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A team across generations. Build your eleven, then explore the careers.
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A team across generations
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The 33 of Brazil.
Editorial order, with a career scene and sources behind every name.
01
Pelé 92 caps (Brazil) · 77 goals · Santos, New York Cosmos · FIFA World Cup 1958On 19 November 1969 the Maracanã stopped while photographers swarmed the pitch and 80,000 Vasco supporters cheered Pelé, who had just converted the penalty that was his thousandth goal.
SS1957–1971
Pelé 92 caps (Brazil) · 77 goals · Santos, New York Cosmos · FIFA World Cup 1958On 19 November 1969 the Maracanã stopped while photographers swarmed the pitch and 80,000 Vasco supporters cheered Pelé, who had just converted the penalty that was his thousandth goal.
SS1957–1971
02
G
Garrincha 50 caps (Brazil) · 17 goals · Botafogo F.R., Associação Atlética Portuguesa · FIFA World Cup 1958Brazil called him Alegria do Povo, and on 10 June 1962, with Pelé injured and watching, he took the quarter-final against England apart himself, heading in Zagallo's corner and then curling a second past Ron Springett.
RM1955–1966
03
Ronaldinho 97 caps (Brazil) · 33 goals · Grêmio FBPA, FC Barcelona · 1× Ballon d'OrTwice at the Bernabéu on 19 November 2005 he cut in from the left and scored in a 3-0 win, and at the final whistle the crowd rose to applaud him, an honour Madrid had given no Barcelona player since Maradona.
LM1999–2013
Ronaldinho 97 caps (Brazil) · 33 goals · Grêmio FBPA, FC Barcelona · 1× Ballon d'OrTwice at the Bernabéu on 19 November 2005 he cut in from the left and scored in a 3-0 win, and at the final whistle the crowd rose to applaud him, an honour Madrid had given no Barcelona player since Maradona.
LM1999–2013
04
RN
Ronaldo Nazário 98 caps (Brazil) · 62 goals · Inter Milan, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol · 2× Ballon d'OrKahn had barely conceded all tournament when he spilled Rivaldo's shot in Yokohama on 30 June 2002, and Ronaldo, two knee ruptures behind him, tucked in the rebound before adding a second twelve minutes later.
ST1994–2011
05
R
Romário 70 caps (Brazil) · 55 goals · CR Vasco da Gama, PSV Eindhoven · FIFA World Cup 1994In the Clásico of 8 January 1994 he dragged the ball a full turn around his marker, the move Spain calls the cola de vaca, and finished; two more goals followed in a 5-0 win over Real Madrid.
ST1987–2005
07
D
Didi 68 caps (Brazil) · 20 goals · Madureira Esporte Clube, FluminenseOn 21 April 1957 he bent a folha seca free kick past the Peruvian goalkeeper Asca after eleven minutes at the Maracanã, the only goal of the night, and Brazil were on the plane to Sweden.
CM1952–1962
08
Rivaldo 74 caps (Brazil) · 35 goals · FC Barcelona, Olympiacos · 1× Ballon d'OrThree goals on the last day of the 2000/01 season, the third a chested overhead kick in the 87th minute at the Camp Nou on 17 June 2001, put Barcelona into the Champions League and left Valencia out.
CAM1993–2003
Rivaldo 74 caps (Brazil) · 35 goals · FC Barcelona, Olympiacos · 1× Ballon d'OrThree goals on the last day of the 2000/01 season, the third a chested overhead kick in the 87th minute at the Camp Nou on 17 June 2001, put Barcelona into the Champions League and left Valencia out.
CAM1993–2003
09
Falcão 28 caps (Brazil) · 6 goals · S.C. Internacional, AS RomaSarrià, 5 July 1982: Júnior rolled the ball to him twenty yards from Italy's goal and he drove it in with his weaker foot for 2-2, six minutes before Paolo Rossi settled the tie and sent Brazil home.
CM1976–1986
Falcão 28 caps (Brazil) · 6 goals · S.C. Internacional, AS RomaSarrià, 5 July 1982: Júnior rolled the ball to him twenty yards from Italy's goal and he drove it in with his weaker foot for 2-2, six minutes before Paolo Rossi settled the tie and sent Brazil home.
