Brazil's Greatest FIFA World Cup XI

Brazil, the five-time World Champions, are one of the favourites to win the 2014 FIFA World Cup. They are the only team to have played in every finals since the inception of the World Cup and they have been the most successful side in history. Their performances down the years have been some remarkable ones which have left an indelible mark on the history of football. Brazil are renowned for their flair-filled attacking style of football.

Some of the greatest footballers in history have hailed from this football-crazy nation and there is no doubt that Brazilian players were one of a kind whose exciting style of football was the most important pioneer of the beautiful game or Joga Bonito, as they call it. As we wait for the Brazilian team to captivate the world once again, let’s take a look at the greatest XI who have represented Brazil at the World Cup.

Goalkeepers - Gilmar

Gilmar - Brazil’s best ever goalkeeper

The predicament of Brazilian goalkeepers has always been such that their attackers receive all the praises while their contributions in goal are hugely overshadowed. And Gilmar dos Santos Neves was no exception. Throughout his career, he was known as ‘‘Pele’s goalkeeper”. When you consider the fact that Pele is arguably the greatest Brazilian footballer, that may seem to be an honour but to signify Gilmar as such was an understatement.

He was in the national team for 16 years, during which he played in three straight World Cups, winning two of them in 1958 and 1962. He was voted the best Brazilian goalkeeper of the 20th century and had an extensive club career that lasted nearly two decades. While his achievements speak for themselves, his personality on the pitch was what caught the eye. His calm approach in high-pressure situations helped the team stay confident and focused. He conceded just 94 goals in 105 games for Brazil.

Defenders: Cafu – Domingos De Guia– Lucio – Nilton Santos

Cafu is often regarded as the greatest right back in the history of football. Cafu, like so many others possessed Brazilian flair and was renowned for his attacking prowess. In a glittering career that spanned over two decades, Cafu was a part of four World Cups and was the winner twice, in 1994 and 2002. He was the captain in 2002 and lifted the trophy after Brazil defeated Germany 2-0 in the final. He was well known for his trademark runs down the right flank overlapping the winger and his immense stamina. He is the most-capped Brazilian player with 142 appearances. His record of winning 16 World Cup matches is the most by a single player and he is the only player to have played in the final of a World Cup thrice, apart from Pele.

Domingos da Guia is the one of the two players in this team who hasn’t won a World Cup. At a time when Europe was on the verge of a war, the FIFA World Cup was held in France. Brazil were one of the seeded teams, but their past two World Cup performances had been disastrous and they weren’t expected to make it big this time either. However, Brazil finished third and leading them in such an excellent tournament was Domingos da Guia. It was then that he gained a reputation as one of the greatest defenders in the world.

Nicknamed “the Divine Master“, da Guia’s stunning performances at the heart of the defense made him the lynchpin of the team and one of Brazil’s greatest defenders. While there isn’t lots of evidence to support his abilities, he was regarded as one of Brazil’s all-time best defenders, and so he makes it to our list at centre back.

Lucio’s abilities were profound in the defensive part of the game rather than up front. Just like Cafu, Lucio’s capabilities as a captain were excellent and he was an inspiring figure on the field. While his leadership qualities made for a strong presence in the team, his playing skills were surpassed by none. He was an all-round defender with exceptional tactical awareness to complement his aerial prowess and tackling ability. At 24 years of age, he was a vital player in the 2002 World Cup and was instrumental in their triumph. While the tournament is often remembered for Brazil’s attacking trio, the defense was no less, comprising of two players from this list, Cafu and Lucio. Although his team lost in 2006, his performances never were never below par and it earned him the captain’s badge once Cafu was left out.

Nilton Santos once said, "I have never envied today's players money but the freedom they have, to go forward". Well, this quote sums up the player he was. While we often discover the hugely different roles of full backs in the past and the present, he was the man who instigated the recreation of a full back’s role. Santos is renowned for being the first ever wing back, a tweak of the role of a full back that has been successfully taken up by many players in the modern era. His attacking skills were excellent and complemented his already established defensive abilities, thus making him one of the earliest pioneers of the role of a modern full back.

He went up the field to assist in attack while being at the back to guard the defense, a role he performed to perfection and is still revered for pioneering such a dynamic change in modern football. He is famous for his goal in the 1958 against Austria where he dribbled across the field to finish with a superb shot. He won two World Cups in 1958 and 1962, a time when Brazil rose to prominence as the most dominating force in football. His contributions in both the tournaments were vital and he was a big part of the team.

Though many of you would have expected Roberto Carlos to be the first-choice for this position, what Carlos does is basically an extension of what Nilton Santos invented and perfected, thus Santos stands over Carlos in this list.

