FC Brazil


Barça win gives Brazil its 35th European champion by rafaelmaranhao

Thirty-five winners, Twenty-three players on the winning side in the final match. No other non-European country has ever had so many European champions. In fact, just eight European countries have a longer list of Champions League & Champions Cup winning players than Brazil. FC Barcelona right back Daniel Alves became the 35th Brazilian to include the title in his CV and left back Sylvinho is the 23rd to take part in the winning team after the 2-0 victory over Manchester United in Rome.

Sylvinho had already won the Champions League with Barcelona as an unused substitute in the 2006 final against Arsenal in Paris. Daniel Alves has played his first season at Barça and is already part of an unprecedent treble (Champions League, La Liga and Copa del Rey). He was not in action in the  final against Manchester United after picking up a second yellow card in the semifinal against Chelsea.

“I hope this was the last time I had to watch it as a supporter. You suffer much more than as a player on the pitch,” said Daniel after the match, with a big smile on his face and the Champions League trophy in his hands.

The first Brazilian to be European champion was right winger Canário (Darcy Silveira dos Santos) with Real Madrid in 1960. He was also the first Brazilian player to take part in the final, setting up Real Madrid two first goals in the 7-3 victory over Eintracht Frankfurt. World Cup legend Didi was also a member of Real Madrid that season but he did not play any match in the Champions Cup and therefore is not included in the list of 35 winners below. Onlyplayers who took part in at least one match in the winning campaign are listed.

European winners (athletes who took part in the final marked with*):

Roberto Carlos: 3 (1998*, 2000* and 2002*, Real Madrid)

Sávio: 3 (1998 (unused sub in the final), 2000* and 2002, Real Madrid)

Deco: 2 (2004*, FC Porto, and 2006*, FC Barcelona; Portuguese international)

Dida: 2 (2003* and 2007*, AC Milan)

Jair da Costa: 2 (1964* and 1965*, Internazionale)

Serginho: 2 (2003 (unused sub in the final) and 2007*, AC Milan)

Sylvinho: 2 (2006 (unused sub in the final) and 2009*, FC Barcelona)

Anderson: 1 (2008*, Manchester United)

Belletti: 1 (2006*, FC Barcelona)

Bruno Moraes: 1 (2004, FC Porto)

Cafu: 1 (2007 (unused sub in the final), AC Milan)

Canário: 1 (1960*, Real Madrid)

Carlos Alberto: 1 (2004*, FC Porto)

Celso: 1 (1987*, FC Porto)

Daniel Alves: 1 (2009 (suspended for the final), FC Barcelona)

Derlei: 1 (2004*, FC Porto)

Dino Sani: 1 (1963*, AC Milan)

Edmílson: 1 (2006*, FC Barcelona)

Elói: 1 (1987, FC Porto)

Flávio Conceição: 1 (2002*, Real Madrid)

Giovane Elber: 1 (2001*, Bayern Munchen)

José Altafini (Mazola): 1 (1963*, AC Milan; also Italian international)

Juary: 1 (1987*, FC Porto)

Júlio César (Júlio César da Silva): 1 (1997, Borussia Dortmund)

Júlio César (Júlio César Santos Correa): 1 (2000, Real Madrid)

Kaká: 1 (2007*, AC Milan)

Paulo Ricardo: 1 (1987, FC Porto)

Paulo Sérgio: 1 (2001*, Bayern Munchen)

Ricardo Oliveira: 1 (2007, AC Milan)

Rivaldo: 1 (2003 (unused sub in the final), AC Milan)

Ronaldinho: 1 (2006*, FC Barcelona)

Roque Júnior: 1 (2003*, AC Milan)

Thiago Motta: 1 (2006 (unused sub in the final), FC Barcelona)

Walter Casagrande: 1 (1987 (unused sub in the final), FC Porto)

Zé Roberto: 1 (1998, Real Madrid)



Daniel Alves says Barcelona will not miss him by rafaelmaranhao

Dani Alves is in Rome to support his teammates in the CL finalFour Brazilians have helped Barcelona and Manchester United on their way to the 2009 Champions League final this Wednesday in Rome. But the one who has played more matches among them is exactly the player out of action tonight. Barcelona right wing back Daniel Alves took part in nine matches in the Champions League but picked up a second booking in the second leg of the semifinal against Chelsea and will watch the final from the stands.

“I am happy I helped the team to get to the final, but sad that I will not be on the pitch. I do not think Barcelona will be less stronger without me. It will not change the way our team plays. I am very confident we can win,” says Daniel.

The former EC Bahia and Sevilla FC player has already won three European trophies in his career (two Uefa Cups and one Super Cup with Sevilla). The one missing is the biggest of them all.

“It is not every day a team plays a Champions League final. We are very happy for that and trying to enjoy the moment. Manchester United is a great opponent and has the best player in the world, Cristiano Ronaldo. But Barcelona will show the same football it has played this season. If we have a great game we will be champions.”

Barcelona will have one Brazilian in action this Wednesday, the left-back Sylvinho. Manchester United has right-back Rafael da Silva and midfielder Anderson in its squad for the final.



Daniel Alves expects ‘same Chelsea’ from Camp Nou by rafaelmaranhao

From a disappointing night at home against Chelsea in the Champions League to a historic display in Madrid against eternal rivals Real. At the same time, Barcelona showed last week it is not an unstoppable side but it is still able to beat any squad anywhere. Brazilian wing-back Daniel Alves would like to see this Wednesday at Stamford Bridge a performance similar with the one in Madrid. But he expects the same Chelsea from the Camp Nou.

“Whenever I watch Chelsea they play that way. I don’t believe in any great change. But, playing at home, they will have to attack us and we hope to take advantage of it. If they play exactly like they did at the Camp Nou it is going to be very difficult for us,” says the Brazilian international.

The former EC Bahia and Sevilla FC player says Barça’s talents are on fire after the 6-2 trashing of Real Madrid in the Spanish League.

“That win gave us a boost ahead of our next challenge. Our weapons are our players and the fantastic moment we are living. We believe we can win no matter the team we face and no matter where we play. This is the Champions League, and to win it we have to beat great teams,” says Daniel Alves.