CM1976–1986
10
N
Neymar 130 caps (Brazil) · 80 goals · Santos, FC BarcelonaTwo years after the 7-1 in Belo Horizonte, he beat Germany at the Maracanã on 20 August 2016, curling a free kick into the top corner and then taking the penalty that decided the shootout for Brazil's first Olympic football gold.
LM2010–2026
11
NS
Nílton Santos 75 caps (Brazil) · Botafogo F.R. · FIFA World Cup 1958Against Austria on 8 June 1958 he carried the ball out of his own half with Feola screaming at him to get back, ignored him all the way, and scored the second in a 3-0 win in Brazil's opening match. He won that World Cup and the next one in Chile, added the 1949 South American title, made the 1958 all-star eleven, won four Carioca championships and never once played for a club other than Botafogo.
LB1949–1962
12
S
Sócrates 60 caps (Brazil) · 22 goals · Botafogo Futebol Clube, S.C. Corinthians PaulistaCorinthians carried a banner onto the pitch in 1983 reading "Win or lose, but always with democracy", the work of their captain, who had the squad voting on its own decisions while Brazil was still run by generals.
CM1979–1986
13
C
Cafu 142 caps (Brazil) · São Paulo, AS Roma · FIFA World Cup 1994Standing on the podium in Yokohama on 30 June 2002, he lifted the trophy in a shirt reading "100% Jardim Irene", the São Paulo neighbourhood he came from, his third World Cup final in a row.
RB1990–2006
14
Djalma Santos 98 caps (Brazil) · Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras · FIFA World Cup 1958The 1962 final in Santiago turned on his lofted cross from the right, which goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf misjudged, letting Vavá head in Brazil's third.
RB1952–1968
Djalma Santos 98 caps (Brazil) · Associação Portuguesa de Desportos, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras · FIFA World Cup 1958The 1962 final in Santiago turned on his lofted cross from the right, which goalkeeper Viliam Schrojf misjudged, letting Vavá head in Brazil's third.
RB1952–1968
15
Jairzinho Olympique de Marseille, Kaizer Chiefs · FIFA World Cup 1970Six matches at Mexico 1970, six matches with his name on the scoresheet, including Brazil's third goal in the 4-1 final against Italy on 21 June: no one has done that at a World Cup before or since.
RM1963–1982
Jairzinho Olympique de Marseille, Kaizer Chiefs · FIFA World Cup 1970Six matches at Mexico 1970, six matches with his name on the scoresheet, including Brazil's third goal in the 4-1 final against Italy on 21 June: no one has done that at a World Cup before or since.
RM1963–1982
16
Rivellino 92 caps (Brazil) · 26 goals · S.C. Corinthians Paulista, Fluminense · FIFA World Cup 1970Mexican crowds at the 1970 World Cup named his left foot the patada atómica, the atomic kick, after the free kick that bent round the Czechoslovak wall in Guadalajara on 3 June.
CAM1965–1978
Rivellino 92 caps (Brazil) · 26 goals · S.C. Corinthians Paulista, Fluminense · FIFA World Cup 1970Mexican crowds at the 1970 World Cup named his left foot the patada atómica, the atomic kick, after the free kick that bent round the Czechoslovak wall in Guadalajara on 3 June.
CAM1965–1978
17
Roberto Carlos 125 caps (Brazil) · União São João, Atlético Mineiro · FIFA World Cup 2002Lyon, 3 June 1997: Deschamps fouled Romário 35 metres out, and the left back struck a free kick so far off line that Barthez never moved, before it bent back, clipped the post and went in.
LB1992–2006
Roberto Carlos 125 caps (Brazil) · União São João, Atlético Mineiro · FIFA World Cup 2002Lyon, 3 June 1997: Deschamps fouled Romário 35 metres out, and the left back struck a free kick so far off line that Barthez never moved, before it bent back, clipped the post and went in.
LB1992–2006
18
Ademir de Menezes 39 caps (Brazil) · 32 goals · Sport Club do Recife, CR Vasco da GamaQueixada, the jaw, put four past Sweden at the Maracanã on 9 July 1950 in a 7-1 that came seven days before Uruguay silenced the same ground. He finished the tournament as its top scorer with a runners-up medal, won the 1949 South American Championship with a hat-trick in the playoff against Paraguay, and at Vasco da Gama collected the 1948 South American club title and five Carioca championships.
