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 and earned 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. 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 across 22 tournaments.
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 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), were themselves eliminated at two others (USA 1994 and France 1998) and won the match for third place in Brazil 2014.
FIFA World Cup record
Champions Runners-up Third place Fourth place Tournament played fully or partially on home soil
YearRoundPositionPldWD*LGFGA 1930Group stage6th210152 1934Round of 1614th100113 1938Third place3rd53111411 1950Runners-up2nd6411226 1954Quarter-finals5th311185 1958Champions1st6510164 1962Champions1st6510145 1966Group stage11th310246 1970Champions1st6600197 1974Fourth place4th732264 1978Third place3rd7430103 1982Second group stage5th5401156 1986Quarter-finals5th5410101 1990Round of 169th430142 1994Champions1st7520113 1998Runners-up2nd74121410 2002Champions1st7700184 2006Quarter-finals5th5401102 2010Quarter-finals6th531194 2014Fourth place4th73221114 2018Quarter-finals6th531183 2022Quarter-finals7th531183 2026 Round of 16 11th 5 3 1 1 10 4 2030To be determined 2034Total23/235 Titles119792020247112 *Draws include knockout matches decided via penalty shoot-out.
Brazil's World Cup recordFirst match Brazil 1–2 (14 July 1930; Montevideo, Uruguay)Biggest win 7–1 (9 July 1950; Rio de Janeiro, Brazil)Biggest defeat 1–7 (8 July 2014; Belo Horizonte, Brazil)Best resultChampions in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002Worst resultFirst round in 1934, group stage in 1930 and 1966
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 YearRoundOpponentsScoreBrazil scorers 1930Group B1–2Preguinho4–0Moderato (2), Preguinho (2) 1934Round of 161–3Leônidas da Silva 1938Round of 166–5 Leônidas da Silva (3), Romeu, Perácio (2)Quarter-finals1–1 Leônidas da SilvaQuarter-finals (replay)2–1Leônidas da Silva, RobertoSemi-finals1–2RomeuMatch for third place4–2Romeu, Leônidas da Silva (2), Perácio 1950Group A4–0Ademir (2), Jair, Baltazar2–2Alfredo, Baltazar2–0Ademir, ZizinhoFinal round7–1Ademir (4), Chico (2), Maneca6–1Ademir (2), Jair, Chico (2), ZizinhoFinal1–2Friaça 1954Group A5–0Baltazar, Didi, Pinga (2), Julinho1–1 DidiQuarter-finals2–4Djalma Santos, Julinho 1958Group D3–0Mazzola (2), Nilton Santos0–02–0Vavá (2)Quarter-finals1–0PeléSemi-finals5–2Vavá, Didi, Pelé (3)Final5–2Vavá (2), Pelé (2), Zagallo 1962Group C2–0Pelé, Zagallo0–02–1Amarildo (2)Quarter-finals3–1Garrincha (2), VaváSemi-finals4–2Garrincha (2), Vavá (2)Final3–1Amarildo, Zito, Vavá 1966Group C2–0Pelé, Garrincha1–3Tostão1–3Rildo 1970Group C4–1Rivellino, Pelé, Jairzinho (2)1–0Jairzinho3–2Pelé (2), JairzinhoQuarter-finals4–2Rivellino, Tostão (2), JairzinhoSemi-finals3–1Clodoaldo, Jairzinho, RivellinoFinal4–1Pelé, Gérson, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto 1974Group 20–00–03–0Jairzinho, Rivellino, ValdomiroGroup A1–0Rivellino2–1Rivellino, Jairzinho0–2Match for third place0–1 1978Group 31–1Reinaldo0–01–0Roberto DinamiteGroup B3–0Dirceu (2), Zico0–03–1Nelinho, Roberto Dinamite (2)Match for third place2–1Nelinho, Dirceu 1982Group 62–1Sócrates, Éder4–1Zico, Oscar, Éder, Falcão4–0Zico (2), Falcão, SerginhoGroup C3–1Zico, Serginho, Júnior2–3Sócrates, Falcão 1986Group D1–0Sócrates1–0Careca3–0Careca (2), JosimarRound of 164–0Sócrates, Josimar, Edinho, CarecaQuarter-finals1–1 Careca 1990Group C2–1Careca (2)1–0Müller1–0MüllerRound of 160–1 1994Group B2–0Romário, Raí3–0Romário, Márcio Santos, Bebeto1–1RomárioRound of 161–0BebetoQuarter-finals3–2Romário, Bebeto, BrancoSemi-finals1–0RomárioFinal0–0 1998Group A2–1César Sampaio, Boyd (OG)3–0Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Bebeto1–2BebetoRound of 164–1Ronaldo (2), César Sampaio (2)Quarter-finals3–2Bebeto, Rivaldo (2)Semi-finals1–1 RonaldoFinal0–3 2002Group C2–1Ronaldo, Rivaldo4–0Roberto Carlos, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo5–2Ronaldo (2), Edmílson, Rivaldo, JúniorRound of 162–0Rivaldo, RonaldoQuarter-finals2–1Rivaldo, RonaldinhoSemi-finals1–0RonaldoFinal2–0Ronaldo (2) 2006Group F1–0Kaká2–0Adriano, Fred4–1Ronaldo (2), Juninho, GilbertoRound of 163–0Adriano, Ronaldo, Zé RobertoQuarter-finals0–1 2010Group G2–1Maicon, Elano3–1Luís Fabiano (2), Elano0–0Round of 163–0Juan, Luís Fabiano, RobinhoQuarter-finals1–2Robinho 2014Group A3–1Neymar (2), Oscar0–04–1Neymar (2), Fred, FernandinhoRound of 161–1 David LuizQuarter-finals2–1Thiago Silva, David LuizSemi-finals1–7OscarMatch for third place0–3 2018Group E1–1Philippe Coutinho2–0Philippe Coutinho, Neymar2–0Paulinho, Thiago SilvaRound of 162–0Neymar, Roberto FirminoQuarter-finals1–2Renato Augusto 2022Group G2–0Richarlison (2)1–0Casemiro0–1Round of 164–1Vinícius, Neymar, Richarlison, Lucas PaquetáQuarter-finals1–1 Neymar 2026Group C1–1 Vinícius3–0Cunha (2), Vinícius3–0 Vinícius (2), CunhaRound of 322–1 Casemiro, Martinelli Round of 16 1–2 Neymar
By opponent OpponentWin %Total
Record players Most matches played Brazil's record World Cup appearance maker Cafu is also the only individual to have ever played in three consecutive FIFA World Cup finals (1994, 1998 and 2002).
