Brazil at the FIFA World Cup

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 48 teams competing for the title, at venues within the host country.

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 four countries along with Argentina, Spain and Germany to win a FIFA World Cup away from its continent (Sweden 1958, Chile 1962, Mexico 1970, United States 1994 and South Korea/Japan 2002). Brazil is also the only national team to have played in all FIFA World Cup editions without any absence or need for play-offs. In 22 World Cup tournaments, Brazil has 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.

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 the most matches against Brazil at the World Cup is Sweden: seven 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.

Records

Year Round Position Pld W D* L GF GA
1930 Group stage 6th 2 1 0 1 5 2
1934 Round of 16 14th 1 0 0 1 1 3
1938 Third place 3rd 5 3 1 1 14 11
1950 Runners-up 2nd 6 4 1 1 22 6
1954 Quarter-finals 5th 3 1 1 1 8 5
1958 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 16 4
1962 Champions 1st 6 5 1 0 14 5
1966 Group stage 11th 3 1 0 2 4 6
1970 Champions 1st 6 6 0 0 19 7
1974 Fourth place 4th 7 3 2 2 6 4
1978 Third Place 3rd 7 4 3 0 10 3
1982 Second group stage 5th 5 4 0 1 15 6
1986 Quarter-finals 5th 5 4 1 0 10 1
1990 Round of 16 9th 4 3 0 1 4 2
1994 Champions 1st 7 5 2 0 11 3
1998 Runners-up 2nd 7 4 1 2 14 10
2002 Champions 1st 7 7 0 0 18 4
2006 Quarter-finals 5th 5 4 0 1 10 2
2010 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 1 1 9 4
2014 Fourth place 4th 7 3 2 2 11 14
2018 Quarter-finals 6th 5 3 1 1 8 3
2022 Quarter-finals 7th 5 3 1 1 8 3
2026 Qualified
2030 To be determined
2034
Total 23/23 5 Titles 114 76 19 19 237 108

*Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.

World Cup titles

Year Manager Captain Goalscorer(s) in final
1958 Vicente Feola Bellini Vavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo
1962 Aymoré Moreira Mauro Ramos Amarildo, Zito, Vavá
1970 Mário Zagallo Carlos Alberto Torres Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto Torres
1994 Carlos Alberto Parreira Dunga N/A
2002 Luiz Felipe Scolari Cafu Ronaldo (2)

