20 Best Brazilian Soccer Players Of All Time

Best Brazilian soccer players!! It has always been a question of who is the best Brazilian soccer player. The Brazilian soccer team has a massive fan base across the Globe. This football-loving country has been blessed with some of the greatest footballers in history.

Brazilian football has a special place in the hearts of football lovers, and that becomes possible because of the Brazilian football players' legends. They have given this game a lot of skills and renovations, which have entertained football lovers.

In this article, we will talk about the 20 best Brazilian soccer players. Whether you are a supporter of Brazilian soccer style or just a soccer lover, you must know about these legends to understand how this game has evolved from generation to generation.

Let's explore the fascinating history of Brazilian soccer. We'll also get to know 20 of the country's greatest players.

We'll start with the one and only Pelé, a true legend who's still admired today.

Pele playing for Brazil

We will then talk about Ronaldo. Ronaldo is a superstar. He is known for his amazing skills. Next, we will talk about Garrincha. Garrincha can dribble the ball like nobody else.

Ronaldo and Garrincha playing for Brazil

These are just a few of the amazing players on our list. We'll also learn about:

Zico and Romario, who scored a ton of goals for Brazil

Ronaldinho, who brought flair and creativity to the game

Socrates, a midfielder with amazing vision and technique

Roberto Carlos, the left-back with the thunderous free kicks

Rivaldo, the attacking midfielder who could do it all

Cafu, the legendary right-back who won two World Cups

Zico, Romario, Ronaldinho, Socrates, Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, and Cafu playing for Brazil

We will also meet some not as well-known but still important players. These players are Djalma Santos, Jairzinho, and Tostao. We will look at the careers of Bebeto, Ze Roberto, Kaka, Falcao, Carlos Alberto Torres, and Leonidas da Silva. Falcao is a futsal legend. Carlos Alberto Torres is a great defender. Leonidas da Silva helped Brazil win their first World Cup.

If you love football, Brazil, or learning about great athletes, you will find this journey through Brazilian soccer fascinating. Stay tuned for more stories about the beautiful game!

20 Best Brazilian Soccer Players Of All Time

Let me tell you about the 20 best Brazilian soccer players of all time in Detail.

01. Pele | Best Brazilian Soccer Players

Pele is the greatest among the best Brazilian Soccer players. What do you think? Is there any argument with that? Let me start with a quote.

"My name is Ronald Reagan, the President of the United States of America. But you don’t need to introduce yourself because everyone knows who Pele is.”

Well, the argument of who is the all-time Best Brazilian Soccer player will remain forever. Still, Pele's on-field achievements, influence, and ambassadorial role in the sport make him the greatest.

Pele won three FIFA World Cup titles with Brazil in 1958, 1962, and 1970, playing a pivotal role in each tournament. In the 1958 World Cup, at just 17, Pele became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final, helping Brazil lift their first-ever title.

Moreover, Pele has been loved from every corner of the world. Though Pele, the former minister of sports of Brazil, died on December 29, 2022, they will remain forever in the hearts of football lovers.

02. Ronaldo | Brazilian Football Players' Legends

Ronaldo Luis Nazario de Lima, commonly known as Ronaldo, is one of this game's all-time greatest strikers. He is from Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, born September 18, 1976. Ronaldo appeared in 98 games for Brazil and scored 62 times. He has been awarded twice as the FIFA World Player of the Year.

However, Ronaldo battled numerous injuries throughout his career, including a devastating knee injury in 1999. Still, what he had done, having two World Cups by his name, one of those at the age of 17, made him win the hearts of Brazilians and football lovers across the globe.

Ronaldo’s incredible goal-scoring ability, dribbling skills, technical brilliance, and ability to play with the mind of the opponent player will be inspirational for young players. If injuries did not interrupt his career, he would have taken his career to a higher level.

03. Garrincha | Famous Brazilian Football Players

One of the most excellent dribblers of the game's history, Manuel Francisco dos Santos, is commonly known as Garrincha. Garrincha was born in Pau Grande, Brazil, in 19333 and started his glorious career by joining the Carioca club at 20.

Despite being born with physical deformities, including bent legs and a misaligned spine, Garrincha's extraordinary dribbling ability, agility, and close ball control made him a nightmare for defenders to handle.

Garrincha has several domestic titles, including three times Campeonato Carioca. Moreover, he scored 232 goals in his 582 appearances for the club. Thus, he became a symbol of the history of the club.

04. Zico | Brazilian Football Players

Another player from Rio de Janeiro is considered one of the best Brazilian soccer players. Zico had a highly successful career both at the club and international level.