ST1945–1953
Ademir de Menezes 39 caps (Brazil) · 32 goals · Sport Club do Recife, CR Vasco da GamaQueixada, the jaw, put four past Sweden at the Maracanã on 9 July 1950 in a 7-1 that came seven days before Uruguay silenced the same ground. He finished the tournament as its top scorer with a runners-up medal, won the 1949 South American Championship with a hat-trick in the playoff against Paraguay, and at Vasco da Gama collected the 1948 South American club title and five Carioca championships.
ST1945–1953
19
Carlos Alberto Torres 53 caps (Brazil) · Fluminense, Santos · FIFA World Cup 1970With four minutes left at the Azteca on 21 June 1970, Pelé rolled the ball square into his path and he hit it first time, low past Enrico Albertosi, for the fourth in Brazil's 4-1 win over Italy.
RB1964–1977
Carlos Alberto Torres 53 caps (Brazil) · Fluminense, Santos · FIFA World Cup 1970With four minutes left at the Azteca on 21 June 1970, Pelé rolled the ball square into his path and he hit it first time, low past Enrico Albertosi, for the fourth in Brazil's 4-1 win over Italy.
RB1964–1977
20
G
Gérson 70 caps (Brazil) · 14 goals · Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Botafogo F.R. · FIFA World Cup 1970Italy had held Brazil level for twenty-nine minutes of the 1970 final when his left foot broke it in the 66th minute, and five minutes later he floated the free kick Pelé headed down for Jairzinho.
CM1961–1972
21
K
Kaká 92 caps (Brazil) · 29 goals · AC Milan, Real Madrid Club de Fútbol · 1× Ballon d'OrOld Trafford went quiet on 24 April 2007 when he split two defenders and scored his second of the night, and Milan answered the 3-2 defeat with 3-0 at San Siro.
CAM2002–2016
22
T
Tostão 54 caps (Brazil) · 32 goals · América Futebol Clube, Cruzeiro E.C. · FIFA World Cup 1970A ball struck him in the face against Corinthians in 1969 and detached his retina; he went to Mexico the next summer anyway and played 1970 by dropping off the front line to open it. He won the 1970 World Cup with two goals and four assists, was South American Footballer of the Year in 1971, scored 249 goals in 378 games for Cruzeiro, took the 1966 Taça Brasil off Pelé's Santos, and retired at 27.
SS1966–1972
23
V
Vavá 20 caps (Brazil) · 15 goals · Atlético Madrid, Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras · FIFA World Cup 1958Peito de Aço, steel chest, Brazil called him, and he played like it, bullying centre-halves in the air and on the turn; in the 1958 final he scored twice against Sweden.
ST1955–1964
24
VJ
Vinícius Júnior 54 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Brazil) · 13 (as of 4 October 2026) goals · Clube de Regatas do Flamengo, Real Madrid Club de FútbolValverde drove a low ball across the six-yard box in Paris on 28 May 2022 and he was waiting at the far post to slide it in, the only goal of the Champions League final against Liverpool.
LM2019–
25
A
Alisson 76 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Brazil) · S.C. Internacional, AS RomaDeep into stoppage time at The Hawthorns in May 2021, he came up for a corner and headed in the winner, the only goal a Liverpool goalkeeper has ever scored.
GK2015–
26
Domingos da Guia 30 caps (Brazil) · Bangu Atlético Clube, Clube de Regatas do FlamengoDefenders in the 1930s cleared the ball; he dribbled out of his own penalty area instead, often enough that Brazil coined a word for it, the domingada, later used for his mistakes too.
CB1931–1946
Domingos da Guia 30 caps (Brazil) · Bangu Atlético Clube, Clube de Regatas do FlamengoDefenders in the 1930s cleared the ball; he dribbled out of his own penalty area instead, often enough that Brazil coined a word for it, the domingada, later used for his mistakes too.
CB1931–1946
27
Lúcio 105 caps (Brazil) · Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Bayern Munich · FIFA World Cup 2002Brazilian crowds called him O Cavalo, the Horse, for the galloping runs that carried him out of his own penalty area and deep into opposition territory before anyone thought to close him down.
