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| Brasileirão | |
|---|---|
| Name | Campeonato Brasileiro Série A |
| Country | Brazil |
| Confed | CONMEBOL |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Relegation | Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
| Domestic cup | Copa do Brasil |
| Confed cup | Copa Libertadores |
| Champions | Flamengo |
| Most championships | Palmeiras (11) |
Brasileirão is the principal professional football league in Brazil, contested by top clubs from cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Porto Alegre. Established from early national tournaments, the competition involves clubs that have also competed in continental tournaments like the Copa Libertadores and players who have represented Brazil at the FIFA World Cup. Clubs with global recognition, including São Paulo, Flamengo, Santos, and Cruzeiro, have shaped its profile alongside managers such as Telê Santana and Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The lineage of national club championships traces to the Taça Brasil and the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, which featured clubs from Guanabara, Minas Gerais, Rio Grande do Sul, and São Paulo. The modern national league evolved amid reforms influenced by the 1960s governance and broadcasting expansions tied to corporations like Rede Globo. Landmark seasons included the dominance of Santos during the Pelé era and the rise of Atlético Mineiro and Flamengo in later decades. Legal and administrative disputes have involved the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol and the Supreme Federal Court on governance, while clubs negotiated with bodies such as FIFA and CONMEBOL over calendar alignment and international qualification.
Since the turn of the 21st century, the league mostly adopted a double round-robin format similar to the English Football League model, with 20 teams playing home-and-away matches for a points table, promotion from Campeonato Brasileiro Série B, and relegation mechanisms modeled on European leagues like La Liga and Serie A. Qualification slots for the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana derive from final standings and interplay with the Copa do Brasil winner, echoing continental allocation rules managed by CONMEBOL. Seasonal scheduling negotiates with the Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Carioca, and international calendars dictated by FIFA international windows and the UEFA–CONMEBOL cooperation climate. Financial fair-play considerations and broadcast contract clauses mirror practices used by UEFA and the English Premier League.
Historic clubs include Corinthians, Palmeiras, Fluminense, Vasco da Gama, Grêmio, and Caxias do Sul (regional examples). High-profile derbies such as Clássico dos Milhões between Flamengo and Vasco da Gama, the Paulista derby involving Corinthians and Palmeiras, and the Gaúcho derby between Grêmio and Internacional draw comparisons to rivalries like El Clásico and the Merseyside derby. Club ownership models vary: membership-driven societies like Fluminense contrast with investor-backed entities following precedents set by Manchester City F.C.-style takeovers and South American privatization cases.
Record holders include top scorers and appearance leaders such as Romário, Roberto Dinamite, and Neymar during his time at Santos. Club records—most championships, longest unbeaten runs, highest attendances at venues like the Maracanã Stadium and Morumbi—sit alongside managerial milestones by figures like Muricy Ramalho and Carlos Alberto Parreira. Statistical categories track goal differentials, assists and clean sheets using analytics comparable to Opta Sports and metrics applied in European competitions. Prize distributions, transfer fee records involving moves to clubs such as FC Barcelona or Paris Saint-Germain and disciplinary records have been subject to scrutiny by bodies like FIFA and the CBF.
Notable seasons include the 1971 consolidation of national competition formats, the 1994–2003 era with fluctuating formats and champions like Vasco and Corinthians, the 2009–2013 stretch marked by Fluminense and Cruzeiro successes, and recent campaigns where Palmeiras, Flamengo, and Atlético Mineiro captured titles. Key matchdays, championship-deciding fixtures, and relegation battles have involved stadiums referenced by FIFA match reports and media outlets like ESPN and GloboEsporte. Seasons are often influenced by international tournaments such as the Copa América and by player availability due to FIFA World Cup cycles.
Superstars who built reputations domestically and abroad include Pelé, Zico, Rivaldo, Kaka, Ronaldinho Gaúcho, Neymar, and Gabriel Barbosa. Managers who influenced tactics and youth development include Telê Santana, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Tite, and Vanderlei Luxemburgo. Youth academies of Santos, Fluminense, and Cruzeiro have produced talents later transferred to European clubs like Real Madrid, FC Barcelona, and Juventus FC. Transfer negotiations regularly involve intermediaries tied to markets in Portugal, Spain, and Italy, and are governed by FIFA transfer regulations and continental registration windows.
Broadcast agreements have involved broadcasters such as Rede Globo, ESPN Brasil, and pay-TV operators reminiscent of deals seen with the English Premier League and La Liga. Rights negotiations affect match scheduling, streaming distribution through platforms akin to DAZN, and sublicensing to international markets including Portugal, Japan, and the United States. Media coverage includes national outlets like GloboEsporte and international sports networks, with commentary influenced by pundits who have worked across clubs and tournaments such as Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup.
Category:Football leagues in Brazil