Brazil at the FIFA World Cup explained

This article summarizes the results and overall performance of Brazil at the FIFA World Cup, including the qualification phase and the final phase, officially called the World Cup finals. The qualification phase, which currently takes place over the three years preceding the finals, is used to determine which teams qualify for the finals. The current format of the finals involves 32 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host nation (or nations) over a period of about a month. The World Cup Final is the most widely viewed sporting event in the world, with an estimated over 1 billion people watching the 2014 tournament final.[1]

Brazil is the most successful national team in the history of the World Cup, having won five titles, earning second place, third place and fourth place finishes twice each. Brazil is one of the countries besides Argentina, Spain and Germany to win a FIFA World Cup away from its continent and the only one to do it in four different continents. (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, Mexico 1970, United States 1994 and South Korea/Japan 2002). Until the 2026 qualifiers, Brazil was the only national team to have played in all FIFA World Cup editions without any absence or need for playoffs. In 22 World Cup tournaments, Brazil had 76 victories out of 114 matches. Brazil also has the best overall performance in World Cup history in both proportional and absolute terms with a record of 76 victories in 114 matches played, 129 goal difference, 247 points and only 19 losses.[2] [3]

Traditionally, Brazil's greatest rival is Argentina. The two countries have met each other four times in the history of the FIFA World Cup, with two wins for Brazil (West Germany 1974 and Spain 1982), one for Argentina (Italy 1990) and a draw (Argentina 1978). The country that played most against Brazil in the finals is Sweden: 7 times, with five wins for Brazil and two draws. Three other historical rivals are Italy, which lost two World Cup finals against Brazil and eliminated the Brazilians in two tournaments (France 1938 and Spain 1982), France, which has defeated Brazil on three occasions (Mexico 1986, France 1998 and Germany 2006), and the Netherlands, which has eliminated Brazil at two of their five meetings (West Germany 1974 and South Africa 2010) and won the third place match in Brazil 2014.

Brazil won their first world cup final in 1958, 28 years after the first competition was held in 1930. The second longest streak before winning their fourth world cup title in 1994 came 24 years after winning their third title in 1970. Since earning their fifth world cup tournament in 2002, by 2026, it will have been 24 years since Brazil has last won the title, the same duration between the third and the fourth title.

Records

See main article: FIFA World Cup records and statistics.

YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA
1930Group stage6th210152
1934Round of 1614th100113
1938Third place3rd53111411
1950Runners-up2nd6411226
1954Quarter-finals5th311185
1958Champions1st6510164
1962Champions1st6510145
1966Group stage11th310246
1970Champions1st6600197
1974Fourth place4th732264
1978Third Place3rd7430103
1982Second group stage5th5401156
1986Quarter-finals5th5410101
1990Round of 169th430142
1994Champions1st7520113
1998Runners-up2nd74121410
2002Champions1st7700184
2006Quarter-finals5th5401102
2010Quarter-finals6th531194
2014Fourth place4th73221114
2018Quarter-finals6th531183
2022Quarter-finals7th531183
2026To be determined
2030
2034
Total22/225 Titles114761919237108

World Cup titles

YearManagerCaptainGoalscorer(s) in final
1958Vicente FeolaBelliniVavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo
1962Aymoré MoreiraMauro RamosAmarildo, Zito, Vavá
1970Mário ZagalloCarlos Alberto TorresPelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto Torres
1994Carlos Alberto ParreiraDungaN/A
2002Luiz Felipe ScolariCafuRonaldo (2)

