Even those who are not into soccer have come to like it because of the top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time. These players have turned soccer into a form of art which evokes admiration and awe.
While I have never been a big sports fan, I have a great amount of respect for people who through their hard work and devotion have managed to get on the pages of history books worldwide as the best sportsmen and sportswomen of all time. Even if I was never the person to talk to about the most recent events in the world of soccer, at any moment I knew that the top players in the game were from South America. Apart from being the world’s biggest producer of coffee and from having Jesus Christ look over its capital, which has become the signature image of the country, Brazil is also one of the biggest exporters of best soccer players. While in the rest of the world soccer remains a secondary thing, in Brazil it has become embedded in the very tradition. Given its presence in the Brazilian culture, it has become a way of life for many. Work is not given priority when Brazilian national soccer team is playing, and it is probably the only time when streets are deserted. Brazilians take great pride in the achievements of their soccer team, rightfully so, and are probably the most passionate supporters. They practically invented dribbling and their distinctive style of playing makes you support them even if you are in no touch with Brazil whatsoever.
mangostock/Shutterstock.com
Brazil’s is the most successful national team in the FIFA World Cup. They were world champions five times: 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002. It is the only national team to participate in all World Cup series, with no absence or playoffs record. Furthermore, it is the only national team to win the title of the World Champion in four continents: Europe (1958), South America (1962), North America (1970) and 1994), and Asia (2002). Many sports experts and commentators have stated that Brazil’s national team of 1970 is the best Brazil team of all time, some going so far to name it the best team of all times. This team won the World Cup in Mexico and starred players who have become Brazilian football legends. The team won all six games to be handed the Jules Rimet Trophy for the third time.
New players have entered and left the Brazilian soccer scene since. Neymar Jr., Marcelo, and Coutinho were considered to be the best Brazilian soccer players in 2017. Casemiro, Gabriel Jesus, Dani Alves and Thiago Silva have also joined them on the list of best Brazilian footballers of 2017. On the list of 2016 Brazil soccer players, same names stand out. Neymar Jr., Coutinho, and Alves were among the best Brazilian soccer players in 2016. They have been virtuosos on the field in the past couple of years, and it has been a great joy for many to watch them maneuver their way through to the opposing team’s goal.
Brazil is not the only country which has produced some of the biggest names in soccer. In our article on top 15 best French soccer players of all time, we have listed the players the French nation is proud to call French. Zinedine Zidane came 1st, as the best French soccer player ever with 168 international goals. The second best was Michel Platini, with 139 international goals, while Patrick Vieira came third, with 103 international goals. In our article on top 16 best UK soccer players of all time we listed the forces to be reckoned with in soccer and which come from the UK. Sir Bobby Charlton bore the title of the best UK soccer player of all times. George Best was ranked 2nd, while Bobby Moore came 3rd. All of these are the names the world will remember for their outstanding achievements in soccer. I can only imagine how many aspiring young footballers have posters of these people in their rooms to look at when they need to remind themselves of their ultimate goal. This was a pun intended.
To create the list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time, I have referred to data provided by a number of sports sites. I have taken into account the ranking of the best Brazilian soccer players on Ranker. The ranking is based on the votes from soccer fans from around the world. I have also referred to the ranking of World Soccer 100 Players of the Century on Topend Sports. Since this is the list of the best, I could not ignore the names on FIFA Player of the Century award. Without further ado, these are the best Brazilian soccer players that have shaped the history of soccer as we know it today.
20. Tostão (Eduardo Gonçalves de Andrade)
The last on our list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time is Tostão. He was a part of the national team which won the World Cup in 1970.
19. Thiago Silva (Thiago Emiliano da Silva )
Thiago Silva currently plays as a central defender for Paris Saint-Germain. He is considered to be one of the best defenders nowadays.
18. Bebeto (José Roberto Gama de Oliveira)
Bebeto played as a striker. He played 75 matches wearing Brazil’s national jersey and scored 39 goals in total. In 1989, he won the title of the South American Footballer of the Year.
