Brazil is the benchmark for everybody else in international football. The Brazilian national team – also known as the “Seleçao” – have headed the world rankings unchallenged for the past eleven years except for a short break between May 2001 and May 2002. And there’s hardly a record that the footballing magicians from Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paolo don’t hold. As for the World Cup records, the South Americans have set most of the important ones.

Only one country has taken part in every one of the 17 World Cup finals – Brazil. The South Americans took the title on five occasions. And the “Seleçao” placed within the top four on ten occasions. No other country has played so many matches in the World Cup finals (87), won more games (60), scored more goals (191) and chalked up more points (194 – based on 3 points for a win). Brazil remained undefeated in World Cup qualifying matches up to 25 July 1993 before Bolivia ended the unique series in La Paz’s high altitude (2-0).

Only the all-time best World Cup striker isn’t (yet) provided by Brazil. However, Ronaldo (12 goals) can overtake the present record holder, the German Gerd Mueller (14), at the forthcoming tournament.

The Brazilian football association, Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (CBF), was founded in Rio de Janeiro in 1914. Affiliation to the international football association, FIFA, followed in 1923. Their World Cup beginnings seven years later didn’t go at all smoothly. After losing to Yugoslavia, the yellow and blues were knocked out in the preliminaries in Uruguay’s capital city Montevideo. They also had to pack their bags after the first match (2-3 aet against Austria) in Italy in 1934. Things went better four years later in France, where the ball playing magicians were only stopped in the semi-finals by eventual World Cup winners Italy (2-1).

Brazil then fully expected to win their first title at the 1950 World Cup – the first post World War tournament. On home soil, the Brazilians were considered to be the clear favourites. But their little Uruguayan neighbours put a spoke in their wheel: in the very last group match of the finals – there was no knock-out phase at the tournament – the Seleçao lost 2-1 after only needing a draw to become World Cup winners. It was as if the 174,000 spectators in the monumental Maracana Stadium were paralysed with horror. And the Brazilian side still hadn’t recovered from the shock four years later in Switzerland. After a reasonable group phase, the team were defeated by the amazing Hungarian team 4-2 in the quarter-final.

The great era of Brazilian football began in 1958. Brazil travelled to Swedenfor the sixth World Cup finals with a star-studded squad. Didi, Vava and Garrincha were names that put fear into the opponents. Included in the squad was an unassuming 17-year-old called Edson Arantes do Nascimento. Nobody had any idea at the time that the lithe striker, who seemed to caress the ball, would rewrite football history. He called himself Pele.

Mainly on the bench for the group phase, Pele decided the quarter final against Wales (1-0), scored in the 5-2 semi-final win against France and hit the back of the net twice when beating Swede 5-2 in the final. Brazil had thus won the title and Pele, not yet 18, had become the youngest player ever to win the World Cup.

The team defended the title in Chile in 1962. But the 1966 finals in Englandproved disappointing for the top favourites. Superstar Pele was again forced out of action at an early stage after a brutal foul in the match against Bulgaria. Brazil were then knocked out at the group phase.

The World Cup finals in Mexico in 1970 marked the peak of Pele’s career. It was also probably the best Brazilian team of all time. The 29-year-old led his team to their third title with five goals before retiring from the international stage a year later. A long lean period then followed for the Brazilians. In 1974 the title holders stumbled unconvincingly to fourth place and then ended up third in 1978 after arch rivals Argentina had barred their way.

The highly talented 1982 team with Socrates, Zico and Falcao got in it’s own way and forgot to defend in their attacking exuberance. The result was an unnecessary 3-2 upset against Italy and a premature exit at the second group stage. In 1986, the end of the World Cup road came in the quarter-final against France after a penalty shoot-out. Four years later they were even knocked a round earlier after a 1-0 defeat against Argentina.

After their wonderful triumph in Mexico, Brazil were only again able to lift the World Cup trophy aloft 24 years later. At the 1994 World Cup in USA, Romario, Bebeto and Dunga enjoyed more success than their Italian counterparts in the penalty shoot-out that decided the final. It was the first time that the Seleçao had won a title as a result of their powerful defence – a new philosophy, for the former ball playing conjurers. The philosophy made its mark on the yellow and blue’s game in the twentieth century’s final decade.

Brazil lost a World Cup final for the first time in 1998. Ronaldo and co had no chance when losing 3-0 to France. Four years later the international balance of power in the football world was back to normal. 

Though for the first time the title holders are no longer automatically qualified, Brazil will, in all probability, be in Germany for the 2006 finals. Brazil are presently also clear favourites to be awarded the FIFA World Cup 2014 ™ when – in accordance with the FIFA’s rotation principles – it’s again South America’s turn to hold the finals. Perhaps as title holders after the FIFA World Cup 2010 South Africa™.

The Brazil National Team at the FIFA Confederations Cup Germany 2005...