By match

Year Round Opponents Score Brazil scorers
1930 Group B  Yugoslavia 1–2 Preguinho
 Bolivia 4–0 Moderato (2), Preguinho (2)
1934 Round of 16  Spain 1–3 Leônidas
1938 Round of 16  Poland 6–5 (a.e.t.) Leônidas (3), Romeu, Perácio (2)
Quarter-finals  Czechoslovakia 1–1 (a.e.t.) Leônidas
Quarter-finals (replay)  Czechoslovakia 2–1 Leônidas, Roberto
Semi-finals  Italy 1–2 Romeu
Third place play-off  Sweden 4–2 Romeu, Leônidas (2), Perácio
1950 Group A  Mexico 4–0 Ademir (2), Jair, Baltazar
  Switzerland 2–2 Alfredo, Baltazar
 Yugoslavia 2–0 Ademir, Zizinho
Final round  Sweden 7–1 Ademir (4), Chico (2), Maneca
 Spain 6–1 Ademir (2), Jair, Chico (2), Zizinho
Final  Uruguay 1–2 Friaça
1954 Group A  Mexico 5–0 Baltazar, Didi, Pinga (2), Julinho
 Yugoslavia 1–1 (a.e.t.) Didi
Quarter-finals  Hungary 2–4 Djalma Santos, Julinho
1958 Group D  Austria 3–0 Mazzola (2), Nilton Santos
 England 0–0
 Soviet Union 2–0 Vavá (2)
Quarter-finals  Wales 1–0 Pelé
Semi-finals  France 5–2 Vavá, Didi, Pelé (3)
Final  Sweden 5–2 Vavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo
1962 Group C  Mexico 2–0 Pelé, Zagallo
 Czechoslovakia 0–0
 Spain 2–1 Amarildo (2)
Quarter-finals  England 3–1 Garrincha (2), Vavá
Semi-finals  Chile 4–2 Garrincha (2), Vavá (2)
Final  Czechoslovakia 3–1 Amarildo, Zito, Vavá
1966 Group C  Bulgaria 2–0 Pelé, Garrincha
 Hungary 1–3 Tostão
 Portugal 1–3 Rildo
1970 Group C  Czechoslovakia 4–1 Rivelino, Pelé, Jairzinho (2)
 England 1–0 Jairzinho
 Romania 3–2 Pelé (2), Jairzinho
Quarter-finals  Peru 4–2 Rivelino, Tostão (2), Jairzinho
Semi-finals  Uruguay 3–1 Clodoaldo, Jairzinho, Rivelino
Final  Italy 4–1 Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto
1974 Group 2  Yugoslavia 0–0
 Scotland 0–0
 Zaire 3–0 Jairzinho, Rivelino, Valdomiro
Group A  East Germany 1–0 Rivelino
 Argentina 2–1 Rivelino, Jairzinho
 Netherlands 0–2
Third place play-off  Poland 0–1
1978 Group 3  Sweden 1–1 Reinaldo
 Spain 0–0
 Austria 1–0 Roberto Dinamite
Group B  Peru 3–0 Dirceu (2), Zico
 Argentina 0–0
 Poland 3–1 Nelinho, Roberto Dinamite (2)
Third place play-off  Italy 2–1 Nelinho, Dirceu
1982 Group 6  Soviet Union 2–1 Sócrates, Éder
 Scotland 4–1 Zico, Oscar, Éder, Falcão
 New Zealand 4–0 Zico (2), Falcão, Serginho
Group C  Argentina 3–1 Zico, Serginho, Júnior
 Italy 2–3 Sócrates, Falcão
1986 Group D  Spain 1–0 Sócrates
 Algeria 1–0 Careca
 Northern Ireland 3–0 Careca (2), Josimar
Round of 16  Poland 4–0 Sócrates, Josimar, Edinho, Careca
Quarter-finals  France 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–4 p)
Careca
1990 Group C  Sweden 2–1 Careca (2)
 Costa Rica 1–0 Müller
 Scotland 1–0 Müller
Round of 16  Argentina 0–1
1994 Group B  Russia 2–0 Romário, Raí
 Cameroon 3–0 Romário, Márcio Santos, Bebeto
 Sweden 1–1 Romário
Round of 16  United States 1–0 Bebeto
Quarter-finals  Netherlands 3–2 Romário, Bebeto, Branco
Semi-finals  Sweden 1–0 Romário
Final  Italy 0–0 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
1998 Group A  Scotland 2–1 César Sampaio, Boyd (OG)
 Morocco 3–0 Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Bebeto
 Norway 1–2 Bebeto
Round of 16  Chile 4–1 Ronaldo (2), César Sampaio (2)
Quarter-finals  Denmark 3–2 Bebeto, Rivaldo (2)
Semi-finals  Netherlands 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(4–2 p)
Ronaldo
Final  France 0–3
2002 Group C  Turkey 2–1 Ronaldo, Rivaldo
 China 4–0 Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo
 Costa Rica 5–2 Ronaldo (2), Edmílson, Rivaldo, Júnior
Round of 16  Belgium 2–0 Rivaldo, Ronaldo
Quarter-finals  England 2–1 Rivaldo, Ronaldinho
Semi-finals  Turkey 1–0 Ronaldo
Final  Germany 2–0 Ronaldo (2)
2006 Group F  Croatia 1–0 Kaká
 Australia 2–0 Adriano, Fred
 Japan 4–1 Ronaldo (2), Juninho, Gilberto
Round of 16  Ghana 3–0 Adriano, Ronaldo, Zé Roberto
Quarter-finals  France 0–1
2010 Group G  North Korea 2–1 Maicon, Elano
 Ivory Coast 3–1 Luís Fabiano (2), Elano
 Portugal 0–0
Round of 16  Chile 3–0 Juan, Luís Fabiano, Robinho
Quarter-finals  Netherlands 1–2 Robinho
2014 Group A  Croatia 3–1 Neymar (2), Oscar
 Mexico 0–0
 Cameroon 4–1 Neymar (2), Fred, Fernandinho
Round of 16  Chile 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(3–2 p)
David Luiz
Quarter-finals  Colombia 2–1 Thiago Silva, David Luiz
Semi-finals  Germany 1–7 Oscar
Third place play-off  Netherlands 0–3
2018 Group E   Switzerland 1–1 Coutinho
 Costa Rica 2–0 Coutinho, Neymar
 Serbia 2–0 Paulinho, Thiago Silva
Round of 16  Mexico 2–0 Neymar, Firmino
Quarter-finals  Belgium 1–2 Renato Augusto
2022 Group G  Serbia 2–0 Richarlison (2)
  Switzerland 1–0 Casemiro
 Cameroon 0–1
Round of 16  South Korea 4–1 Vinícius, Neymar, Richarlison, Paquetá
Quarter-finals  Croatia 1–1 (a.e.t.)
(2–4 p)
Neymar

