The Campeonato Brasileiro, popularly known as the Brasileirão, is Brazil’s main soccer competition, bringing together the best teams in the country in an intense and exciting contest. Since its creation in 1959, the tournament has been the scene of great moments, revealing talents and consolidating the champions of the Campeonato Brasile iro as true giants of the sport.
Here, we’re going to talk about the teams that have stood out the most over the decades, the legendary players who have made their mark and the coaches who have left their mark on the history of Brazilian soccer.
So if you’re a soccer fan, read on and find out more about the competition that makes our hearts beat faster.
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Brazilian Championship’s greatest champions: 10 teams with the most wins
The Campeonato Brasileiro has several clubs that have stood out over the years for their achievements, but 10 of them have managed the feat of winning the championship multiple times.
Below, we’ve put together a list of the 10 greatest champions of the Campeonato Brasileiro, including the number of titles and the years in which they won:
1. Palmeiras
Palmeiras is the team that has won the most Brasileirão titles in the tournament’s history, amassing an incredible 12 titles.
- Number of titles: 12
- Years: 1960, 1967 (Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament), 1967 (Brazil Cup), 1969 (Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament), 1972, 1973, 1993, 1994, 2016, 2018, 2022 and 2023.
In recent years, in particular, the team has remained among the best in the world, including being one of the last Copa Libertadores champions, winning in 2020 and 2021.
2. Santos
Six of Santos’ 8 titles were won with Pelé, during the golden age of the team and the formation of the eternal King.
- Number of titles: 8
- Years: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965, 1968 (Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament), 2002, 2004
In 2023, Santos were relegated to Serie B for the first time in their history.
3. Corinthians
As well as being one of the greatest champions of the Brazilian Championship, Corinthians are also one of the champions of Serie B. Timão recovered very well from the drop to the second division, becoming Serie A champions three more times after a spell in Serie B.
- Number of titles: 7
- Years: 1990, 1998, 1999, 2005, 2011, 2015, 2017
4. Flamengo
Flamengo is on the list with 7 titles because the CBF recently confirmed that the result of the 1987 title is in favor of Sport. It’s undoubtedly a controversial issue, but we’re sticking with the Confederation’s official decision.
- Number of titles: 7
- Years: 1980, 1982, 1983, 1992, 2009, 2019, 2020
5. São Paulo
São Paulo’s three titles, won in 2006, 2007 and 2008, marked an era in national soccer, with the hegemony of a giant under the command of Muricy Ramalho, one of the greatest Brazilian soccer coaches in history.
- Number of titles: 6
- Years: 1977, 1986, 1991, 2006, 2007, 2008
6. Cruzeiro
As well as being one of the greatest champions of the Brazilian Championship, Cruzeiro also holds a record: the most points in a season, with 90 points in 2003, when they won the title with an overwhelming campaign in the first year of the consecutive points system.
- Number of titles: 4
- Years: 1966 (Brazil Cup), 2003, 2013, 2014
7. Vasco da Gama
One of the teams with the most beautiful history in Brazilian soccer, especially in relation to the inclusion of blacks and workers in championships like the Brasileiro. It’s the team with the competition’s top scorer: Roberto Dinamite, with 190 goals.
- Number of titles: 4
- Years: 1974, 1989, 1997, 2000
8. Fluminense
After 26 years without a win, Flu once again made a name for themselves among the champions of the Brazilian Championship in 2010, under the leadership of multi-champion Muricy Ramalho.
- Number of titles: 4
- Years: 1970, 1984, 2010, 2012
9. Atlético-MG
The history of Atlético-MG is very much intertwined with the history of the Brazilian Championship, after all, the team from Minas Gerais won the first national title in a competition that was recognized later, in 1937. After that, in 1971, they won the first officially recognized Brazilian Championship.
However, it went through a long dry spell, only winning again in 2021, 50 years after the historic title.
- Number of titles: 3
- Years: 1937, 1971 and 2021
10. Internacional
In 1970, the team from Rio Grande do Sul joined the list of three-time Brazilian champions with an undefeated campaign, without losing a game. A rare feat in the history of the Brasileirão.
