Brazil's men's football team, also known as the Selecao, represent the country in international football competitions such as the FIFA World Cup and Copa America. With their bright yellow shirt, penchant for thrilling "samba" football, and success on the international stage – aided by some of the most legendary players the sport has ever produced – Brazil are perhaps the most iconic national football team in the world.
History
Brazil began playing in 1914. They endured a conspicuous start to their international career – a 3-0 defeat to bitter rivals Argentina – which would belie the century of success that would follow.
The Selecao appeared at the first ever FIFA World Cup in 1930, and they have been ever-present in that tournament ever since; Brazil are the only national team to feature in every edition of the World Cup. They would lift their first World Cup in 1958, but not before suffering heartbreak on home soil in 1950; so devastated were the hosts at their defeat to Uruguay in a match now known as the "Maracanazo," the country entered a period of national mourning.
That was soon forgotten, however, when they won the World Cup 3 times between 1958 and 1970, fired to victory by the legendary Pele among others. Further victories in 1994 and 2002 – which featured stars such as Cafu, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, and Ronaldinho – have cemented Brazil as the tournament's most successful nation with 5 victories, more than any other team.
Brazil have enjoyed plenty of continental success, too, lifting the Copa America on 9 occasions between 1919 and 2019, although they trail both Argentina and Uruguay on this front, and they also won 4 of the 10 editions of the FIFA Confederations Cup before it came to an end in 2017.
