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Whenever Brazil go into a major tournament, they are expected to come back with the trophy. Such is the pedigree and history of this great footballing nation.
Brazil came into the 2018 FIFA World Cup as one of the favourites and they have so far lived up to expectations while other favourites like Germany, Spain and Argentina have crashed out.
The Selecao are through to the quarterfinal and are up against a strong Belgium side next. However, given Brazil’s performance and quality, this might be Belgium acid test.
Brazil’s record under Tite is mindblowing. They have won 20 out of the 25 games they’ve played under him and have lost just one game! During this run, they’ve scored 52 goals and conceded just six times. At the World Cup, they’ve conceded one and scored seven in four games.
This Brazil side is strong at both ends of the pitch and can easily go on to win the World Cup. When they play Belgium, Brazil will go level with Germany for the most games played at the World Cup and they can break the record if they reach the semi-final.
Brazil already hold some prestigious records at the World Cup and some of them may never be broken.
#7 Most appearances at a World Cup and most consecutive appearances - both 21
The 2018 FIFA World Cup is the 21st edition of the tournament and so far, 79 different countries have had the honour of appearing at the World Cup.
Out of these 79 teams, only one team has participated in every World Cup to date and that’s Brazil. The World Cup in Russia is Brazil’s 21 appearance in a World Cup and naturally also their 21st consecutive appearance.
Germany have participated in 19 World Cups and they are second to Brazil. They didn’t participate in the inaugural World Cup and were banned from participating in 1950. As a result, Germany’s streak of most consecutive World Cup stands at 17 which is also second to Brazil.
#6 and #5 Longest win streak (11) and longest unbeaten run (13)
The Brazil team that won the 2002 FIFA World Cup is one of the greatest teams to have played the beautiful game. That team comprised of some all-time greats like Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Cafu and Roberto Carlos. Even Kaka was part of the 23-man squad although he played just one game as a substitute.
Brazil won all seven games at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and also won the first four games of the 2006 FIFA World Cup before losing to France in the quarterfinal. This took their run of consecutive wins at the World Cup to 11 games which is an all-time record. Their run of seven wins at the 2002 World Cup is also the most in a single tournament.
The Selecao also hold the record for the longest unbeaten run in the World Cup. It started with their first game of the 1958 World Cup and ended in their second game of the 1966 World Cup. Brazil played 13 games without losing during this period while winning 11 games and drawing just two. More importantly, they also won two World Cups.
#4 Most goals at the World Cup - 228
Coming into the 2018 World Cup, Brazil had a grand total of 221 goals which put them second in the all-time list behind Germany with 224. Funnily, Germany overtook Brazil’s tally against Brazil in Brazil four years ago during their famous 7-1 win.
At the end of this year’s group stage, Germany and Brazil were level on most goals at a World Cup with 226 each. Following Germany’s exit, Brazil had a great chance to overtake that tally and Neymar’s goal against Mexico put them in the lead before Roberto Firmino doubled it.
Brazil are through to the quarterfinal and given their form and quality, they have a really good chance of expanding their current lead.
#3 Most consecutive matches scoring at least one goal - 18
Brazil’s competition for most of the team records at the World Cup is with Germany and they share the record for most consecutive matches scoring at least one goal with the Germans.
Brazil scored in every match of 1934, 1938, 1950 and 1954 World Cup (there were no World Cups in 1942 and 1946). Their run of games scoring at least one goal ended against England at the 1958 World Cup in their second group stage game which ended 0-0.
During this run of 18 games, Brazil scored 44 goals and conceded 23 goals.
Germany's run started in 1934 and the final game of Germany’s run of 18 games scoring at least one goal was the 3rd place playoff in 1958. Their run was ended in their first game of the 1962 World Cup after a goalless draw against Italy.
#2 Most wins at the World Cup - 73
The win against Mexico in the Round of 16 of this World Cup was Brazil’s 73rd win in the history of the World Cup.
They will be hoping to make it 76 at the end of the ongoing World Cup and claim another trophy. However, they have to first get past Belgium and one of Uruguay or France in the semifinal to make it to the final.
Brazil’s 73 wins is six more than second-placed Germany’s and the next highest is Italy with 45 wins.
Brazil’s all-time record at the World Cup reads 73 wins, 18 draws and 17 losses.
#1 Most World Cups won - 5
Irrespective of what happens in Russia, Brazil’s record of five World Cups will stand for at least eight more years.
Brazil won their first World Cup in 1958 and in 1962, they became only the second and most recent team to successfully defend their World Cup title. In 1970, Brazil won their third World Cup and in the process, Pele also won his third World Cup which makes him the player who has won the most World Cups.
After 1970, it took Brazil 24 years to win the World Cup again and in 1994, they won their fourth. Eight years later, Brazil won their fifth and most recent World Cup. In 1998, Brazil reached the final and if they won it, then they would have become the only team to win a hat-trick of World Cups.
Germany and Italy have won four World Cups each and both teams are no longer part of the current World Cup (Italy didn’t even qualify). As a result, even if Brazil don’t win the World Cup in Russia, Italy or Germany can only hope to equal Brazil’s record in Qatar in 2022.