RankPlayerMatchesWorld Cups1Cafu201994, 1998, 2002, 20062Ronaldo191994, 1998, 2002, 20063Cláudio Taffarel181990, 1994, 1998Dunga181990, 1994, 19985Roberto Carlos171998, 2002, 2006Lúcio172002, 2006, 20107Jairzinho161966, 1970, 1974Gilberto Silva162002, 2006, 20109Nílton Santos151950, 1954, 1958, 1962Didi151954, 1958, 1962Rivellino151970, 1974, 1978Bebeto151990, 1994, 1998Neymar152014, 2018, 2022, 2026
Most tournaments Nine individuals have been part of Brazil's squad at a record four different World Cup editions, with four of these players having made at least one appearance in all four tournaments. Goalkeeper Émerson Leão is the only Brazilian to have been in four World Cup squads non-consecutively, having not been called up in 1982.
EditionsRankWorld Cups4Carlos Castilho(1950), 1954, (1958), (1962)Nílton Santos(1950), 1954, 1958, 1962Djalma Santos1954, 1958, 1962, 1966Pelé1958, 1962, 1966, 1970Émerson Leão(1970), 1974, 1978, (1986)Cafu1994, 1998, 2002, 2006 Ronaldo(1994), 1998, 2002, 2006 Thiago Silva(2010), 2014, 2018, 2022 Neymar2014, 2018, 2022, 2026 Years in brackets indicate that the player was part of the squad but did not play in any matches.
Top goalscorers
Five Brazilians have won the World Cup Golden Boot Award over the years: Leônidas with seven goals in 1938, Ademir with nine goals in 1950, Garrincha and Vavá with four goals each in 1962, and Ronaldo with eight goals in 2002.
RankPlayerGoalsWorld Cups1Ronaldo151998 (4), 2002 (8), 2006 (3)2Pelé121958 (6), 1962 (1), 1966 (1), 1970 (4)3Neymar92014 (4), 2018 (2), 2022 (2), 2026 (1)Ademir91950Vavá91958 (5), 1962 (4)Jairzinho91970 (7), 1974 (2)7Leônidas81934 (1), 1938 (7)Rivaldo81998 (3), 2002 (5)9Careca71986 (5), 1990 (2)10Bebeto61994 (3), 1998 (3)Rivellino61970 (3), 1974 (3)
Players provided by club Below is the list of clubs that have provided more than five players for Brazil 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 Champions (5): 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, 2002 Runners-up (2): 1950, 1998 Third place (2): 1938, 1978 Fair Play Trophy: 1982, 1986, 1994, 2006 Most Entertaining Team: 1994
Individual awards
Golden Ball award Golden Ball: Leônidas (1938; unofficial) Zizinho (1950; unofficial) Didi (1958; unofficial) Garrincha (1962; unofficial) Pelé (1970; unofficial) Romário (1994) Ronaldo (1998; youngest Golden Ball winner, aged 21)
Silver Ball: Pelé (1958; unofficial) Gérson (1970; unofficial) Falcão (1982) Ronaldo (2002)
Bronze Ball: Ademir (1950; unofficial) Dirceu (1978; unofficial)
Golden Boot award Golden Boot: Leônidas (1938; retrospective) Ademir (1950; retrospective) Garrincha and Vavá (shared, 1962; retrospective) Ronaldo (2002)
Silver Boot: Pelé (1958; retrospective) Jairzinho (1970; retrospective) Careca (1986) Rivaldo (2002)
Bronze Boot: Chico (1950; retrospective) Zico (1982) Romário (1994) Ronaldo (2006) Neymar (2014)
Best Young Player award Pelé (1958; youngest Best Young Player winner, aged 17)
Other individual awards World Cup final Player of the Match: Ronaldo (2002)
Team records Most titles (5) Most participations (23) Most matches played (119) Most victories (79) Most goals scored (247) Best goal difference (+135) Joint-most red cards (11) Most finishes in the top 5 (15), top 8 (19), top 10 (20) and top 16 (23) Most consecutive wins (11, 2002–2006) Most tournaments finishing unbeaten (7) Only team to win all matches in two World Cups (1970 and 2002) One of two teams to have defended their title as champions (1962) One of two teams to have progressed to three consecutive World Cup finals (1994–2002) Joint-most wins in one tournament (7, 2002) Joint-best goal difference as champion (+14, 2002)
Individual records