Campeonato Brasileiro Série A

Lore & Background

Due to historical peculiarities and the large geographical size of the country, Brazil has a relatively short history of nationwide football competitions. The main and most prestigious competitions were the state championships, with occasional inter-state tournaments. In 1959, advancements in civil aviation and the need to appoint a Brazilian representative to the first Copa Libertadores led to the creation of the Taça Brasil, a knockout tournament. In 1967, the Torneio Rio-São Paulo was expanded to become the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa. The first tournament explicitly organized as a national championship by the CBF was in 1971, won by Atlético Mineiro, though it was only referred to as 'Campeonato Brasileiro' starting in 1989. The competition lacked standardization in format, rules, and number of participants, which changed almost every season. In 2003, the league transitioned into a double round-robin system, and since 2006 the format has been 20 clubs playing 38 matches. In 2010, champions of national tournaments from 1959 to 1970 were declared official winners of the Brazilian championship. In August 2023, the CBF declared the 1937 Torneio dos Campeões retroactively a Brazilian championship as well.

In Their Own Story

The stadium lights hummed above the Allianz Parque pitch as the captain adjusted his armband. It was late November, and the air smelled of rain and anticipation. He looked at the green jerseys around him, feeling the weight of history in every stitch. This wasn't just another match; it was the final step to cementing a record. As the whistle blew, the roar of the faithful shook the foundations, echoing decades of hope finally realized on this grass.

Reader's Guide

The Campeonato Brasileiro is one of the strongest leagues in the world, containing the second-most club world champions titles (10 championships among six clubs) and the most Copa Libertadores titles (25 titles among 12 clubs, tied with Argentina's top division). The IFFHS ranked the league fourth in strength for the 2001–12 period. It is the most-watched football league in the Americas, broadcast in 155 nations, and is one of the world's richest championships, ranked sixth most valuable with a worth of over US$1.43 billion. Since 1959, 156 clubs have played in the Campeonato Brasileiro. Seventeen clubs have been crowned champions, thirteen of which have won the title more than once. Palmeiras is the most successful club, having won the competition twelve times, followed by Santos and Flamengo with eight titles each, and Corinthians with seven titles. Santos' Os Santásticos won five consecutive titles between 1961 and 1965. The state of São Paulo is the most successful, amassing 34 titles among five clubs.

Did You Know?

• Palmeiras has won the Campeonato Brasileiro twelve times, the most of any club.
• The 1979 edition of the championship had 92 participants, the highest number ever.
• The Taça Brasil, created in 1959, was a knockout tournament used to select Brazil's representative for the Copa Libertadores.
• In August 2023, the CBF recognized the 1937 Torneio dos Campeões as a Brazilian championship, making Atlético Mineiro the first national champions.