This team isn't based on sole international performance, but the best players from this nation in a balanced squad.
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STARTING XI
REMAINING SQUAD MEMBERS
3 best players not in the squad:
Brazil have won more World Cups than any other nation, and are the only nation to have appeared in every tournament. They inevitably have the strongest starting XI of all the national teams on average. 5 players make it here from the 1970 World Cup squad, often considered the greatest team in football history, but the team generally consists of players from varying eras. Gilmar was the clear choice as the starting goalkeeper. Claudio Taffarel had a glorious career with the national team, but Alisson's performances at club level have earned him a spot in the squad here. He is a generational goalkeeper with very few weaknesses. Thiago Silva and Djalma Santos narrowly start ahead of Luis Pereira and Carlos Alberto respectively. Falcao can act as the holding midfielder in this team. He has enough support with Didi next to him. I chose Danilo Alvim as a back-up holding midfielder ahead of Gerson, or the best natural option in Toninho Cerezo, because he can also cover as a 4th centre-back in the squad, allowing room for more attacking players in the 23. Socrates is Didi's back-up - he is capable of playing deeper. There was not much between Garrincha and Zico. Zico could have started instead of him by converting to a diamond formation. But for now he is back-up to Pele in the second-striker/attacking-midfield role. Jairzinho is Garrincha's back-up, while Rivellino is Ronaldinho's. I considered choosing Neymar here, as he is a more natural left sided player than Rivellino. But it was difficult to deny Rivellino this role, when he won several awards playing there in the great 1970 World Cup team. Brazil have more world-class rated strikers than any other nation. Ronaldo starts in this team, with Romario covering him. Tostao would have been the best option as a third striker, but the last spot in the squad instead went to the best player not yet included - Zizinho. Despite now having three attacking midfield options, Pele can also play upfront, so there was no overload in this area. Players By Decade: 1970's (6), 2000's (3), 1960's (3), 1950's (3), 1980's (2), 1940's (2), 2020's (1), 2010's (1), 1990's (1), 1930's (1) |
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Brazilian Positional Ranking (World Class Players - 81)
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Top 20 Brazilian Players of All-Time
(& their all-time positional rank)
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