Brazil Soccer History: The Legendary Soccer Team That Won 5 World Cups

By Rick Martin Jul 08 2023, 08:10 AM EDT

When we talk about soccer, we often talk about Brazil, which is the most soccer-crazy country in the world. Its national team, Selecao, has earned legendary status that they are always a favorite every World Cup and are often the team to beat.

As Latin Post discussed before, soccer is practically a religion in Brazil, and it is reflected in their national team's success on the world stage, winning five World Cup tournaments, the most of any country. Some of the most legendary names have also worn the vaunted yellow and blue, including Pele, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Kaka, and many others.

However, soccer had some very humble beginnings in Brazil, with the Brazilian Football Confederation forming in 1914 and only consisting of players from Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro. Now, however, the organization is globally recognized, with players from all over the South American country.

According to Football History, the team would not win any major title until 1919, when they faced off against Uruguay in the finals of the South American Championship, which would later evolve into the Copa America. The team was led by the legendary Arthur Friedenreich, who also led the team in their 1922 South American Championship win against Paraguay.

A 27-year slump soon followed as the team would not win any major titles, including three editions of the World Cup.

After losing yet another World Cup tournament, one youngster saw his father crying and vowed to win the World Cup for Brazil. That kid was named Edson Arantes do Nascimento. The world would soon know him as Pele.

Brazilian Soccer's World Cup Dominance

During the 1957 World Cup, a 16-year-old boy would shock the world and hand Brazil its very first World Cup. That boy is Pele, and he soon became a global sensation. With Brazil, Pele won three World Cup titles, establishing the country as a soccer powerhouse.

He was so sought after that Brazil would not allow him to play in Europe, with the country branding him a national treasure. He would play for Santos until he finally retired. To this day, Pele is regarded as the greatest Brazilian soccer star.

After Pele's exit from international play, Brazil entered another two-decade slump. It ended at the 1994 World Cup when the team led by Romario and Bebeto won the trophy in the US. They would fall to France in 1998 but retake the World Cup in 2002, winning a record five World Cup wins. The 2002 team was an all-star affair, with names like Rivaldo and Ronaldo leading the charge.

With all the names mentioned above, it showed another aspect of Brazilian soccer. As Latin Post also previously discussed, famous Brazilians, particularly soccer players, tend to just be known by one name instead of being called by their full names. Others in Brazil, including President Lula, have since adopted the practice.

Brazil National Team Today

These days, the Brazil National Team is still made up of a who's who of Brazilian soccer, such as Neymar and Vinicius Jr. However, despite the star power, the team has not yet won a World Cup since 2002.

The CBF is making some big changes, starting with the hiring of Real Madrid coach Carlo Ancelotti. NDTV Sports reported that he will become the first foreigner to coach Brazil in almost sixty years, with the Italian managing the team starting from the 2024 Copa America tournament.

It will be a tall task for him, however, even with his stacked team, as they will be facing defending World Cup champions Argentina, as well as perennial favorites like Uruguay.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

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