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In this post, we will check out the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time.

Brazil is known as the spiritual home of football, with a rich history of producing world-class footballers.

From Pelé to Ronaldo, the country has gifted the world with some of the greatest players in the sport’s history.

The Samba style of play is a hallmark of Brazilian football and its players have entertained millions of fans with their skill, flair, and creativity.

In this article, we’ll take a look at the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time. These players have left a lasting legacy on the sport and will be remembered for their exceptional talents, achievements, and contributions to the beautiful game.

Top 10 Greatest Brazilian Footballers Of All Time

10. Gérson

Gérson was a midfield maestro who played for Brazil in the 1970s. He is best remembered for his performance in the 1970 World Cup, where he helped Brazil reach the final.

Gérson’s passing and vision were superb, and he was also a free-kick specialist. After retiring from football, Gérson became a successful manager, leading both Flamengo and Corinthians to Brazilian league titles.

He is a player with outstanding technique, vision, and a booming left foot. Gérson depicted four of Brazil’s biggest clubs which include Flamengo, Botafogo, São Paulo, and Fluminense.

9. Sócrates

Sócrates was a gifted attacking midfielder who played for Brazil in the 1980s. Easily recognizable for his beard and headband.

Sócrates became the “symbol of cool for a whole generation of football supporters”.He is supposed to be one of the greatest midfielders of his generation.

In 1983, he was named South American Footballer of the Year. In 2004, he was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players.

He is widely believed to be one of the best players of his generation. Sócrates was known for his elegant style of play and his intelligence on and off the pitch.

Socrates played for Brazil for seven years, scoring 22 goals and representing the nation in two World Cups.

He captained the team in the 1982 FIFA World Cup; playing in midfield alongside Zico, Falcão, Toninho Cerezo, and Éder, considered one of the greatest Brazilian national teams ever. 

He also appeared in the 1979 and 1983 Copa América. Socrates is number 9 in our list of the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time.

8. Jairzinho

Jairzinho was a gifted winger who played for Brazil in the 1970s. He is best recognized for his performances in the 1970 World Cups, where he helped Brazil to win the tournaments.

Jairzinho was known for his speed and dribbling ability, and he scored some memorable goals during his career.

He is a quick, skillful, and powerful right-winger known for his finishing ability and eye for goal.

He was also capable of playing in a variety of other attacking positions, as the main striker, second striker, or even as an attacking midfielder.

7. Cafu

Cafu was a world-class right-back who played for Brazil in the 1990s and 2000s. He is best remembered for his performances in the 1994 and 2002 World Cups, where he helped Brazil win both tournaments.

Cafu was known for his attacking style of play, and he is widely considered to be one of the best full-backs of all time.

With 142 appearances for the Brazil national team, he is the most internationally capped Brazilian player of all time.

In 1994, Cafu has crowned South American Footballer of the Year, and in 2004, was named by Pelé in the FIFA 100 list of the world’s greatest living players.

6. Romário

Romário was a world-class striker who played for Brazil in the 1980s and 1990s. He is best remembered for his performances in the 1994 World Cup, where he helped Brazil win the tournament.

Romário was known for his finishing ability and his tireless work ethic. A prolific striker noted for his clinical finishing, he scored over 750 goals and was the first player to score at least 100 goals for three different clubs.

At the club level, after devising his early career in Brazil, Romário moved to PSV Eindhoven in the Netherlands in 1988.

During his five seasons at PSV, the club became Eredivisie champions three times, and he scored a total of 165 goals in 167 games.

In 1993, he moved to FC Barcelona and became part of Johan Cruyff’s “Dream Team”, forming an excellent partnership with Hristo Stoichkov.

He won La Liga in his first season and finished as the top goalscorer with 30 goals in 33 matches.

He is the seventh-highest goalscorer in the history of football with 780 goals in 1000 official games. Romario is number 6 in our list of the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time.

5. Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho was a world-class attacking midfielder who played for Brazil in the 1990s and 2000s. He is best remembered for his performances in the 2002 World Cup, where he helped Brazil win the tournament.

Ronaldinho was known for his exceptional dribbling ability and his flair for the dramatic. He is considered one of the best players of his generation and one of the most talented players ever.

Ronaldinho won two FIFA World Player of the Year awards and a Ballon d’Or. He was remembered for his technical skills, creativity, dribbling ability, and accuracy from free-kicks.

In his international career with Brazil, Ronaldinho earned 97 caps and scored 33 goals, and depicted his country in two FIFA World Cups.

After debuting with the Seleção by winning the 1999 Copa América, he was an integral part of the 2002 FIFA World Cup-winning team, starring alongside Ronaldo and Rivaldo in an attacking trio, and was named in the FIFA World Cup All-Star Team.

4. Zico

Zico is often called the “White Pelé”, he was a creative playmaker, with excellent technical skills, vision, and an eye for goal.

He is considered one of the most clinical finishers and best passers ever, as well as one of the greatest players of all time. 

He is also widely considered the greatest Brazilian to never win the World Cup. One of the world’s best players of the late 1970s and early 1980s, he is believed as one of the best playmakers and free-kick specialists in history.

With 48 goals in 71 official appearances for Brazil, Zico is the fifth highest goalscorer for his national team. Zico is number 4 in our list of the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time.

3. Garrincha

Garrincha was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a right-winger. He is widely considered one of the greatest players of all time, and the greatest dribbler ever.

Garrincha played a crucial role in Brazil’s 1958 and 1962 World Cup victories. In 1962, when Pelé got injured, Garrincha guided Brazil to a World Cup victory with a dominating performance throughout the tournament.

He also became the first player to win the Golden Ball, Golden Boot, and the World Cup in the same tournament. Garrincha is number 3 in our list of the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time.

2. Ronaldo

Ronaldo is a Brazilian business owner, president of La Liga club Real Valladolid, owner of Brasileiro Série B club Cruzeiro and a retired professional footballer who played as a striker.

He is popularly known as O Fenômeno and also nicknamed R9. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

Ronaldo has been an impact on a generation of strikers that have followed. His individual accolades include being named FIFA World Player of the Year three times and winning two Ballon d’Or awards.

At age 17, he was the youngest member of the Brazilian squad that won the 1994 FIFA World Cup. At the 1998 FIFA World Cup, Ronaldo acquired the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament after he helped Brazil reach the final, where he suffered a convulsive fit hours before kick-off.

He won the 2002 FIFA World Cup, starring in a front three with Ronaldinho and Rivaldo. He scored twice in the final and received the Golden Boot as the tournament’s top goalscorer. 

1. Pelé

Pele is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a forward. He is regarded as one of the greatest players of all time.

He was among the most thriving and famous sports figures of the 20th century. In 1999 he was named Athlete of the Century by the International Olympic Committee and was included in the Time list of the 100 most important people of the 20th century.

In 2000, Pelé was voted World Player of the Century by the International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) and was one of the two joint winners of the FIFA Player of the Century.

His 1,279 goals in 1,363 games, which included friendlies, is identified as a Guinness World Record. Pelé began playing for Santos at age 15 and the Brazil national team at 16.

During his international career, he won three FIFA World Cups: 1958, 1962, and 1970. Pelé is the all-time leading goalscorer for Brazil with 77 goals in 92 games.

At the club level, he is Santos’ all-time top goalscorer with 643 goals from 659 games. Pele tops the list of the top 10 greatest Brazilian footballers of all time.