against 2014 World Cup quarterfinalists Colombia on 5 September 2014 at Sun Life Stadium in Miami, which Brazil won 1-0 thanks to an 83rd-minute Neymar free-kick goal. [87] Dunga followed this up with victories against Ecuador (1-0), Argentina (2-0) in the 2014 Superclásico de las Américas, Japan (4-0), Turkey (0-4),[90] and Austria (1–2). [92] Dunga extended Brazil’s winning streak in 2015 with a 3-1 friendly victory against France. They followed this up with victories over Chile (1-0), Mexico (2-0), and Honduras (1–0).
Copa América 2015
Brazil began the tournament with a 2-1 victory over Peru (with Douglas Costa scoring in the final moments),[93] followed by a 1-0 loss to Colombia[94] then a 2-1 triumph over Venezuela.
[95] Brazil faced Paraguay in the knockout stage and was eliminated after drawing 1-1 in normal time and losing 4-3 in the penalty shootout. [96] As a result, for the first time in nearly 20 years, Brazil was unable to qualify for a FIFA Confederations Cup (in this case, the 2017 edition).
Tite era 2016–present
Tite took over as Brazil manager on June 14, 2016. [104] Six days later, Tite, the manager of Corinthians, the 2015 Brazilian champions and 2012 Club World Cup victors, was appointed as his replacement. [105] Tite’s debut was marked by a 3-0 away victory against Ecuador on 2 September,[106] followed by 2-1 victories over Colombia, 5-0 victories over Bolivia, and a 0-2 victory away against Venezuela, propelling Brazil to the top of the World Cup Qualifiers leaderboard for the first time since 2011. [107] Brazil then defeated Paraguay 3-0 to become the first team to qualify for the 2018 World Cup other than hosts Russia.
azil began its 2018 World Cup campaign with a 1-1 tie against Switzerland, with Brazil’s goal coming from a 25-yard bending shot from Philippe Coutinho, marking their first non-win in an opening game since 1978. [109] Brazil won 2-0 against Costa Rica the next day, with to goals in stoppage time from Coutinho and Neymar. [110] With goals from Paulinho and Thiago Silva, they won their final group game 2-0 over Serbia, ensuring qualification for the last 16 as group winners. [111] Brazil advanced to the quarter-finals with a 2-0 win over Mexico on July 2nd, thanks to goals from Neymar and Roberto Firmino.
Brazil was eliminated from the 2018 World Cup in the quarter-finals by Belgium on July 6, losing 2-1, with Fernandinho scoring an own goal for Belgium and Renato Augusto scoring the only goal for Brazil.
Despite the World Cup loss, the CBF retained Tite as Brazil’s coach for the 2019 Copa América, which will be hosted in Brazil. However, Brazil’s domestic contribution to the tournament was limited by Neymar’s injury in a friendly match against 2019 AFC Asian Cup winners Qatar. [116] Despite this setback, Tite led Brazil to their first Copa América triumph since 2007. Brazil defeated Bolivia after a scoreless first half[117] and Peru in a 5-0 thrashing. [118] In the interim, Brazil tied Venezuela 0-0, with three goals ruled off by VAR.
Brazil faced Paraguay in the quarter-finals, winning 4-3 on penalties following a goalless draw. [120] Brazil defeated Argentina 2-0 in the semi-finals to set up a rematch with Peru. [121] Brazil defeated Peru 3-1 in the final to claim their ninth Copa América title. [122]
Brazil defeated Paraguay 2-0 in a World Cup qualifier in Asunción on June 8, 2021, their first victory in the country since 1985.