Head-to-head record

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

Rank Player Matches World Cups
1 Cafu 20 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
2 Ronaldo 19 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
3 Cláudio Taffarel 18 1990, 1994, 1998
Dunga 18 1990, 1994, 1998
5 Roberto Carlos 17 1998, 2002, 2006
Lúcio 17 2002, 2006, 2010
7 Jairzinho 16 1966, 1970, 1974
Gilberto Silva 16 2002, 2006, 2010
9 Nílton Santos 15 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962
Didi 15 1954, 1958, 1962
Rivellino 15 1970, 1974, 1978
Bebeto 15 1990, 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. Name Pos. World Cups
4 Cafu DF 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
Castilho GK 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962
Djalma Santos DF 1954, 1958, 1962, 1966
Leão GK 1970, 1974, 1978, 1986
Nílton Santos DF 1950, 1954, 1958, 1962
Pelé FW 1958, 1962, 1966, 1970
Ronaldo FW 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006
Thiago Silva DF 2010, 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.

Rank Player Goals World Cups
1 Ronaldo 15 1998 (4), 2002 (8), 2006 (3)
2 Pelé 12 1958 (6), 1962 (1), 1966 (1), 1970 (4)
3 Ademir 9 1950
Vavá 9 1958 (5), 1962 (4)
Jairzinho 9 1970 (7), 1974 (2)
6 Leônidas 8 1934 (1), 1938 (7)
Rivaldo 8 1998 (3), 2002 (5)
Neymar 8 2014 (4), 2018 (2), 2022 (2)
9 Careca 7 1986 (5), 1990 (2)
10 Bebeto 6 1994 (3), 1998 (3)
Rivellino 6 1970 (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:

Club Total players
Botafogo 47
São Paulo 46
Flamengo 36
Vasco da Gama 34
Fluminense 32
Corinthians 24
Palmeiras
Santos
Real Madrid 13
Atlético Mineiro 12
Barcelona 11
Cruzeiro
Roma 10
Internazionale 9
Paris Saint-Germain
Grêmio 8
Internacional
Milan 7
Benfica 6
Chelsea
Juventus
Manchester City
Portuguesa
Notes
  • 1930: Some sources claim that players Doca (São Cristóvão) and Benevenuto (Flamengo) were not officially entered at the 1930 squad. This count includes Benevenuto and Doca. Araken never played for Flamengo, but he was registered as a club athlete just as a matter of formality, since APEA (São Paulo) was in a power struggle over command of Brazilian football with the CBD, situated in Rio de Janeiro. The player, in fact, had terminated with Santos and signed with São Paulo.
  • 1934: This count does not include players who didn't travel to Italy and stayed on stand-by in Brazil: Almeida (Bahia), Bilé (Ypiranga-SP), Jaguaré (Corinthians) and Pamplona (Botafogo). Neither includes Domingos da Guia, barred from participating in the competition by Nacional Montevideo, who had already ceded Patesko and demanded a high compensation fee.

