19 articles
Bebeto
Bebeto (José Roberto Gama de Oliveira, born 1964) is a Brazilian former forward, 1994 World Cup winner alongside Romário, Deportivo de La Coruña legend and La Liga Pichichi, later a Rio de Janeiro state deputy; distinct from the Tondela right back and the 2026 candidate of the same nickname.
Cafu
Cafu (Marcos Evangelista de Morais, born 1970, São Paulo), Brazilian right-back; Brazil's most-capped player with 142 caps; only player in three consecutive World Cup finals, winning 1994 and captaining 2002; starred for São Paulo, Roma, and AC Milan.
Carlos Kaiser (footballer)
Carlos Kaiser, real name Carlos Henrique Raposo (born 1963), Brazilian footballer who faked a roughly 20-year professional career in the 1980s-90s with clubs like Botafogo, Flamengo, Bangu, Puebla, and Ajaccio without playing, using fake injuries and press contacts.
Cláudio Taffarel
Cláudio Taffarel (Cláudio André Mergen Taffarel), Brazilian goalkeeper born 1966, 1994 World Cup winner with 101 caps, penalty-shootout hero of 1994 and 1998, later Brazil's goalkeeping coach.
Edinho (footballer, born 1970)
Edinho, Edson Cholbi do Nascimento (born 1970, Santos), son of Pelé, Brazilian goalkeeper for Santos and Ponte Preta, later coach, convicted in 2014 of money laundering and drug-trafficking association.
Giovane Élber
Giovane Élber (Giovane Élber de Souza), Brazilian striker born 1972 in Londrina; Bayern Munich legend, 2001 Champions League winner, four Bundesliga titles, 133 Bundesliga goals, 2002/03 top scorer; later Lyon, Gladbach, Cruzeiro; now Bayern brand ambassador.
Juliano Belletti
Juliano Belletti (Juliano Haus Belletti, born 1976, Cascavel, Brazil), Brazilian right-back who scored the winning goal in Barcelona's 2006 Champions League final win over Arsenal; now Barça Atlètic coach, renewed to 2027.
Juninho Paulista
Juninho Paulista (Oswaldo Giroldo Júnior, born 1973), Brazilian attacking midfielder, 2002 World Cup winner, three-time Middlesbrough player and 1996-97 Premier League Player of the Season; later CBF national team coordinator.
Leonardo Araújo
Leonardo Araújo (Leonardo Nascimento de Araújo), born 1969, Brazilian 1994 World Cup winner, ex-Milan and PSG player, later Milan and PSG sporting director, Inter coach, now FIGC advisor to Paolo Maldini; distinct from the 2002-born Portuguese analyst of the same name.
Mário Jardel
Mário Jardel (Mário Jardel de Almeida Ribeiro), Brazilian striker born 1973 in Fortaleza; starred for Porto, Galatasaray, Sporting; two-time European Golden Shoe winner (1999, 2002); 10 Brazil caps; later deputy, removed from office.
Mazinho
Mazinho (Iomar do Nascimento, born 1966, Santa Rita-PB), Brazilian midfielder, 1994 World Cup winner with Brazil after displacing Raí, Copa América 1989 champion, Vasco, Palmeiras, Valencia, Celta; father of Thiago and Rafinha Alcântara.
Paulo Roberto Falcão
Paulo Roberto Falcão, born 1953, Brazilian midfielder and manager; idol of Internacional and AS Roma (1983 Scudetto), star of Brazil's 1982 World Cup team, later coached Brazil and Japan.
Rivaldo
Rivaldo (Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira, born 1972, Recife), Brazilian attacking midfielder and forward; Ballon d'Or and FIFA World Player 1999, Barcelona 1997–2002, 2002 World Cup and 2003 Champions League winner.
Roberto Carlos
Roberto Carlos (Roberto Carlos da Silva, born 1973) is a Brazilian left-back, 2002 World Cup winner and three-time Champions League winner with Real Madrid, famous for his 1997 bending free kick against France.
Romário
Romário de Souza Faria (O Baixinho), born 1966, Brazilian centre-forward, 1994 World Cup winner, Golden Ball and FIFA World Player of the Year; starred for Vasco, PSV, Barcelona; later senator for Rio de Janeiro.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, "O Fenômeno", Brazilian striker born 1976; World Cup winner 1994 and 2002, two Ballon d'Or, three FIFA World Player of the Year awards; starred for Barcelona, Inter, and Real Madrid.
Ronaldo (Brazilian footballer)
Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima, O Fenômeno, Brazilian striker born 1976; two-time World Cup winner (1994, 2002), 15 World Cup goals, Ballon d'Or 1997 and 2002; played PSV, Barcelona, Inter, Real Madrid, Milan, Corinthians.
Sócrates
Sócrates (Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira, 1954–2011), Brazilian doctor-captain of the 1982 World Cup team and Corinthians Democracy leader; died aged 57 in 2011.
Zico (footballer)
Zico (Arthur Antunes Coimbra, born 1953), Brazilian attacking midfielder, Flamengo's greatest idol and top scorer, star of the 1982 World Cup, and later player and national coach in Japan.