Brazil national teams of all times + All-Time XI

XI of the Seleção Brasileira de Futebol throughout the history of the game.

Brazil 1938, 3rd of the World Cup held in France.

BRASIL 1938

Brazil 1950, Runner-up of the World up held on home soil.

BRASIL 1950

Brazil 1958, Winner of the World Cup in Sweden.

BRASIL 1958

Brazil 1962, Winner of the World Cup held in Chile.

BRASIL 1962

Brazil 1970, Winner of the World Cup held in Mexico.

 

BRASIL 1970

Brazil 1974, Fourth at the World Cup held in West Germany.

BRASIL 1974

(+ Leivinha)

Brazil 1978, 3rd at the World Cup held in Argentina.

BRASIL 1978

(+ Zico, or - Zico)

Brasil 1982, eliminated in the Second Round (Groups preceding the semi-finals) at the Spanish Mundial.

BRASIL 1982

Brazil 1986, quarter-finalist of the Mundial of the second Mexican Mundial.

BRASIL 1986

(+ Zico)

Brazil 1990, round of 16 of the Italian World Cup.

BRASIL 1990

Brazil 1994, Winners of the World Cup held in the U.S.A.

BRASIL 1994

(+ Cafu, right back in the Final after 21 mins. of play)

Brazil 1998, Runner-up of the World Cup held in France.

BRASIL 1998

Brazil 2002, Winner of the World Cup held in South Korea and Japan.

BRASIL 2002

Brazil 2006, quarter-finalist of the World Cup held in Germany.

BRASIL 2006

(+ Robinho, Juninho Pernambucano and Gilberto Silva)

Brazil 2010, quarter-finalist of the World Cup held in South Africa.

BRASIL 2010

Brazil 2014, 4th of the World Cup held on home soil.

 

BRASIL 2014

(Bernard played the semi-finals instead of Neymar, injured)


Now, the perilous game wich consist in assembling an All-time 11.

BRAZIL ALL-TIME ELEVEN, ONZE DE TODOS OS TEMPOS DA SELEÇAO, ONZE DE TOUS LES TEMPS DE LA SELECTION BRESILIENNE DE FOOTBALL

 

ALL TIME BRAZIL XI

To simplify things a bit, I have made it pre-95, 95-96. 95.

One of the first thing we can see in this 11 is that there is 3 full backs in defence with Carlos Alberto (captain 70) in the middle as he was also a very good central defender in addition of being one of the very first offensive right backs in the history of the game. Djalma was also at his ease technically, and strong physically. Less rare than on the other side of the pitch even if still quite uncommon in the 50s, Nilton Santos was a  a very offensive left-back with also a good read of the game concerning his defensive duties, had a quite good positionning, knew how to intervene in a given situation and how to use the ball once recovered. In the goals it was a match between two main candidates: Gilmar and Taffarel. Gilmar has one more World Cup trophy to his cabinet, had excellent reflexes, had the confidence of his teammates. Taffarel has been particularly good during the World tournaments too (above all  in1994 and in 1998), played a big role too. Priority to the ancient in the end. 

At midfield, no Dunga, not even a Clodoaldo but Didi-Falcão (I forgot the so Mundial '70 little wave, on the letter a while writing his name, excuse me). Gérson is clearly the victim in that case. Didi was a must have and Falcão was maybe a bit more clean in his defensive interventions too. A bit more chic also, maybe. But Gérson was of course a great director of the game and a great passer. He could score goals, a bit the "German way" but...Brazilian. Pelé? O.K. Zico? not much problems to have him too despite it is a bit difficult to know if he has been truely the best in the World once in his career. But we don't care so we will not dwell on that subject. "O Pelé Blanco" or "O Galinho de Quintino" if one prefers is in. Garrincha is of course the right winger although his succesor in both Botafogo and Seleçao, Jairzinho, did wonders too, replacing "la Alegria del Povo" perfectly on the pitch and in the minds of most of the people also, maybe, in some way. Garrincha pitifully ended his life all alone, or almost. A bit like Barbosa the goalkeeper of Brazil 1950 syonymous of "Maracanazo", incriminated for the loss against Uruguay preventing Brazil to lift his first Trophy Jules Rimet. Without wanting to enter too much in the game of the comparisions with Garrincha in terms of troubles, Barbosa even knew what is to live in street, as a homeless. Both were alcoholic. Of  that 1950 team that should have won, one name (or surname) in particular remains eligible for this kind of 11. "Zizinho". Praised by Pelé himself some years after the tragic match, the one who could have been celebrated as the King of Football in 1950 if only...is here on the left wing. At first, I wanted to align Garrincha on the left and Zizinho on the right but did not dare. If the years post-95 had been taken into account, it would have been a difficult choice between the little attacking midfielder or forward and the likes of Rivaldo or Ronaldinho (that I'd tend to rate higher individually, National Team and club career included as they played in Europe...and in a more recent past...and between these two I would have chosen Ronaldinho, very probably). That would have been the same problem between Romario and Ronaldo even if it is less years that separate them and that they even played together by the way (but not at the "Coupe du Monde 98"). In all cases, I prefer Romario, I think he was maybe a better footballer but also, Ronaldo was the answer to the football wich was practiced in the end of the precedent century, the ultimate weapon in a very muscular football. However, probably Ronaldo would have developped into a more playing-type of forward had he played earlier like Romario, but History is as it is.

That said, for the #9 shirt of this All-time 11, Romario had to compete with several legendary strikers like Friedenreich - the first Brazilian and rather global superstar who toured in Europe and made a big impression, in the 20s to the point that he has been called "King of the Kings of Football", clearing all the reluctances on his subject, or at least the doubts on his talent - with Leônidas, the "Black Diamond" of the World Cup 1938, not used in semi-finals against Italy who would lift the Cup, or Ademir de Menezes and later on Careca. Careca, a player with wich Romario shares much similitudes in his game. Romario won it, I hope you agree so we don't have a #9 in the end but a #11 (his fetish number). He is part of a lineage of great strikers and he is placed at the end of it in that case. Otherwise, if it has been until today, there are some good chances it would have been Ronaldo. 

To get back on the subject of the defensive line, it is the same as with the central defenders (wich are totally absent of the selection) than for the centre forwards : the first well-defending Brazilian defender is assuringly Domingos da Guia who played in the 30s-40s and who was also good at building the game, was precious on an offensive point of view. Then there is Luis Pereira in the 70s, tough too and not bad at all ball at the feet for a defender, most of all at the time...then Julio César in '86 until Thiago Silva today (and others). Once again the last one of the lineage must be the better option. And this is true despite the quite catastrophic World Cup 2014 at home for Brazil. T. Silva is certainly the player that can comes to mind when thinking of a perfect central defender.
The lineage of great (or good to excellent) attacking full-backs is certainly even bigger. So we have choosen two who did not forget too much they were not wingers. Still a question of context (tactically, technically, of era...). And well, they won. Cafu and Roberto Carlos won too but hopefully, they were not eligible, so it was less mental torture.

Finally, in the offensive compartiment - wich is assuringly well-stocked - one must cites the likes of Tostao, Rivelino, Socrates...and it will be enough for today.