The 10 Best Brazilian Footballers of All Time

Author:
Thomas Swan
Updated:
Aug 17, 2024

Neymar (left), Pelé (middle), and Garrincha (right) are some of the greatest footballers to wear the yellow of Brazil.
Granada via Wikimedia Commons (left) and public domain (middle and right)

Who Are the Best Male Brazilian Footballers?

Brazilian football players are renowned for their skill, technique, and flair, and the national team attracts thousands of neutral supporters at every tournament. Ever since they won the World Cup in 1958, their yellow jerseys have promised excitement and expectation.

Between 1958 and 1970, Brazil won the World Cup three times (1958, 1962, and 1970), marking their greatest era. Another successful era was 1994–2007, with two World Cups (1994 and 2002) and four Copa América titles (1997, 1999, 2004, and 2007).

With few exceptions, most players on this list are from those eras. Statistics and videos are provided to help you judge their abilities.

10. Neymar

Position(s): forward
Career: 2009–present
Appearances: 589 (club) + 128 (international)
Goals: 360 (club) + 79 (international)

Neymar is Brazil's record scorer (surpassing Pelé in 2023). However, he has never won a World Cup or even a Copa América (they actually won without him in 2019). At 25, he went to play in the non-competitive French League, winning nothing outside of France. At 31, he joined Al Hilal in Saudi Arabia.

Despite Neymar's incredible skill, technique, dribbling, creativity, and finishing, he has not won a Ballon d'Or either, and he is a widely hated player. His career began well with Santos in Brazil, where he won the 2011 Copa Libertadores (the South American Champions League) and a domestic cup.

Neymar then spent 4 seasons with Barcelona, winning 2 league titles, 3 domestic cups, and the 2015 Champions League. The move to France followed, with Neymar winning 5 league titles and 5 domestic cups with Paris Saint-Germain. At Al Hilal, he won the Saudi league but was injured for nearly the entire season.

9. Jairzinho

Position(s): winger / forward
Career: 1960–1981
Appearances: 573 (club) + 81 (international)
Goals: 294 (club) + 33 (international)

Jairzinho won the 1970 World Cup for Brazil and scored in every game. He was the complete winger, combining pace and skill with strength and stamina. He would score with devastating accuracy, then track back to help defenders.

Nicknamed "The Hurricane," Jairzinho also played in the World Cups of 1966 (group stage) and 1974 (4th place). He began and spent most of his club career with Botafogo in Brazil, winning a league title and various state championships.

Jairzinho ended his career with spells in France, South Africa, and Venezuela, before returning to Botafogo for a final season. A season with Cruzeiro in Brazil saw him score 31 goals in 43 games, winning the 1976 Copa Libertadores.

8. Cafu

Position(s): right-back
Career: 1990–2008
Appearances: 525 (club) + 142 (international)
Goals: 18 (club) + 5 (international)

Cafu is Brazil's most capped player. He is the only footballer to have appeared in 3 World Cup finals (1994, 1998, and 2002) and the only player since 1962 to have played and won 2 World Cups (1994 and 2002). He also won the Copa América in 1997 and 1999.

Cafu was a quick, strong, and reliable right-back with excellent technique, crossing, and stamina. His club career began with Sao Paolo, where he won a league title and 2 Copa Libertadores (1992 and 1993).

Cafu won titles wherever he went. This included a European Cup Winners Cup with Zaragoza (Spain) and a state championship with Palmeiras (Brazil). He later spent 6 seasons with Roma (Italy), winning a league title, and 5 seasons with AC Milan, winning another title and the 2007 Champions League.

7. Ronaldinho

Position(s): attacking midfielder / winger
Career: 1998–2015
Appearances: 699 (club) + 97 (international)
Goals: 266 (club) + 33 (international)

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Ronaldinho was one of the most skillful players ever. His technique, dribbling, creativity, and flair won him a Ballon d'Or in 2005 and helped Brazil win the 2002 World Cup in style (and the 1999 Copa América). His free-kick mastery saw him star for Barcelona and influence Lionel Messi. He was in the All-Star Team for the 2002 World Cup and also participated in 2006 (quarter final).

Nicknamed "The Wizard," Ronaldinho began his career with Grêmio, winning 2 state titles. He then spent 2 seasons with Paris Saint-Germain and 5 with Barcelona, winning 2 league titles and the 2006 Champions League with the latter.

Ronaldinho ended his career with 3 years at AC Milan (winning a league title), and 5 in Brazil and Mexico, where he won 2 state championships. With Atlético Mineiro, he reclaimed former glory by winning the 2013 Copa Libertadores and being named "South American Footballer of the Year."

6. Rivaldo

Position(s): attacking midfielder
Career: 1991–2015
Appearances: 813 (club) + 74 (international)
Goals: 377 (club) + 35 (international)

Rivaldo is Brazil's 2nd greatest scorer from midfield (after Zico, and 7th overall). He won the 2002 World Cup and reached the final in 1998, scoring 8 goals (equal with Neymar) and appearing in both All-Star teams. He also won the 1999 Copa América.

Soccer experts have said that Rivaldo combined "artistry with efficiency" and a left foot that was "subtle and a sledgehammer." His masterful free-kicks, shots from distance, creativity, and technique earned him a Ballon d'Or in 1999.

