The World Cup hasn’t even started, and Italian coach Carlo Ancelotti will have to overcome a taboo to win the world title.
A coincidence in the squads unites Brazil’s five world titles. Only two teams are always present in World Cup victories: Palmeiras and São Paulo.
In 1958, the Morumbi team was represented by De Sordi, Mauro and Dino Sani. The alviverde featured Mazolla.
In 1962, Bellini and Jurandir were from São Paulo, while Djalma Santos, Zequinha and Vavá played for Palmeiras.
In 1970, even though he was left in reserve, coach Zagallo called up Emerson Leão and Baldocchi from Palmeiras. Gerson, starter and owner of the number 8 shirt, defended São Paulo.
In 1994, Mazinho and Zinho from Palmeiras and Cafu, Muller, Zetti and Leonardo from São Paulo were listed by coach Carlos Alberto Parreira to go to the United States.
In 2002, the last time the two clubs had representatives together, starting goalkeeper Marcos, from Palmeiras, and reserves Rogério Ceni, Belletti and Kaká, from the Morumbi team, raised the trophy.
On the other hand, however, having players from these two clubs is also not a 100% guarantee of a title. In 1950, 54, 74, 78 and 86 Brazil had athletes from both teams, but the best result they achieved was runner-up in 1950.
Four-time champions
After Palmeiras and São Paulo, the clubs that were present in four World Cups that Brazil won are: Corinthians, Flamengo and Fluminense.
In 62, Brazil, under Pelé and Garrincha, did not have a Corinthians or Flamengo fan. Flu did not see any of its athletes become champions in 2002.
Botafogo, the club that had the most players called up to the Brazilian team in World Cups (48 now with Danilo Santos), congratulated its athletes closely on three occasions: 1958, 1962 and 1970. In the first two, the starters Nilton Santos, Didi and Garrincha. In 62 he was further reinforced by Zagallo and Amarildo. In Mexico, in 70, Paulo Cézar Cafu, Jairzinho and Roberto were present.
Vasco, third, with 41, on the list of those who donated athletes to Brazil (it is behind São Paulo), was only represented in two conquests: Bellini, Orlando and Vavá, in 1958, and Ricardo Rocha, in 1994.
BANGU AMONG THE CHAMPIONS
There are still two curiosities on this list. Portuguesa, which is in Series D of the Brazilian Championship, and Bangu, which will only play in the fourth division of the national championship in 2027, have world champion representatives in their histories.
The São Paulo club was represented in 1958 (Djalma Santos), 1962 (Jair da Costa) and 1970 (Zé Maria). The Rio team saw Zózimo take its name in 1958 and 1962. In those decades, both Lusa and Bangu fought for state titles.
Two Brazilian champions have never had athletes on world champion squads: Coritiba and Bahia. More than that: the two never had players registered for World Cups with the national team.
On the other hand, clubs with little national or international expression have already had world champions like La Coruña, which today competes in the Second Division of Spain and which in 1994 lost two players: Bebeto and Mauro Silva. Bordeaux, which has only six French titles (the last in 2009), also had Márcio Santos in the United States.
The Italians Parma (2002) and Reggiana (1994) had left-back Júnior and goalkeeper Taffarel, respectively. Striker Denilson was from Spain’s Betis in 2002, and defender Ronaldão played for Japan’s Shimizu S-Pulse.
