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 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.



Ronaldo’s goal delights Pelé: ‘World Cup class. He is back’ by rafaelmaranhao

Ronaldo was the man of the match in Santos/Agência CorinthiansFrom his box at Vila Belmiro, Santos FC’s home ground, Pelé was hoping to watch his beloved team and its new star Neymar beat Corinthians in the first leg of the Campeonato Paulista (São Paulo State League) final. But what the King of Football saw was another brilliant exhibition of Ronaldo, who scored two goals and led his side to a 3-1 victory. Ronaldo’s second goal was such a beauty that deserved a special comment from Pelé.

“That goal was World Cup class. Ronaldo made the difference. He has proven he is back and fit again,” said football’s all-time greatest, who arrived at Vila Belmiro bragging he had not seen Santos lose any home match in more than three years.

Ronaldo has scored eight goals in ten matches for Corinthians and he is very close to win his first trophy at his new club – and his first piece of silverware in Brazilian football since the Campeonato Mineiro (Minas Gerais State League) for Cruzeiro in 1994 when he was only 17. Corinthians now holds a two-goal advantage over Santos ahead of the second leg on Sunday.

The man of the match himself was cautious as he believes it is too early to celebrate. With a history of long recoveries during a career plagued by knee injuries, Ronaldo has got used to waiting. Once again written off as finished he is just a week away of one more amazing comeback.

“To be king for a day in the stadium where Pelé scored so many of his goals is great. I am proud and happy that I did my best to help the team. But we still have 90 minutes to play,” said the former Inter Miland, Barcelona, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker.

Santos manager Vagner Mancini refused to admit the home defeat put an end to their title hopes but he acknowledges his side has a mountain to climb after Ronaldo’s performance.

“Corinthians did not have many chances, but when they did the ball went to Ronaldo’s feet. He is a genius and his second goal showed that. If it were anyone else, that goal would not have happened,” said Mancini.

Related news on FC Brazil: Ronaldo’s road to recovery: ‘What a pace, Gordo!’



Ronaldo’s road to recovery: ‘What a pace, Gordo!’ by Campante

Ronaldo celebrates after scoring Corinthians second goal against São PauloRonaldo scoring a goal is hardly a reason to stop the presses. But the Phenomenon latest blast made the headlines because of how it was done.

Ronaldo’s career was put in jeopardy back in February 2008 when he blew his left knee. Many thought that, at age 31 and having to face major reconstructive knee surgery, the 2002 World Cup  leading scorer would choose what seemed to be the the logical way out and simply quit football.

However, once again Ronaldo defied logic. Despite all the struggle to lose weight and be in game shape, not only the former PSV, Barcelona, Inter Milan, Real Madrid and AC Milan striker came back to professional footbal, but he also came back to Brazil, to play for Corinthians.

Last Sunday, Ronaldo scored Corinthians second goal against São Paulo, putting the finishing touch on a 2-0 win that propelled his team to the São Paulo state championship finals, where they will face Santos.

The goal came with Ronaldo’s usual soft touch. What was unexpected, though, was the fact that Ronaldo outpaced defender Rodrigo to the ball before slotting the shot past goalkeeper Bosco.

It was such an amazing run that Corinthians’ manager Mano Menezes joked with Ronaldo when they were celebrating the goal: “Que velocidade, gordo!” (“What a pace, fatty!), he said, refering to Ronaldo’s (in)famous bout with the weight scale.

After the match, Ronaldo took a shot at one São Paulo director who said he was an “ex-player”, by saying: “There is always some j****** talking some b*******. Let’s see if he shows up now to say anything.”

Related news on FC Brazil: Ronaldo’s goal delights Pelé: ‘World Cup class. He is back’