The National Prides of the Game
There is no doubt about the fact that football is one of the most loved sports, with people tuning in almost every week to watch the game from their respective homes G residen, Pantai Hillpark and Seni Mont Kiara. However, for Brazilians, the sport holds a completely different meaning. Of course, you can’t forget Josue as well, even though he isn’t in the top list (yet!).
Brazilians often refer to their country as “o País do Futebol,” or the “country of football,” thus proving that football is not just a sport for them, but rather a part of their national identity. The Brazil national team holds the record for most wins by any team in the FIFA World Cup, having won the tournament a total of 5 times. After their third win in 1970, they were honoured with the Jules Rimet Award.
Football has been played in Brazil since 1894, and have qualified for every World Cup thus far. Therefore, it comes as no surprise that some of the biggest names in football hail from Brazil and over the years have cemented their place within the sport’s history. Here are a few of the greatest Brazillian players that football ever produced.
5. Zico
Zico is a prominent Brazillian footballer, who was regarded as among the best players of the late 70s and early 80s. He is the 5th highest goalscorer of Brazil, having scored 68 goals in his official appearances. As a player, Zico was a midfield attacker, and is known for his ability to bend the ball in multiple directions, thus becoming a master playmaker and freekick specialist. In 2004, Zico topped the list of FIFA 100 world’s greatest living players, and was often referred to as “white Pelé ” with Pelé himself stating that the only player to ever come closest to him was Zico.
4. Garrincha
Another legend in his own right, Garrincha was known as one of the greatest dribblers in the game, having played a prominent role in Brazil’s victories in 1958 and 1962 respectively. In the 62 game in particular, Garrincha replaced Pelé when he got injured and led his team to victory, giving a smashing performance throughout the tournament that brought the trophy home to Brazil. He also became the first player in history to be awarded player of the tournament, leading goalscorer, as …