He started his club career with Flamengo, winning seven state titles and four Brazilian championships.

Zico represented the Brazilian national team from 1976 to 1986 and played in three FIFA World Cups. Although Brazil didn't win the World Cup during his tenure, Zico's performances were exceptional, and he left a lasting impact.

05. Romario | Famous Brazilian Football Player

Romario de Souza Faria achieved great success, leaving an indelible mark on the sport. His career was full of remarkable goal-scoring ability and individual accolades. Johan Cruyff once said,” The best player I have coached? It has to be Romario.”

Though he is not an excellent customer to handle, he had significant input in his teams. He played a crucial role in Brazil's 1994 FIFA World Cup triumph, which brought him the FIFA World Player of the Year award.

Romário also won three Eredivisie titles for PSV. Moreover, he scored over 1,000 goals in his professional career, which only a few players in the sport's history achieved.

06. Ronaldinho | FIFA Confederations Cup Player

Ronaldinho mesmerized fans with his exceptional skill, creativity, and lively style of play. He was awarded the FIFA World Player of the Year title in 2004 and 2005. Ronaldinho had incredible dribbling skills, technical ability, and creative playmaking.

He won UEFA Champions League for FC Barcelona in the 2005-2006 season. Ronaldinho has two La Liga titles (2004-2005, 2005-2006) and one Serie A title (2010-2011). Also, he has several domestic cups, including Copa del Rey and the Italian Super Cup.

Furthermore, Ronaldinho was named the FIFA Confederations Cup Player of the Tournament in 1999. And he got included in the FIFA 100 list of the greatest living players, chosen by Pelé.

07. Socrates | Legendary Brazilian Soccer Player

Socrates was a legendary Brazilian soccer player who significantly contributed to the Brazilian soccer team. He was born on February 19, 1954, in Belém, Brazil, and passed away on December 4, 2011.

Sócrates was a talented and elegant midfielder with excellent technique and vision. He is known for his orchestrated attacks and exceptional dribbling abilities.

Sócrates was the iconic player for the Brazilian club Corinthians. And he had 60 caps for the Brazil soccer team and scored 22 goals. Moreover, he had great leadership qualities and captained the Corinthians and the Brazilian national team.

08. Roberto Carlos | Greatest Left-backs

Roberto Carlos is one of the greatest left-backs that Brazil has ever produced. He was born on April 10, 1973, in Garça, Brazil. And his career is characterized by attacking prowess, defensive solidity, and numerous titles.

His powerful free-kicks and influential contributions to Brazil's success in the 2002 World Cup will forever be remembered by football fans worldwide. Recognizing his gift, he was named the FIFA World Player of the Year's top 3 finalists in 1997 and 2002.

09. Rivaldo | Greatest Attacking Midfielders

Rivaldo is one of his generation's greatest attacking midfielders. He is known for his exceptional technical skills, ball control, and dribbling ability. In addition, he had a natural game flair and an elegant playing style.

Rivaldo played for several top clubs in Europe and Brazil, including Palmeiras, Deportivo La Coruña, Barcelona, Milan, Olympiacos, and São Paulo. And he represented the Brazilian national team from 1993 to 2003, earning 74 caps, scoring 35 goals, and Copa America in 1999

Furthermore, Rivaldo was a vital member of the Brazilian national team that won the FIFA World Cup in 2002. He won the UEFA Champions League and two La Liga titles with Barcelona in the 1997-1998 and 1998-1999 seasons.

10. Djalma Santos | Legendary Brazilian Football Player

Djalma Santos was a legendary Brazilian football player, one of the greatest right-backs in the sport's history. Known for his exceptional defensive skills, positional awareness, overlapping runs, and strong tackling ability.

Throughout his career, Djalma Santos played for Portuguesa, Palmeiras, and Atlético Paranaense. And in his international career, he represented the Brazilian national team from 1952 to 1968, earning 98 caps.

Djalma Santos won the FIFA World Cup with Brazil in 1958 and 1962. Moreover, he won the South American Championship (now Copa America) with Brazil in 1949, 1957, and 1959.

11. Jairzinho | Greatest Brazilian Footballer Ever

Jairzinho was born in Rio de Janeiro on December 25, 1944, and was famous as an incredible and dynamic winger. He was placed into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame as one of the greatest Brazilian footballers ever.

His remarkable clubs were Botafogo, Cruzeiro, and Internacional. However, he spent most of his club career at Botafogo, where he played from 1962 to 1974.