CB2000–2011
Lúcio 105 caps (Brazil) · Bayer 04 Leverkusen, FC Bayern Munich · FIFA World Cup 2002Brazilian crowds called him O Cavalo, the Horse, for the galloping runs that carried him out of his own penalty area and deep into opposition territory before anyone thought to close him down.
CB2000–2011
28
MZ
Mário Zagallo 33 caps (Brazil) · 5 goals · America Football Club, Clube de Regatas do Flamengo · FIFA World Cup 1958Sweden led the 1958 final when the tireless left winger they called Formiguinha, the little ant, headed a shot off his own goal line; before the end he scored Brazil's fourth in a 5-2 win. That was the first of two World Cups as a player, and in 1970 he coached Brazil to a third, the first man to win the trophy in both roles, with five Rio championships at Flamengo and Botafogo.
LM1958–1964
29
Z
Zito Gerente, the manager, was the nickname Brazilian reporters gave the Santos captain, and on 18 June 1962 in Santiago he headed Brazil ahead of Czechoslovakia in the World Cup final with Pelé sidelined by injury.About the editorial selection
CM
30
C
Casemiro 91 (as of 4 October 2026) caps (Brazil) · São Paulo, FC PortoThe shield in front of Real Madrid's back four for nearly a decade, he broke Juventus open in Cardiff in June 2017 with a deflected drive from distance that turned the final.
CDM2011–
31
CT
Cláudio Taffarel 104 caps (Brazil) · Parma Calcio 1913, Clube Atlético Mineiro · FIFA World Cup 1994Penalties found him twice: Daniele Massaro's at the Rose Bowl on 17 July 1994, then Phillip Cocu's and Ronald de Boer's in Marseille four years later.
GK1988–1998
32
Gilmar 94 caps (Brazil) · S.C. Corinthians Paulista, SantosSweden 1958 brought Brazil their first world title, and Gilmar conceded four goals in six matches on the way, then five more across six games in Chile four years later.
GK1953–1969
Gilmar 94 caps (Brazil) · S.C. Corinthians Paulista, SantosSweden 1958 brought Brazil their first world title, and Gilmar conceded four goals in six matches on the way, then five more across six games in Chile four years later.
GK1953–1969
33
B
Bellini 51 caps (Brazil) · CR Vasco da Gama, São Paulo · FIFA World Cup 1958When the photographers at Råsunda could not see the Jules Rimet trophy on 29 June 1958, Bellini raised it above his head for them, and every winning captain since has copied the gesture.
CB1957–1966
About this XI
The collection opens with Pelé, Garrincha and Ronaldinho. The 33 covers 3 goalkeepers, 8 defenders, 16 midfielders and 6 forwards, with sourced senior international careers spanning the 1930s to the 2020s. Pick a formation, drag your eleven onto the pitch, then explore the careers and settle the duels below. Your votes reorder the people's ranking of these 33 in real time.
Left out, and why
A 33 is a set of decisions, and these are the players who lost their place in the last revision of Brazil's list. Every one of them has a case.
- Thiago SilvaThe place went to Casemiro.
- BebetoThe place went to Lúcio.
- AldairThe place went to Vavá.
- DungaThe place went to Mário Zagallo.
- Mauro SilvaThe place went to Rivellino.
- Toninho CerezoSee the current national collection for the selected careers.
- Luís PereiraSee the current national collection for the selected careers.
- DidaThe place went to Vinícius Júnior.
Disagree? That is the point. Settle it in the duels above.
Who is the greatest Brazil footballer of all time?
The editorial collection starts with Pelé. Its first five careers: Pelé, Garrincha, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo Nazário, Romário. The people's ranking on this page moves with every duel vote and can disagree.
How were these 33 Brazil players chosen?
The collection covers every position across Brazil's football history. Honours, international records and career achievements inform the editorial order. Each entry opens a career note and its sources. Fan votes in the duels build a separate ranking.
Where can I read about the careers?
Open a player page from the collection to read the career scene, club record and recorded honours. The source links show where the available records come from.
Can I build and share my own Brazil all-time XI?
Yes. Pick one of 8 formations, place any of the 33 players onto the pitch, and export your lineup as a PNG. There is no account and no sign-up.