It is a well-established fact that Brazil is one of the world’s leading exporters of footballers. No matter which competition we’re talking about – be it professional, semi-professional or amateur – there’s always a Brazilian player making their mark. From goalkeepers to strikers, Brazilian talent has taken the footballing world by storm. The dream of triumphing and achieving success drives thousands of footballers to cross the country’s borders every year in search of an opportunity. Some reach the elite, others come close, and many fall by the wayside.
THE BEST BRAZILIAN GOALKEEPERS
When we think of Brazil and football, the first names that spring to mind are usually Ronaldinho, Ronaldo, Rivaldo or Roberto Carlos. However, we rarely remember those who stand between the posts – one of the most demanding and unfair positions in football. Goalkeepers can go from heroes to villains in a matter of seconds, but those who defend that area know they wouldn’t swap their position for any other. Throughout its history, Brazil has also produced great goalkeepers who have left an indelible mark. Today we take a look at our selection of the best Brazilian goalkeepers of all time.
Dida
For many, the undisputed king of penalties. It was in Brazil, whilst playing in goal for Cruzeiro and Corinthians, that Dida began to forge his reputation as one of the finest penalty-saving specialists. After winning the World Cup with the Brazilian national team in 2002, he made the definitive move to AC Milan, where he eventually established himself as first-choice goalkeeper. In the early 2000s, the Italian side were one of the dominant forces in European football and boasted players of the calibre of Rui Costa, Andrea Pirlo and Andriy Shevchenko in their ranks. Taking on the responsibility of guarding that goal was no easy task, but Dida rose to the challenge with performances of the very highest standard. Between 2002 and 2010, he was a key part of the team and won numerous titles, establishing himself as one of the best goalkeepers of his generation.
Diego Alves
Although Dida is remembered as the king of penalties, the all-time records are held by Diego Alves. During his time in La Liga, the Brazilian goalkeeper achieved extraordinary feats, such as the record for the most penalties saved in a single season – six in 2016/17 – and the record for the goalkeeper with the most penalties saved in the competition’s history, having saved 22 of the 39 taken against him. The magnitude of this achievement is best understood when compared with the previous record, held by the legendary Andoni Zubizarreta, who had saved 16 penalties, although it took him 107 attempts to do so. Despite enjoying a brilliant career on an individual level, Diego Alves’s greatest collective successes came in South America. During his time in Spanish football, he played for Almería and Valencia CF, where he left a lasting impression thanks to his performances and competitive spirit.
Rogério Ceni
To speak of Rogério Ceni is to speak of a true São Paulo legend. An absolute idol amongst the fans, he revolutionised the goalkeeping position thanks to an almost unique ability: scoring goals with astonishing regularity, both from free-kicks and penalties. It is no coincidence that Ederson, the current Manchester City goalkeeper, has acknowledged on several occasions that Ceni was one of his greatest role models. Known as ‘The Myth’ by the São Paulo supporters, he spent his entire professional career at São Paulo, where he enjoyed an unrivalled career. He scored 131 competitive goals, a tally that makes him the club’s tenth-highest goalscorer of all time and the second-highest goalscorer at the Morumbi Stadium, with 74 goals. A legend who won virtually every possible title in Brazil and South America.
Júlio César
Júlio César is one of the most successful Brazilian goalkeepers in history, both in terms of his individual and team achievements. If there are two titles that eluded him, they were the Copa Libertadores and the World Cup with Brazil. Throughout his career, he played in goal for Flamengo, Inter Milan, Queens Park Rangers, Toronto FC and Benfica. It was at Flamengo that he first made a name for himself and won the affection of Brazilian fans, although it was at Inter Milan that he reached the elite of world football. Under José Mourinho, he won Serie A, the Coppa Italia, the Supercoppa Italiana and the historic UEFA Champions League in the 2009/10 season. Before returning to Flamengo to bring his career to a close, he also played for Benfica, where he was a team-mate of Ederson. A goalkeeper of remarkable consistency, whose career was only hampered by injuries in its final years.
Taffarel
Currently the goalkeeping coach for the Brazilian national team, Taffarel is regarded by many as the greatest goalkeeper in Brazilian history and one of the all-time greats in world football. The popular expression “Sai que é sua, Taffarel!” is part of the Brazilian collective imagination and reflects the confidence he exuded between the posts, as well as his renowned ability to save penalties. During his 18-year professional career, he played for Internacional, Parma, Reggiana, Atlético Mineiro and Galatasaray, making nearly 700 official appearances. Beyond his statistics, he stood out for his reliability, leadership and consistency at the highest level. It was at Galatasaray that he achieved some of the greatest successes of his club career, lifting the UEFA Cup and the European Super Cup, as well as several domestic titles. However, his most memorable moment came at the 1994 World Cup in the United States, when he played a key role in Brazil’s victory in their fourth World Cup, the unforgettable “TETRA”.
Ederson
Ederson’s story is a tale of overcoming adversity. After being dropped from São Paulo’s youth academy with a simple phone call, he set off for Portugal to join Benfica’s youth ranks. Having impressed at Ribeirão and Rio Ave, he returned to the Lisbon side, where he seized the opportunity presented by a teammate’s injury to secure a place in the starting line-up. His big breakthrough came in the ever-fierce derby between Sporting CP and Benfica, in which he was one of the standout players. Since then, he has never relinquished his place between the posts for the Lisbon side. After winning five titles in just two seasons, he was transferred to Manchester City for 40 million euros, becoming at the time the second most expensive goalkeeper in history. With the English side, he has continued to add to an impressive list of honours, winning numerous domestic and international titles. Furthermore, during this period he also won the 2019 Copa América with the Brazilian national team. Thanks to his extraordinary ability with his feet and his composure between the posts, Ederson is regarded as one of the most influential goalkeepers in modern football.
Alisson
Born into a family of goalkeepers, Alisson Becker began to make a name for himself at a very young age in the youth academy of Internacional de Porto Alegre, which he joined at the age of just eight. It was there that he took his first steps as a professional before making the move to European football with AS Roma. His outstanding performances in Serie A did not go unnoticed and, in 2018, Liverpool made a major investment in signing him, paying around 72.5 million euros – a figure that, at the time, made him the most expensive goalkeeper in history. His impact at Anfield was immediate. In his first few seasons, he won the UEFA Champions League, the Club World Cup and the Premier League, becoming a key player in Jürgen Klopp’s side. In the Brazilian national team, he has for years been engaged in healthy competition with Ederson for the starting spot – a rivalry that both consider positive and which has helped raise the standard of Brazil’s goalkeeping.
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