By match

YearRoundOpponentsScoreBrazil scorers
1930Group B1–2Preguinho
4–0Moderato (2), Preguinho (2)
1934Round of 161–3Leônidas
1938Round of 16Leônidas (3), Romeu, Perácio (2)
Quarter-finalsLeônidas
Quarter-finals (replay)2–1Leônidas, Roberto
Semi-finals1–2Romeu
Third place play-off4–2Romeu, Leônidas (2), Perácio
1950Group A4–0Ademir (2), Jair, Baltazar
2–2Alfredo, Baltazar
2–0Ademir, Zizinho
Final round7–1Ademir (4), Chico (2), Maneca
6–1Ademir (2), Jair, Chico (2), Zizinho
Final1–2Friaça
1954Group A5–0Baltazar, Didi, Pinga (2), Julinho
1–1 Didi
Quarter-finals2–4Djalma Santos, Julinho
1958Group D3–0Mazzola (2), Nilton Santos
0–0
2–0Vavá (2)
Quarter-finals1–0Pelé
Semi-finals5–2Vavá, Didi, Pelé (3)
Final5–2Vavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo
1962Group C2–0Pelé, Zagallo
0–0
2–1Amarildo (2)
Quarter-finals3–1Garrincha (2), Vavá
Semi-finals4–2Garrincha (2), Vavá (2)
Final3–1Amarildo, Zito, Vavá
1966Group C2–0Pelé, Garrincha
1–3Tostão
1–3Rildo
1970Group C4–1Rivelino, Pelé, Jairzinho (2)
1–0Jairzinho
3–2Pelé (2), Jairzinho
Quarter-finals4–2Rivelino, Tostão (2), Jairzinho
Semi-finals3–1Clodoaldo, Jairzinho, Rivelino
Final4–1Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto
1974Group 20–0
0–0
3–0Jairzinho, Rivelino, Valdomiro
Group A1–0Rivelino
2–1Rivelino, Jairzinho
0–2
Third place play-off0–1
1978Group 31–1Reinaldo
0–0
1–0Roberto Dinamite
Group B3–0Dirceu (2), Zico
0–0
3–1Nelinho, Roberto Dinamite (2)
Third place play-off2–1Nelinho, Dirceu
1982Group 62–1Sócrates, Éder
4–1Zico, Oscar, Éder, Falcão
4–0Zico (2), Falcão, Serginho
Group C3–1Zico, Serginho, Júnior
2–3Sócrates, Falcão
1986Group D1–0Sócrates
1–0Careca
3–0Careca (2), Josimar
Round of 164–0Sócrates, Josimar, Edinho, Careca
Quarter-finals1–1
Careca
1990Group C2–1Careca (2)
1–0Müller
1–0Müller
Round of 160–1
1994Group B2–0Romário, Raí
3–0Romário, Márcio Santos, Bebeto
1–1Romário
Round of 161–0Bebeto
Quarter-finals3–2Romário, Bebeto, Branco
Semi-finals1–0Romário
Final0–0
1998Group A2–1César Sampaio, Boyd (OG)
3–0Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Bebeto
1–2Bebeto
Round of 164–1Ronaldo (2), César Sampaio (2)
Quarter-finals3–2Bebeto, Rivaldo (2)
Semi-finals1–1
Ronaldo
Final0–3
2002Group C2–1Ronaldo, Rivaldo
4–0Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo
5–2Ronaldo (2), Edmílson, Rivaldo, Júnior
Round of 162–0Rivaldo, Ronaldo
Quarter-finals2–1Rivaldo, Ronaldinho
Semi-finals1–0Ronaldo
Final2–0Ronaldo (2)
2006Group F1–0Kaká
2–0Adriano, Fred
4–1Ronaldo (2), Juninho, Gilberto
Round of 163–0Adriano, Ronaldo, Zé Roberto
Quarter-finals0–1
2010Group G2–1Maicon, Elano
3–1Luís Fabiano (2), Elano
0–0
Round of 163–0Juan, Luís Fabiano, Robinho
Quarter-finals1–2Robinho
2014Group A3–1Neymar (2), Oscar
0–0
4–1Neymar (2), Fred, Fernandinho
Round of 161–1
David Luiz
Quarter-finals2–1Thiago Silva, David Luiz
Semi-finals1–7Oscar
Third place play-off0–3
2018Group E1–1Coutinho
2–0Coutinho, Neymar
2–0Paulinho, Thiago Silva
Round of 162–0Neymar, Firmino
Quarter-finals1–2Renato Augusto
2022Group G2–0Richarlison (2)
1–0Casemiro
0–1
Round of 164–1Vinícius, Neymar, Richarlison, Paquetá
Quarter-finals1–1
Neymar

Record players

Brazil's record World Cup player, Cafu is also the only player ever to have appeared in three consecutive World Cup finals: 1994, 1998 and 2002.

Most matches played

RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups
1Cafu201994, 1998, 2002, 2006
2Ronaldo191994, 1998, 2002, 2006
3Cláudio Taffarel181990, 1994, 1998
Dunga181990, 1994, 1998
5Roberto Carlos171998, 2002, 2006
Lúcio172002, 2006, 2010
7Jairzinho161966, 1970, 1974
Gilberto Silva162002, 2006, 2010
9Nílton Santos151950, 1954, 1958, 1962
Didi151954, 1958, 1962
Rivellino151970, 1974, 1978
Bebeto151990, 1994, 1998

Most tournament appearances

Altogether eight players share the record of four participations. The goalkeeper Émerson Leão is the only one who has played four tournaments non-consecutively (not called at 1982).

