Your Favourite Brazilian Footballer

[Captain Haddock]

Done before, I'm sure, but what the heck!


Perhaps for you the classic God-like figure of Pele, the languid and unlikely grace of "Socrates", the buck-teethed Ronnies (Fat-Ronaldo or Ronaldinho), baby-cradling duo Romario and Bebeto, pint-sized Juninho, free-kick rocketeer Roberto Carlos or maybe one from the rest of the golden 'class of '70'?



All these have their footballing charms (and many others besides) but for me it has to be the great superstar of the great team of '82....perhaps the best NOT to win the World Cup (apart from England in 1994, of course!! ).


I give you:

Zico!

 

[turienzo's lovechild]

1. Djalminha

SO flair....one of the most skillful players i've ever seen and batshit crazy to top it off



2. Mario Jardel

An absolute goal MONSTER in his (brief) prime....his career PLUMMETED and he liked a bit of COCAINE which is instant flair points

Porto- 125 Games, 130 Goals
Galatasaray- 24 Games, 22 Goals
Sporting- 49 Games, 53 Goals

3. Ronaldo

The best striker i've ever seen....his acceleration in his prime was out of this WORLD...plus the fact that he got all TUBBY and was still AMAZING just adds to his flairness

 

[smudge]

Watched some Zico on youtube recently just to remind me how good he was. I'm of an age where the 1970 team was just breathtaking; Jazinho, Carlos Alberto, Tostao, Rivelinho & of course Pele. The 82 team were a bit special though. Junior, was the original "bombing on" full back in my book. Socrates & Falcao, class.

So, Pele, just ahead of yer man Zico for me.

 

[Farehamseagull]

Always loved Careca.

I was gutted when Maradonna's Argentina knocked Brazil out of the 1990 world cup, he was at his peak and tearing it apart.

 

[careboy]

You just saved me the trouble of reposting

 

[Stumpy Tim]

My best mate has interviewed both Zico and Neymar (sports reporter living in Rio). Neymar is a cock apparently. Zico is a bit of a legend

 

[NMH]

Pele', a true great and uber-gifted

Ronaldinho

Fio Maravilha

Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite (aka Kaka')

 

[Beach Hut]

Socrates was my favourite Brazilian player

 

[Captain Haddock]

My best mate has interviewed both Zico and Neymar (sports reporter living in Rio). Neymar is a cock apparently. Zico is a bit of a legend

Neymar a cock....disappointing but not entirely surprising I guess.

Long shot but your best mate isn't the great Tim Vickery I suppose?

 

[Captain Haddock]

Ah yes, the stupidly prolific goal machine that was Jardel. Didn't see enough of him but what a strike rate!



To expand on my OP re: Zico, he seemed to be the all-consuming presence of the first World Cup I remember (aged 10 going on 11). Majestic, graceful and with brilliant feet, he seemed to be everywhere and the heartbeat of the Samba Boys attack. Wearing the iconic No.10 shirt he swaggered around linking the play and scored some cracking goals if memory serves.


Brazilians generally regard not Pele, but Garrincha, as the greatest player of all time. He's well before my time but the fact they rate someone even more highly than the oft'-considered established greatest is flair-flavoured supercool in itself.

 

[Frutos]

Ronaldinho is my personal favourite.

 

[Trigger]

1. JOSIMAR (scorer of my most favourite world cup goal, a real childhood memory, didn't win enough caps)

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2. Djalminha (most skillful player I have ever seen and also a Deportivo La Coruna player)
3. Mauro Silva (Mr consistent and the legend behind Deportivo La Coruna's unlikely la liga title win in 2000)

 

[JCL666]

Socrates was my favourite Brazilian player

Gets my vote.

 

[Captain Haddock]

Socrates was my favourite Brazilian player

Nice choice, Beachy! Tragically ironic that as a qualified doctor (before going FT with his footy!) he drank himself into that early recent grave. Tim Vickery recently described him as a 'giant stalk' who strutted around the midfield. He was so straight-backed he seemed to glide around the pitch. Not the most naturally gifted by all accounts but made up for his slow turning-circles etc by specialising in the back-heel! So Brazilian!

 

[Daffy Duck]

That 1970's Brazil team was amazing, and I used to love watching little Juninho when he played over here, such a skilful little player.
But my girlie award has to go to Leonardo, cos he's dishy.

 

[Mackenzie]

Mirandinha

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5:50 in

 

[Seagull on the wing]

Nobody think of Garrincha....worlds greatest winger,tried to put link from youtube but it did'nt work...go to youtube...put in Garrincha Maestro of drible'....just be amazed....he was bow legged as well....sadly no longer with us.

 

[TopCorner]

Ronaldo, the fat one. Or Rivaldo.

 

[Stumpy Tim]

Neymar a cock....disappointing but not entirely surprising I guess.

Long shot but your best mate isn't the great Tim Vickery I suppose?

No. His name is Sam Green - often in 4-4-2 and the Telegraph. Big Brighton fan

 

[tonymgc]

Roberto Carlos for me