17. Capita (Carlos Alberto Torres)
Capita is widely acknowledged as one of the best defenders of all time. His goal in 1970 World Cup final against Italy is among the greatest goals in the history of soccer.
16. Gérson (Gérson de Oliveira Nunes)
Gérson was part of the greatest soccer team of all times, that which won the World Cup in 1970. Magazine World Soccer named it one of the 100 Greatest Footballers of All Time.
15. Cafu (Marcos Evangelista de Morais)
Cafu played 142 matches for the Brazilian national team, making him the Brazilian player with the highest number of appearances in international competitions. He made history playing for Roma and Milan.
14. Falcão (Paulo Roberto Falcão)
Falcão is considered to be one of the best players in the history of FC Roma. In 2014, FIFA named him one of the 125 Greatest Living Footballers.
13. Sócrates (Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira)
Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, also known as Doctor Socrates, because he had in fact BA degree in medicine, is widely recognized as one of the best midfielders of all time. In 1983, he was named the South American Footballer of the Year.
12. Neymar Jr. (Neymar da Silva Santos Júnior)
Neymar is one of the most renowned soccer players nowadays. So far he has scored 53 goals for the Brazilian national team. He currently plays for Paris Saint-Germaine.
11. Roberto Carlos (Roberto Carlos da Silva Rocha)
Because of his powerful free kicks, Roberto Carlos was named The Bullet Man. He played for Real Madrid from 1996 to 2007, 584 matches in total. In 2013, he was named a member of the Best Foreign Eleven in Real Madrid’s History.
10. Jairzinho (Jair Ventura Filho)
We continue our list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time with Jairzinho. He played in 1970 World Cup where he scored in every game Brazil had played, making him one of two players in history to have scored in every game of World Cup. He played 33 games for the national team.
9. Rivellino (Roberto Rivellino)
According to magazine World Soccer, Rivelino was the 38th greatest player in the 20th century. He was also named among Top 50 Players of the Century by The Best of the Best.
8. Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira)
Ronaldinho ranks 8th on our list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time. He is my personal favorite Brazilian player. He played for Barcelona, Milan and Paris Saint-Germain. He was awarded Golden Foot in 2009.
7. Didi (Waldyr Pereira)
Didi is acknowledged as one of the best midfielders. He played in three world tournaments for the Brazilian national team, winning in 1958 and 1962. In 1958 he was named the best player of the tournament.
6. Rivaldo (Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira)
In 1999 Copa America he was the top scorer and was named the Most Valuable Player. Barcelona, Milan and Olympiacos are some of the teams he played for.
5. Ronaldo (Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima)
We are continuing our list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time with Ronaldo, who is one of Brazil’s most famous players. Because of his superb play and technique, he was referred to as The Phenomenon. He was awarded the title of FIFA World Player of the Year three times. He was also named one of the FIFA 100 greatest living players.
4. Romario (Romário de Souza Faria)
Romario is the 3rd highest goal scorer for Brazil’s national team, he played 70 games and scored 55 goals. In 2007, he won Golden Foot Legends Award. He is acknowledged as one of the best forwards ever.
3. Zico (Arthur Antunes Coimbra)
The 3rd place on our list of the best Brazilian soccer players goes to Zico. Nickname White Pelé says a lot about his qualities as a player. He was named the Player of the Year in 1981 and 1983. Despite the fact that he never won the World Cup with the national team, he is regarded as one of the best in the game.
2. Garrincha (Manuel Francisco dos Santos)
Garrincha was chosen as a member of the World Team of 20th Century which testifies of his abilities as a winger. In 1999 he was named 7th in FIFA Player of the Century vote. He played 50 games for the national team and scored 12 goals.
1. Pelé (Edson Arantes do Nascimento)
1st on our list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time is Pelé, who is also considered to be the best player in the history of soccer. He scored the amazing 1281 goals in 1363 games he played. He won three World Cups, 1958, 1962 and 1970. Given that he has established himself as a soccer icon, you could expect that he would be the first on our list.
This was Insider Monkey’s list of top 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time.
