A country that lives and breathes football, Brazil is a powerhouse in the sport with five World Cup titles to its name. But another thing that makes it stand out from other countries is the competitiveness between its own clubs.
While many nations got used to having one or two teams ruling in the top competitions, Brazil has seen a wide number of sides challenging both for domestic and continental glory.
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Due to the geographical reasons, the country’s system of competition has been divided by state for years before the national league became a thing in 1959. Therefore, rather than one or two national giants, Brazil has big teams spread across the country, with relevant clubs located in different states.
Some teams may be more popular than others, but many of them can take pride in having a large fanbase. Based on titles, popularity and prominence, let’s take a look at the most important Brazilian teams.
Flamengo
Widely regarded as the most popular club not only in Brazil but in all South America, Flamengo are the kings of Rio de Janeiro with 37 state championships to their name.
Mengao are also tied for the most Libertadores won by a Brazilian club with three trophies, while they boast seven league titles. In addition, they are one of the few teams that never got relegated to the second division.
Palmeiras
One of the giants of the state of Sao Paulo, Palmeiras are the most successful team in Brazilian league history with 12 titles. They are also part of the winningest Libertadores sides in the country with three titles, while they rank second in state championships. Overall, Verdao are the club with the most domestic titles in Brazil.
Santos
A club that immediately reminds us of ‘O Rei’ Pelé, Santos are one of the most iconic clubs from Brazil. The first Brazilian team to win the Libertadores and Intercontinental Cup, Peixe are second in league titles but their legacy transcends championships. The team marked an era in the early 60s led by the best Brazilian player of all time, and went on to produce another legend in Neymar Jr decades later.
Cruzeiro
Raposa are one of the giants from the state of Minas Gerais. Cruzeiro have more Brazilian Cups than any other club (6), and are also the only team to win the tournament in consecutive years. They also boast two Brasileiraos and two Copa Libertadores titles.
Gremio
Tricolor Gaúcho are a giant from Rio Grande do Sul, where they form one of the best derbies in Brazilian football with Porto Alegre rivals Internacional. Gremio are tied for the most Libertadores titles won by a Brazilian team (3), while they only trail Cruzeiro in Brazilian Cups (5).
Sao Paulo
Sao Paulo are historically the strongest representative of Brazil on the continental stage. Tricolor Paulista are the Brazilian team with the most international trophies (12), ranking third in South America only behind Boca Juniors and Independiente from Argentina.
Never relegated to the second tier of Brazilian football, Sao Paulo have won every possible title at stake in the modern era: FIFA Club World Cup, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, Brasileirao, Copa do Brasil, Recopa Sudamericana, Supercopa do Brasil, and State Championship.
Fluminense
Fluminense may have won their first Libertadores not long ago, but they were already one of the most important teams in the country before that. The second most successful team in Rio de Janeiro, the Tricolor form a huge rivalry with Flamengo known as Fla-Flu.
Corinthians
Timao are one of the giants from the state of Sao Paulo, where they have a fierce rivalry with Palmeiras, Sao Paulo and Santos. Corinthians are the third Brazilian club with the most national titles considering their seven leagues, three cups and a Supercup. Their only Libertadores success came in 2012, but they are the South American side with more Club World Cups with two titles.
Vasco da Gama
Vasco da Gama are another important team from Rio de Janeiro, only behind Flamengo and Fluminense in Campeonato Carioca titles with 24. The club also has a Copa Libertadores, four leagues and a Copa do Brasil on its cabinet, but its fan base also makes this club big as it supported the team through four relegations.
Internacional
Internacional are the most successful club in the state of Rio Grande do Sul with 45 Campeonato Gauchos, while they have three league titles, one more than lifelong rivals Gremio. In 2006, Colorado pulled off a historic upset by beating Barcelona in the Club World Cup final.
Atlético Mineiro
Atlético Mineiro are the leaders of state trophies in Minas Gerais with 48 honors. They have also gotten their hands on the Brasileirao and Copa do Brasil, while their first ever Libertadores triumph in 2013 will always be remembered by football fans as Ronaldinho led the club to an epic title.
Botafogo
Success has not come Botafogo’s way like it did for other teams, but their fans have proven loyalty even in the worst of times. With 21 Carioca titles, Fogao are the fourth winningest team in Rio de Janeiro. They also have two Brazilian leagues, but what makes them iconic are the legends that donned the Lone Star crest, with the likes of Garrincha and Zagallo among the club’s legends.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
