Romario e Seus Amigos

World Cup time again, perfect time to split up into Those Who Care and Those Who Don’t.   I’m sure you know which one you are.   

In the past I had a namorada brasileira (carioca orgulhosa) who got me into futebol.   We watched Brazil beat Germany 2-0 in the final in 2002, our comrades chanting PENTA CAMPEAO (five times World Cup champion) at the Summers in Arlington, first thing on that Saturday morning, followed by some street party in Adams Morgan.   From then on I’ve been watching and occasionally seeing the game in person, though I’ve yet to see any World Cup games in person.  I was not a fan in 1994 when the Cup occurred in the US. 

Flamengo vs. Fluminense, Maracana, February 2004.  The same day as the famous Janet Jackson Super Bowl which was actually between the Patriots (Tom Brady) and Panthers (Jack Delhomme).   Maracana is famous as the world’s largest soccer stadium and is in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.   We were in the lower deck – the upper deck was the insane fans.  One half in red & black chanting MEN-GO and the other half in dark green and maroon chanting NEN-SE.   Flamengo went ahead by 1, Fluminense scored three goals – game over, right?  Not so fast.  Flamengo came from behind to make it 4-3 MENGO.   Romario was playing for Fluminense in this game.

FYI, Brazil has a STATE of Rio de Janeiro, as well as the CITY of Rio de Janeiro.  Until Brasilia became the country’s capital in the late 1950s, RJ (as it’s called) was the country’s capital.  People from Rio are called cariocas.  The city has four major teams:  Flamengo (colors red & black, horizontal stripes), Fluminense (colors dark red, white, and dark green, in vertical stripes), Botafogo (colors black and white in vertical stripes, white star on black shield); and Vasco da Gama (colors white with black diagonal sash and red Maltese cross) (yes, the famous explorer).   I’ve been to the complexes of Flamengo and Botafogo.  What’s interesting about Brazilian teams is that the franchises also include teams of other sports, mainly basketball, volleyball, fencing, Magic: The Gathering, and martial arts - the UFC dudes are Brazilian, remember?  Imagine the Patriots having a baseball team, a basketball team and a hockey team. 

Brazli's national team, the Seleção (CBF), has been in every World Cup since 1950, and never failed to qualify.  It won the whole thing in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002, and as runner up in 1950 (lost to Uruguay) and 1998 (lost to France).  Its worst showing was exiting in group phase in 1966 (UK).  

   

Brazilian players love this “one name” deal, and here are some of the most popular.  Most start out with a famous Brazilian club, get famous and signed by top European teams, then wind down back home in Brazil.

Ronaldo (Ronaldo Luiz Nazario de Lima).    The original, from Brazil, not to be confused with Cristiano Ronaldo.   From Rio de Janeiro.  He played for major European teams Real Madrid, Barcelona, AC Milan and Inter Milan.  He started out with Cruzeiro (Belo Horizonte, Brazil) and ended with Corinthians (São Paulo, Brazil).   He scored both of 2 goals in the 2002 final against Germany.    

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 1994, 1998, 2002, 2006, 2010.  

  

Ronaldinho (Ronaldo de Assis Moreira).  Younger and darker skin, nowadays trying to marry two girls at once.  Originally from Porto Alegre, down south where Gisele Bundchen comes from.   Back when I was paying more attention he was playing for Paris St-Germain – Neymar’s current team – and then Barcelona.  I saw him play for the latter team in an exhibition game against AC Milan at RFK.  I recall he was on 2002 World Cup team.  He started with Gremio (southern Brazilian team), and went to Flamengo and Fluminense on his way back down.

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 2002, 2006, 2010. 

Rivaldo (Rivaldo Vitor Borba Ferreira).  From Recife, northeast Brazil.  Started out at Palmeiras (green team from São Paolo), then Barcelona and AC Milan, then back to São Paulo FC and São Caetano back in Brazil.  I remember him doing this “faking injury” BS which soccer players are so notorious for.

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 1994, 1998, 2002. 

Romario (Romario de Souza Faria).  Now in the Brazilian legislature, born in Rio de Janeiro, so he’s a true carioca.  Spent time at PSV Einhoven (Holland) and Barcelona.   Of the four RJ teams, Botafogo is the only one he never played for. 

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 1990, 1994, 1998.

Pele (Edson Arentes de Nascimento).   Famous from the 1958 and 1970 teams – I think he was injured in 1962.  He’s still famous and generally in the public eye.  Hasn’t run for president of Brazil…yet.   For a long time he was the only soccer player any American knew about.   Oddly, he stayed with Santos (São Paulo port city) team for his entire Brazilian career, then played briefly with the New York Cosmos in the late 70s to try get Americans to give a s**t about soccer. 

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 1958, 1962, 1970.

Garrincha (Manuel Francisco dos Santos).  Famous for playing for Botafogo.  Small and bowlegged with a remarkably complex and tragic social life, another one of these players as famous off the field as on it.

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 1958, 1962, 1966.

Zico (Arthur Antones Coimbra).   Most closely associated with Flamengo - and another carioca.  Pele considers him "second best" - guess who Pele considers the best?   Well esteemed though with the misfortune not to be associated with a World Cup winning national team.  
World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 1978, 1982, 1986. 

Coming back to the present…

Neymar (Neymar da Silva Santos Junior).   A Paulista, he started with Santos (Pele’s team), signed with Barcelona, and is now with Paris St-Germain. 

World Cup appearances for the Seleção (Brazilian National Team): 2010, 2014, 2018.

Cristiano Ronaldo.   I’ll add him here just for clarification – because he’s Portuguese and not Brazilian.    The majority of his career has been with Manchester United and Real Madrid.  I have a few of his jerseys – including a purple Real Madrid I’m wearing right now.