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| Campeonato Brasileiro | |
|---|---|
| Name | Campeonato Brasileiro |
| Country | Brazil |
| Confederation | Confederação Brasileira de Futebol |
| Founded | 1959 |
| Teams | 20 |
| Levels | 1–4 |
| Domestic cup | Copa do Brasil |
| Confed cup | Copa Libertadores |
| Relegation | Campeonato Brasileiro Série B |
| Champions | Flamengo |
| Most titles | Palmeiras (11) |
Campeonato Brasileiro is the principal football league system in Brazil, encompassing national leagues, cups, and playoff competitions that determine domestic champions and continental qualification. The competition evolved from regional tournaments and national cups into a multi-tiered league featuring prominent clubs from cities such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Belo Horizonte, and Porto Alegre. Governed by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, the championship interacts with competitions like the Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup through qualification slots.
The origins trace to the Taça Brasil (1959) and the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa (1967) which integrated clubs from states such as Bahia, Pernambuco, Ceará, and Minas Gerais before the modern national league. During the 1970s reorganizations under the Brazilian military government and administrators from the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, the championship adopted formats influenced by the European Cup and South American tournaments like the Copa Libertadores. The 1987 dispute between the Clube dos 13 and the CBF produced competing claims resolved over years in courts and by decisions involving clubs such as Sport Recife, Flamengo, Corinthians, and Internacional. The creation of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A as a round-robin league in 2003 matched structures used by the English Football League and the La Liga system, consolidating promotion/relegation with Série B, Série C, and Série D tiers.
The top tier, Série A, typically features 20 clubs playing a double round-robin, mirroring schedules used by competitions like the Premier League and Bundesliga. Points determine standings with ties broken by criteria involving goal difference and goals scored, similar to rules adopted by UEFA competitions. Continental qualification grants places in the Copa Libertadores and the Copa Sudamericana, while domestic cup winners enter the Copa do Brasil final stages. The season calendar coordinates with state championships such as the Campeonato Paulista, Campeonato Carioca, Campeonato Gaúcho, and Campeonato Mineiro, plus calendar events like the FIFA World Cup and the Copa América which affect club availability and international breaks.
Clubs with multiple titles include Palmeiras, Flamengo, Corinthians, São Paulo FC, Santos FC, Grêmio, Internacional, and Cruzeiro. Historic squads featuring players from Pelé, Zico, Rivellino, Romário, Ronaldo, Kaká, Neymar, and Sócrates contributed to club prestige and continental success in tournaments such as the Intercontinental Cup and the Copa Libertadores. Regional giants from states like Paraná—including Atlético Paranaense—and from Pernambuco—including Sport Recife and Santa Cruz—also shaped competitive balance. Institutional rivalries such as Fla-Flu (between Flamengo and Fluminense), Paulista Derby (between Corinthians and Palmeiras), and the Grenal (between Grêmio and Internacional) are central to fan culture.
Promotion and relegation link Série A with Série B, Série C, and Série D through season standings, playoffs, and club licensing overseen by the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol. Financial regulations, stadium requirements, and club licensing echo standards set by CONMEBOL and FIFA; failures have led to administrative relegations involving clubs like União São João and Portuguesa. Playoff formats in lower tiers have produced surprise promotions for teams such as América Mineiro and Atlético Goianiense, while storied clubs have faced relegation—examples include Cruzeiro and Botafogo—prompting restructuring and investment.
Record holders in goals, appearances, and awards reflect careers spanning domestic and international play. Top scorers include Roberto Dinamite and Romário, while appearance records feature veterans from Fluminense, Corinthians, and Vasco da Gama. Ballon d'Or winners and FIFA World Cup stars such as Ronaldo and Kaká spent formative seasons with Brazilian clubs before transfers to Real Madrid, AC Milan, FC Barcelona, and Paris Saint-Germain. Coaching figures like Telê Santana, Luiz Felipe Scolari, Carlos Alberto Parreira, and Tite influenced tactical trends that impacted results in the Copa Libertadores and international friendlies.
Iconic venues hosting Campeonato Brasileiro matches include the Maracanã Stadium, Morumbi Stadium, Mineirão, Beira-Rio, Arena Corinthians, Allianz Parque, and Arena do Grêmio. Attendance figures vary by market and derby importance, with peaks during matches such as Fla-Flu and title deciders involving Palmeiras and Flamengo. Infrastructure investments tied to events like the 2014 FIFA World Cup and the 2016 Summer Olympics led to renovations of stadiums in cities including Brasília, Salvador, Fortaleza, and Natal.
Broadcast rights for league matches are negotiated with national and international partners, involving companies such as TV Globo, RecordTV, ESPN Brazil, SporTV, and streaming services like DAZN and global platforms carrying Brazilian football abroad. Sponsorship deals feature brands from the Brazilian market and multinational corporations, while kit manufacturers include Nike, Adidas, and Puma. Media coverage extends to specialized outlets like Lance!, GloboEsporte.com, and sports programs hosted by personalities connected to clubs like Flamengo and Corinthians.
Category:Football leagues in Brazil