He played a vital role in Brazil's success, contributing significantly to their championship-winning campaign in the 1970 FIFA World Cup In Mexico. He scored seven goals, finishing as the tournament's joint-top scorer.

12. Cafu | Greatest Right-backs In The History of Soccer

Cafu is one of the greatest right-backs in the history of soccer. He was born on June 7, 1970, in São Paulo, Brazil. Cafu played for clubs including São Paulo, Roma, and AC Milan.

Cafu represented the Brazilian national team from 1990 to 2006, earning 142 caps. Also, He captained the team in two consecutive FIFA World Cups and was an integral part of the Brazilian team's success.

Cafu won the FIFA World Cup titles. Moreover, he has two Copa America, UEFA Champions League, Serie A, and FIFA Club World Cup.

13. Zizinho | Greatest Midfielders

Zizinho is one of the greatest midfielders in the history of the sport. He played during the 1940s and 1950s. Zizinho played for several clubs in Brazil throughout his career, including Flamengo, Bangu, São Paulo, and Audax Italiano.

However, he was a crucial figure in the Brazilian team from 1942 to 1957. Zizinho appeared in 53 games and scored 30 goals. Zizinho Also won the Copa America with Brazil in 1949 and 1957. He played a crucial role in both tournaments.

As a recognition, Zizinho was inducted into the Brazilian Football Museum Hall of Fame as one of the greatest Brazilian footballers ever.

14. Tostao | Greatest Brazilian Footballers

Tostao is famous for his contributions to the Brazilian national team in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Throughout his career, he played for clubs like Cruzeiro and Vasco da Gama.

He played a vital role in Brazil's 1970 FIFA World Cup triumph. His formidable attacking partnership with Pele, Jairzinho, and Rivelino contributed to his skill, vision, and goal-scoring ability.

15. Bebeto | FIFA World Cup Winner

Bebeto was in the Brazilian national team in the 1990s. He was born on February 16, 1964, in Salvador. Bebeto had precision and composure in front of the goal.

His clubs were Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Deportivo La Coruña, and Botafogo. Moreover, he appeared in 75 matches for Brazil and scored 39 goals. He is the 1995 FIFA World Cup Winner.

16. Ze Roberto | UEFA Champions League Final

Ze Roberto had versatility and longevity in the game. He played for clubs such as Flamengo, Real Madrid, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Santos, and Palmeiras. And he won multiple domestic league titles with various clubs.

Moreover, he had several International Club Successes, including reaching the UEFA Champions League final twice. Also, he earned 84 caps playing for Brazil's national team and won Copa America with Brazil in 1997 and 2004.

17. Kaka | Greatest Midfielders of His Generation

Kaká was one of the greatest midfielders of his generation. He had an illustrious career at the club and international level, earning numerous achievements. He played for the top clubs, including São Paulo, AC Milan, Real Madrid, and Orlando City.

Kaka was in the Brazilian national team from 2002 to 2016, appearing in 92 caps and scoring 29 goals. He was a member of the Brazilian team that won the World Cup in 2002. Also, he won the Copa America with Brazil in 2004.

18. Falcao | Tournament's Best Player

Falcao was born on June 8, 1977, in São Paulo, Brazil. He had played for clubs including career, including Santos, Ulbra, Malwee/Jaraguá, and Sorocaba. He had immense success with these clubs, winning multiple national championships and domestic titles.

Falcão represented Brazil in multiple FIFA Futsal World Cup tournaments. He won the World Cup with Brazil in 2008 and was the top goalscorer and the tournament's best player. He also won silver in 1996 and bronze in 2012.

19. Carlos Alberto Torres | Best Brazilian Defender

Carlos Alberto was born on July 17, 1944, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, and was the best Brazilian defender of all time. He led the team to victory, and Brazil secured their third World Cup title with an impressive and dominant performance throughout the tournament.

20. Leonidas da Silva | FIFA World Cup Accomplishments

Leonidas da Silva represented Brazil in the 1938 FIFA World Cup held in France. His goals helped Brazil secure a third-place finish, their best performance in a World Cup.

Leônidas da Silva has earned legendary status in Brazilian football history due to his club and FIFA World Cup accomplishments. His inventiveness, ability to score goals, and contributions to the game still get praised.

Final Thoughts

The Brazilian soccer team has a reputation all over the world. However, who are the best Brazilian Soccer players of all time? These 20 sorcerer players are the best according to their stats, involvement, dedication to the game, and exceptional skills. Do you agree with me or want to include or exclude anyone from the list?