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Brazil has been home to some of the best footballers in the history of the sport, and has typified the essence of our beautiful game. The likes of Pele, Ronaldo, Zico, and Ronaldinho, to name just a few, have entertained generations of football fans with their flamboyance and extraordinary abilities.
The current generation of Brazilian football is in fine stead as well, with some of Europe’s top names representing the Selecao. It is no surprise that Brazilians command some of the highest prices in the transfer market, with two of their players in the top three of the most expensive signings in footballing history.
On that note, let’s take a look at 5 most expensive Brazilian players of all time.
#5 Alisson | Liverpool | €62.5 million
Liverpool’s man in goal, Alisson Becker, held the record of being the world’s most expensive goalkeeper for a brief while.
The Brazil international had a stellar campaign with AS Roma in 2017/18 and was named in the Serie A Team of the Year with a tally of 22 clean sheets across all competitions that season. After a disappointing performance by Loris Karius in the Champions League finals against Real Madrid, Liverpool broke the bank to bring Alisson to the English shores on a €62.5 million fee.
The Reds started to reap a return on their investment almost immediately as the Brazilian won Premier League’s Golden Glove accolade. He played a starring role in Liverpool’s Champions League glory in his debut season.
Alisson has enjoyed a trophy-laden spell at Liverpool since his move in 2018, winning the Premier League, Champions League, FIFA Club World Cup and UEFA SuperCup titles with the Reds. The Brazilian also laid hands on the 2019 Copa America title at the end of his debut season at Anfield.
#4 Kaka | Real Madrid | €67 million
Next up, we have one of the greatest Brazilian footballers in the modern era - Kaka, who earned a then-record €67 million move to Los Blancos.
The Brazilian is one of the most naturally gifted talents in footballing history, and was at the peak of his powers during the six-year stint with AC Milan. Kaka won a host of trophies with the former Italian champions - including a Champions League, Serie A, FIFA Club World Cup, and UEFA Super Cup title.
Kaka played a massive role in Milan’s 2006/07 Champions League title-winning campaign, finishing the campaign as the top goal-scorer (10 goals). The 2006/07 season earned him the prestigious Ballon D’Or award in 2007.
Real Madrid made a move for Kaka in the 2009 summer transfer window, splashing a then-world record €67 million fee for the World Cup winner.
Kaka failed to recreate his glory days in the Spanish capital, owing to persistent injury problems and Jose Mourinho’s reluctance to employ the Brazilian. After 68 goal involvements (29 goals, 39 assists) from 120 appearances, Kaka moved back to AC Milan in 2013.
#3 Arthur | Juventus | €72 million
After playing alongside Lionel Messi for two seasons at Barcelona, Arthur Melo moved to Turin in the 2020 summer transfer to join forces with Cristiano Ronaldo & Co.
Arthur signed a deal with Juventus on the same day Barcelona announced the signing of Miralem Pjanic from Juve, making it a swap deal in essence. Considering the complications of a swap deal and in an attempt to balance the books, the clubs treated the move as two unrelated transfers.
A €60 million fee was agreed for Pjanic, while the man dubbed as “the next Xavi” departed Camp Nou on a €72 million transfer. Arthur has not had the brightest start to life in Turin, managing a solitary goal and no assists in 31 appearances for the Italian champions.
The Brazilian has failed to nail down a starting spot in an underwhelming Juventus squad who are under threat of missing out on a Champions League spot for the first time in a decade.
#2 Philippe Coutinho | Barcelona | €135 million
Philippe Coutinho is regarded as one of the brightest talents in world football, especially after a sensational five-year stint with Liverpool.
The 28-year old established himself as one of the best midfielders in the Premier League, with a direct involvement in 99 goals (54 goals, 45 assists) from 201 appearances for the club.
Coutinho moved to Barcelona in the 2018 winter transfer window on a mammoth €135 million fee, making him the third most-expensive signing in the world.
However, he must have some regrets about the timing of his move. Liverpool would go on to lift the Champions League a few months later, their first league title in the Premier League era, the following season.
On the other hand, Coutinho experienced a torrid start for the Blaugrana - failing to nail down a spot in the starting XI - and was loaned out to Bayern Munich in 2019. The Brazilian returned to Camp Nou at the start of this season, making a meager 14 appearances with an output of 3 goals and 2 assists.
#1 Neymar | Paris Saint-Germain | €222 million
Neymar is arguably the best Brazilian footballer of this generation - taking over the mantle from the likes of Ronaldinho and Kaka.
The former Brazil captain is the only player on our list who can feature on two different occasions. Neymar’s €88.2 million transfer from Santos to Barcelona was the third-highest transfer fee paid for a Brazilian when he made his first permanent move to Europe in 2013.
The lethal trio of Messi, Suarez and Neymar helped Barcelona lift the European treble in the 2014/15 season. The Brazilian shocked the football world when he departed Barcelona on a world-record €222 million transfer fee, making him the most expensive footballer on the planet.
Neymar has not won the major trophies he would have expected when he moved to Parc Des Princes, but has been one of PSG’s best performers since his arrival. In 113 appearances for the French champions, Neymar has scored 86 goals and provided 51 assists for the Parisians.