Rivaldo's career began in Brazil, winning state championships with Santa Cruz and Palmeiras, and a league title with the latter. After a year with Deportivo in Spain, he scored 130 goals in 5 seasons with Barcelona, winning 2 league titles and a domestic cup. He then won a domestic cup and the 2003 Champions League with AC Milan. His latter career included 10 trophies in Greece and Uzbekistan.

5. Romário

Position(s): striker
Career: 1985–2009
Appearances: 893 (club) + 70 (international)
Goals: 690 (club) + 55 (international)

Romário was a naturally gifted finisher. On the all time list, his 755 career goals puts him 4th behind Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel Messi, and Pelé. Nicknamed "Shorty" (5 ft 6 in), many of these goals could be attributed to his agility, acceleration, dribbling, movement, and excellent first touch.

Romário famously won the World Cup with Brazil in 1994 and received the Golden Ball (for best player). He was sadly injured for the 1990 and 1998 tournaments, but he won the Copa América in 1989 (scoring the only goal in the final) and 1997.

Romário's career began with Vasco da Gama, winning 2 state championships. He then spent 5 years with PSV Eindhoven, winning 3 league titles and 2 domestic cups, and less than 2 years with Barcelona, winning a league title. Romário mostly played for Brazilian clubs after 1995, notably returning to Vasco and delivering a league title with 66 goals in the season.

4. Garrincha

Position(s): winger
Career: 1953–1973
Appearances: 345 (club) + 50 (international)
Goals: 102 (club) + 12 (international)

Garrincha is often cited as the greatest dribbler ever, and the first to inspire "olé" chants from fans. His skills, flair, acceleration, creativity, and crossing produced many assists during his career. He was retrospectively awarded the Ballon d'Or for 1962 and is one of the World Cup's greatest players.

Garrincha provided 2 assists in the final of the 1958 World Cup (beating Sweden 5-2). He then deputized for the injured Pelé in 1962, scoring 4 times in the final 3 matches, and lifting the trophy together with the Golden Ball and Golden Boot.

Garrincha did not lose an international match until his last appearance against Hungary in 1966. He spent most of his club career with Botafogo, winning 3 state championships and various interstate competitions. Despite interest from European clubs, he never left Brazil.

3. Zico

Position(s): attacking midfielder
Career: 1971–1994
Appearances: 700 (club) + 71 (international)
Goals: 469 (club) + 48 (international)

Zico, or the "White Pelé," was Brazil's greatest scoring midfielder (5th overall). His dribbling, finishing, and set-pieces were legendary, leading to some spectacular goals, including more than 100 free-kicks.

Zico's passing, vision, and creativity also made him an incredible playmaker. However, he did not experience success with Brazil, coming 3rd, 5th, and 5th in the 1978, 1982, and 1986 World Cups. In 1982, he scored 4 goals and was in the All-Star team.

Zico played mostly for Flamengo (with spells in Italy and Japan), once scoring 65 goals in a season, and winning 3 league titles, 7 state championships, and the 1981 Copa Libertadores. He also humbled Liverpool 3-0 in the 1981 Intercontinental Cup.

2. Ronaldo Nazário

Position(s): striker
Career: 1993–2011
Appearances: 518 (club) + 98 (international)
Goals: 352 (club) + 62 (international)

Ronaldo, or "The Phenomenon," won the Ballon d'Or in 1997 and 2002. He was the ultimate striker, with enough pace, strength, and skill to make finishing a formality. His trademark was to run behind opposition defenses and perform multiple "step overs" to evade the goalkeeper.

Ronaldo has the 2nd most World Cup goals (15; after Miroslav Klose) and won the World Cup in 1994 and 2002 (he was a non-playing squad member in 1994). He was runner-up in 1998, famously playing through illness in the final, and he won the Golden Ball that year. He also won the Copa América in 1997 and 1999.

Ronaldo began his career with Cruzeiro, winning a state championship. He then won domestic cups in spells with PSV and Barcelona, and the 1997 European Cup Winners Cup with the latter. The next year, he won the UEFA Cup with Inter Milan. He then won a league title with Real Madrid before spells with AC Milan and Corinthians, winning a state championship and domestic cup with the latter.

1. Pelé

Position(s): forward
Career: 1956–1977
Appearances: 766 (club) + 92 (international)
Goals: 709 (club) + 77 (international)

Pelé was the complete attacker and possibly the greatest footballer ever. Whether scoring goals or assisting them, dancing past defenders or out-muscling them, he had it all: pace, strength, dribbling, creativity, passing, free kicks, heading, and finishing with either foot (see video). He was retrospectively awarded the Ballon d'Or 7 times (only Lionel Messi has more with 8).

Pelé is the only player to have won the World Cup 3 times (1958, 1962, and 1970). In 1958, he became the youngest player (17) to score, to net a hat-trick, to score in a final, and to win a World Cup. In 1962, he was injured after the 2nd game but still scored. In 1970, he won the Golden Ball, scored in the final, and got 6 assists (record). Overall, he has 12 World Cup goals (5th) and 10 assists (1st).

Pelé's 1,279 goals in 1,363 games (including friendlies) is a record, although he is 3rd with 762 in official games (after Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi). Pelé played for Santos, winning 6 league titles, 10 state championships, and the Copa Libertadores in 1962 and 1963. He later won a league title with New York Cosmos.