Apps.NamePos.World Cups
align=center rowspan=84CafuDF1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
CastilhoGK1950, 1954, 1958, 1962
Djalma SantosDF1954, 1958, 1962, 1966
LeãoGK1970, 1974, 1978, 1986
Nílton SantosDF1950, 1954, 1958, 1962
PeléFW1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
RonaldoFW1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
Thiago SilvaDF2010, 2014, 2018, 2022

Top goalscorers

Five Brazilians have won the World Cup Golden Boot Award over the years: Leônidas with 7 goals in 1938, Ademir with 9 goals in 1950, Garrincha and Vavá with 4 goals each in 1962 and Ronaldo with 8 goals in 2002.

RankPlayerGoalsWorld Cups
1Ronaldo151998 (4), 2002 (8), 2006 (3)
2Pelé121958 (6), 1962 (1), 1966 (1), 1970 (4)
3Ademir91950
Vavá91958 (5), 1962 (4)
Jairzinho91970 (7), 1974 (2)
6Leônidas81934 (1), 1938 (7)
Rivaldo81998 (3), 2002 (5)
Neymar82014 (4), 2018 (2), 2022 (2)
9Careca71986 (5), 1990 (2)
10Bebeto61994 (3), 1998 (3)
Rivellino61970 (3), 1974 (3)

Players provided by club

Below is the list of clubs that have provided more than 5 players throughout the FIFA World Cup editions:[4] [5]

ClubTotal players
Botafogo47
São Paulo46
Flamengo36
Vasco da Gama34
Fluminense32
Corinthiansalign=center rowspan=324
Palmeiras
Santos
Real Madrid13
Atlético Mineiro12
Barcelona11
Cruzeiro
Roma10
Internazionale9
Paris Saint-Germain
Grêmioalign=center rowspan=28
Internacional
Milan7
Benficaalign=center rowspan=5 6
Chelsea
Juventus
Manchester City
Portuguesa
Notes

Awards and records

Team awards

Individual awards

Golden Ball awards

Golden Boot awards

Other individual awards

Awards as coaches of other nations

Brazilian coaches have appeared on the sidelines of other nations with some regularity. Three of them have won team awards with their nations:

Team records

Individual records

See also

External links

Notes and References

  1. 2014 FIFA World Cup reached 3.2 billion viewers, one billion watched final. https://web.archive.org/web/20151219010501/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2015/m=12/news=2014-fifa-world-cuptm-reached-3-2-billion-viewers-one-billion-watched--2745519.html. dead. 19 December 2015. FIFA. 17 November 2017.
  2. Web site: FIFA World Cup Teams Statistics. FIFA. 17 November 2017.
  3. Web site: World Cup All Time League Table. WorldFootball.net. 25 April 2024 .
  4. Web site: Copa: Botafogo segue líder entre clubes que mais cederam jogadores à Seleção . Globo Esporte . Blog Numerólogos . 7 May 2014 . 26 February 2022 . pt .
  5. Web site: Guia Histórico da Copa do Mundo 2022 . Michael . Serra . São Paulo FC . 19 November 2022 . pt .
  6. Web site: Araken Patusca: a curiosa história de um dos astros da Seleção Brasileira na primeira Copa do Mundo . CBF . 17 July 2020 . 26 February 2022 . pt.
  7. Web site: São Paulo em Copas: clube já cedeu 46 jogadores ao Brasil, mas não tem convocados há 16 anos . GloboEsporte . 25 November 2022 . pt.
  8. Book: Gehringer, Max . A grande história dos mundiais 1930, 1934, 1938, 1950 . 3 September 2021 . e-Galáxia . pt . 978-65-8763-955-0.
  9. Book: Vellozo Ribas, Lycio . O Livro de Ouro das Copas . Faro Digital . pt . 978-85-9581-013-6 . 2018.
  10. Web site: FIFA World Cup All Time Statistics — All editions . https://web.archive.org/web/20150905112010/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/statistics-and-records/worldcup/index.html . dead . September 5, 2015 . FIFA . 14 September 2015 .

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