Midfielders: Garrincha – Didi – Zico – Jairzinho

Mane Garrincha, the boy who was born with a defect and unable to walk turned into one of the most celebrated dribblers the world had ever seen. He was a player who was considered on par, if not better than Pele. Perhaps one could consider Garrincha unlucky for he was perennially overshadowed by Pele. While alcoholism and women played a significant part in derailing his career, when he played on the field, none could match him. The 1962 World Cup was his greatest performance on the international stage as he carried the Brazilian team through to victory.

He stood out in that tournament and was crowned the best player of the tournament and was tied top scorer with 4 goals. While Pele shall always be remembered as the pioneer of those triumphs, Garrincha was a vital member in 1958 and 1962 and shall go down as one of the greatest players to have played for Brazil.

Didi or Waldyr Pereira, was an excellent center midfielder. Renowned for his free kicks, he was the man who created the technique of scoring free kicks where the ball would dip at the end, something used to good effect by Juninho and Cristiano Ronaldo. Flawless passing and a wide range of skills with perfect technique and immense stamina comprised the arsenal of one of Brazil’s most influential center midfielders. The quality of his free kicks was such that he scored at an average of one every six games for his country. Having played in the 1954, 1958 and 1962 World Cups, he walked out as champion twice and had his name writ in gold as one of the greatest Brazilian footballers.

Zico – Probably the most talented Brazilian never to win a World Cup

Zico, was a perfectionist. Considered one of the best players never to have won a World Cup, “White Pele” was arguably the greatest playmaker in the history of Brazilian football. Having been awarded the Player of the Year twice and participated in three World Cups, Zico’s contribution to Brazilian football was enormous. Although his team never reached the final of a World Cup, his performances were inspiring and he was a legendary figure in Brazil. Likened to Pele throughout his career, the third place finish in the 1978 World Cup was the best he achieved. Despite the fact that this list has been predominantly made up of World Cup winners, Zico’s inclusion is inarguable.

Jairzinho, just like his idol Garrincha was a powerful winger whose 1970 World Cup performance was overshadowed by that of Pele. Although his preferred position was on the right, he was as good on the left. Forever dreaming of emulating his idol Garrincha, Jairzinho’s ambition was fulfilled in the 1970 World Cup. The 1970 World Cup is considered the greatest Brazilian performance in history and Jairzinho’s exploits then were an important part of it. Jairzinho achieved a unique record in that tournament, becoming only the second player to have scored in every match of the tournament, the first being Alcides Ghiggia.

The Brazilian media credited him with the epithet “Furacão da Copa" (World Cup Hurricane). And I believe that would be a testament to his abilities, for they were just as he was described. Blessed with pace and strength, he used those abilities to the maximum and is still remembered as one of the greatest wingers to have played for the Selecao.

Strikers: Pele – Ronaldo

Ronaldo will probably go down in history as the most complete striker to have played the beautiful game. He made dribbling look easy, had blistering pace and scored 15 goals in the World Cups, a record that is yet to be broken. Having played for Real Madrid, AC Milan, Barcelona and Inter Milan, Ronaldo is one of the few players who were loved by all associated with the team, despite his past history or rival affiliations. His career may have been shortened a great length due to his niggling injuries, but the time he played for was more than enough to stamp his place in history as one of the most endearing players world football had ever seen.

His mysterious injury prior to the 1998 World Cup final was quite a controversy, but he made amends for that by winning the World Cup for Brazil four years later. Part of the famed attacking trio consisting of Rivaldo and Ronaldinho apart from himself, he scored eight goals in the tournament and was awarded the Golden boot. His position up there in the list of greatest Brazilian footballers is a given, and his achievements are very difficult to emulate.

Pele is the only player to have won 3 World Cup titles

Without a shadow of a doubt, Pele is the greatest Brazilian footballer and when it came to the World Cup, he was the best player for one of the greatest footballing nations. Pele won three World Cups, more than any other player in history. Starting as a 17-year old in 1958, Pele went on to win a second World Cup in 1962 and he capped off his World Cup career with a third triumph in 1970, where he won the ‘Golden Ball’ award for the best player after excellent performances throughout the tournament.

Pele’s game is often described as an illusion to watch, for his ability to conjure magical acts with the ball was well known and his peers ranked him above any other footballer. Pele’s aura of invincibility shall remain forever in the hearts of Brazilians and it was he who inspired them more than anyone.

Substitutes: Rivaldo, Zito, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho, Romario, Mauro Ramos

You can read the greatest XI of other teams here: FIFA World Cup Greatest XIs

Edited by Staff Editor