Jose Sanchez
Research expert covering society, economy, & politics for Latin America
Soccer in Brazil – statistics & facts
Jogo bonito is a nickname believed to be given to soccer by the most successful Brazilian player, Pelé, back in the 50s. Directly translated as ‘beautiful game’, the name reflects Brazil's beloved sentiments for the sport. Soccer – also known as football – is the most followed sport in this South American country and a source of national pride. In the history of the most important soccer tournament, the FIFA World Cup Championship, Brazil is yet to be beaten based on the number of titles won: five in total. The national team – commonly referred to as Seleção – first emerged on the global stage as an unrivaled powerhouse during Pelé’s times. It has since become renowned for decades of top games and star players like Garrincha, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Sócrates, Careca, and Zico, among many others. In more recent years, however, a Seleção had some struggles. Its final position in the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar was the lowest since 1990.