Awards and records

Team awards

  • 1958 World Cup Champions
  • 1962 World Cup Champions
  • 1970 World Cup Champions
  • 1994 World Cup Champions
  • 2002 World Cup Champions
  • FIFA Fair Play Trophy 1982
  • FIFA Fair Play Trophy 1986
  • FIFA Fair Play Trophy 1994
  • FIFA Fair Play Trophy 2006
  • Most Entertaining Team 1994

Individual awards

Golden Ball awards

  • Golden Ball 1938: Leônidas
  • Golden Ball 1950: Zizinho
  • Golden Ball 1958: Didi
  • Golden Ball 1962: Garrincha
  • Golden Ball 1970: Pelé
  • Golden Ball 1994: Romário
  • Golden Ball 1998: Ronaldo (youngest Golden Ball winner of all time at 21 years)
  • Silver Ball 1958: Pelé (youngest Ball award winner at 17 years)
  • Silver Ball 1970: Gérson
  • Silver Ball 1982: Falcão
  • Silver Ball 2002: Ronaldo
  • Bronze Ball 1950: Ademir
  • Bronze Ball 1978: Dirceu

Golden Boot awards

  • Golden Boot 1938: Leônidas
  • Golden Boot 1950: Ademir
  • Golden Boot 1962: Garrincha and Vavá (shared)
  • Golden Boot 2002: Ronaldo
  • Silver Boot 1958: Pelé (youngest Boot award winner at 17 years)
  • Silver Boot 1970: Jairzinho
  • Silver Boot 1986: Careca
  • Silver Boot 2002: Rivaldo
  • Bronze Boot 1950: Chico
  • Bronze Boot 1982: Zico
  • Bronze Boot 1994: Romário
  • Bronze Boot 2006: Ronaldo
  • Bronze Boot 2014: Neymar

Other individual awards

  • Best Young Player Award 1958: Pelé (youngest Best Young Player award winner at 17 years)
  • Man of the Match award 2002: Rivaldo

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:

  • Otto Glória won Third Place with Portugal in 1966.
  • Didi won the FIFA Fair Play Trophy with Peru in 1970.
  • Luiz Felipe Scolari won the Most Entertaining Team award with Portugal in 2006.

Team records

  • Most titles (5)
  • Most participations (22)
  • Most games played (114)
  • Most victories (76)
  • Most goals scored (237)
  • Biggest goal difference (+129)
  • Most sendings-off (11)
  • Most finishes in the Top 5 (15), top 8 (19), top 10 (20) and Top 16 (22)
  • Most consecutive wins (11) and matches without losing (13)
  • Most tournaments finishing undefeated (7)
  • Only national team to win all matches in 2 world cups (1970 and 2002)
  • One of two teams to have defended their title as champions (1962). The other being Italy (1938).
  • One of two teams to have progressed to three consecutive World Cup finals (1994-2002). The other being Germany (1982-1990).
  • Most wins in one tournament (7, 2002)
  • Biggest goal difference as champion (+14, 2002), shared with Germany (2014)

Individual records

  • Pelé holds a number of FIFA World Cup records:
    • Only player to win three FIFA World Cups (1958, 1962 and 1970)
    • Youngest tournament winner (1958, at 17y 249d)
    • Youngest goalscorer (1958 v Wales, at 17y 239d)
    • Youngest hat-trick scorer (1958 v France, at 17y 244d)
    • Youngest goalscorer in a final (1958 v Sweden, at 17y 249d)
  • Youngest Golden Ball winner: Ronaldo (1998, at 21y 9m 24d)
  • Most appearances in an All-Star Team: Djalma Santos (3, 1954–1962) (shared with Franz Beckenbauer and Philipp Lahm)
  • Most appearances as a substitute: Denílson (11, 1998–2002)
  • Most tournament wins as player and coach: Mário Zagallo (3, 1958 & 1962 as player, 1970 as coach)
  • Only player to appear in three consecutive FIFA World Cup finals: Cafu (1994, 1998 and 2002)
  • Most team awards won: Cafu (4, 1994–2006)
  • Most cautions: Cafu (6), shared with Zinedine Zidane and Rafael Márquez

See also

wikipedia, wiki, encyclopedia, book, library, article, read, free download, Information about Brazil at the FIFA World Cup, What is Brazil at the FIFA World Cup? What does Brazil at the FIFA World Cup mean?