- Number of titles: 3
- Years: 1975, 1976, 1979
Read also: All about the Campeonato Brasileiro: an uncomplicated guide to Serie A
Players with the most titles in the Campeonato Brasileiro
The players with the most Brazilian Championship titles are Lima (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1968), Pelé (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1968) and Pepe (1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 and 1968), each with six titles, all for Santos.
Then there are seven players who have won the Campeonato Brasileiro five times:
- Mayke: 2013, 2014 (Cruzeiro), 2018, 2022 and 2023 (Palmeiras)
- Coutinho: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 (Santos)
- Mauro: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 (Santos)
- Mengálvio: 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964 and 1965 (Santos)
- Ademir da Guia: 1967, 1967, 1969, 1972 and 1973 (Palmeiras)
- Dudu: 1967, 1967, 1969, 1972 and 1973 (Palmeiras)
- Dagoberto: 2001 (Atlético Paranaense), 2007, 2008 (São Paulo), 2013 and 2014 (Cruzeiro)
Coaches with the most Brazilian Championship titles
Following the lists of the greatest champions of the Brazilian Championship, check out the coaches who have lifted the most titles.
Coach | Titles | Years of titles |
Lula | 5 | 1961, 1962, 1963, 1964, 1965 |
Vanderlei Luxemburgo | 1993, 1994, 1998, 2003, 2004 | |
Rubens Minelli | 4 | 1969, 1975, 1976, 1977 |
Muricy Ramalho | 2006, 2007, 2008, 2010 | |
Osvaldo Brandão | 3 | 1960, 1972, 1973 |
Ênio Andrade | 1979, 1981, 1985 | |
Mário Travaglini | 2 | 1967 TB, 1974 |
Telê Santana | 1971, 1991 | |
Antônio Lopes | 1997, 2005 | |
Marcelo Oliveira | 2013, 2014 | |
Tite | 2011, 2015 | |
Luiz Felipe Scolari | 1996, 2018 | |
Cuca | 2016, 2021 | |
Abel Ferreira | 2022, 2023 |
List of all Campeonato Brasileiro champions by year
Now we’ve come to the list of all the champions of the Brazilian Championship since 1937:
- 1937 – Atlético-MG
- 1959 – Bahia
- 1960 – Palmeiras
- 1961 – Santos
- 1962 – Santos
- 1963 – Santos
- 1964 – Santos
- 1965 – Santos
- 1966 – Cruzeiro
- 1967 – Palmeiras (Brazil Cup and Robertão)
- 1968 – Botafogo (Brazil Cup) and Santos (Robertão)
- 1969 – Palmeiras
- 1970 – Fluminense
- 1971 – Atlético-MG
- 1972 – Palmeiras
- 1973 – Palmeiras
- 1974 – Vasco
- 1975 – Internacional
- 1976 – Internacional
- 1977 – São Paulo
- 1978 – Guarani
- 1979 – Internacional
- 1980 – Flamengo
- 1981 – Gremio
- 1982 – Flamengo
- 1983 – Flamengo
- 1984 – Fluminense
- 1985 – Coritiba
- 1986 – São Paulo
- 1987 – Sport*
- 1988 – Bahia
- 1989 – Vasco
- 1990 – Corinthians
- 1991 – São Paulo
- 1992 – Flamengo
- 1993 – Palmeiras
- 1994 – Palmeiras
- 1995 – Botafogo
- 1996 – Gremio
- 1997 – Vasco
- 1998 – Corinthians
- 1999 – Corinthians
- 2000 – Vasco
- 2001 – Athletico-PR
- 2002 – Santos
- 2003 – Cruzeiro
- 2004 – Santos
- 2005 – Corinthians
- 2006 – São Paulo
- 2007 – São Paulo
- 2008 – São Paulo
- 2009 – Flamengo
- 2010 – Fluminense
- 2011 – Corinthians
- 2012 – Fluminense
- 2013 – Cruzeiro
- 2014 – Cruzeiro
- 2015 – Corinthians
- 2016 – Palmeiras
- 2017 – Corinthians
- 2018 – Palmeiras
- 2019 – Flamengo
- 2020 – Flamengo
- 2021 – Atlético-MG
- 2022 – Palmeiras
- 2023 – Palmeiras
And for the coming years, what’s your guess? Which name will join the list of Brazilian Championship winners? Will it be your team?
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