Ranking of Brazil’s biggest football clubs | OneFootball

The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, known as Brasileirão, is one of the most competitive and exciting football leagues in the world. It has been home to some of the greatest clubs in the history of football, each contributing its unique legacy to the world's most popular sport.

Narrowing down the list was not an easy task, as there was a dispute between reputation, recent success, historical achievements, and fan base size.

A team that constantly ranks among the favorites in football betting and in casinos with no deposit bonuses. This does not define the "size" of a club, as it certainly takes into account its position in the football scene and how well-known it is outside its home country.

1 – Palmeiras

In 2015, Palmeiras tied the record of eight national titles. Crowned Brazilian champion four times since then, it is clearly the most successful Brazilian team of all time. They have also been a great betting option in continental competitions, with three Libertadores victories.

Their status as a giant of Brazilian football was consolidated with a series of titles won in the 1960s and 1970s. The club struggled to stay relevant in the following decades, before enjoying a good phase in the 90s, including reaching four finals in 2000 under the command of Luiz Felipe Scolari.

Since then, Palmeiras has been a club of ups and downs. Many successes were interspersed with relegations, financial problems, and the sale of promising young talents like Gabriel Jesus and Endrick.

2. Santos

With an unparalleled golden generation, which included Pelé, Gilmar, Mauro Ramos, and others, Santos made history by winning the quadruple crown in 1962. The Santástico was the dominant force in South American football, and Pelé became one of the first international superstars in football history.

The club went through a period of calm when this era came to an end, with little success from the 1960s until the 2000s. Neymar and Ganso led another period of success, taking Santos to win their third Libertadores title in 2011.

Unfortunately, financial difficulties hit the club in the 2010s, resulting in a sequence of mid-table finishes and relegation to the second division at the beginning of the 2020s.

The club returned to the first division on the first attempt and Neymar returned to play, signing a long-term contract until 2025.

3. Flamengo

According to a study conducted in 2023, Flamengo has 46.9 million fans in Brazil and more than 15 million more than any other team.

The club has won the Copa Libertadores on three occasions, the most recent in 2022, and has won all of its seven national titles since 1980.

Under the command of Zico, Flamengo won its first four championship titles between 1980 and 1992. However, after Zico's retirement, the club faced serious financial problems during the 1990s and lost ground in the race for the top of Brazilian football.

Escaping relegation on several occasions, the club took several years to get back on track. Champion again in 2009, with Adriano leading the team, and signing Ronaldinho a few years later, Flamengo was once again a force to be reckoned with.

In the following years, they maintained financial stability through the sale of talented academy players, including Vinicius Jr., Lucas Paquetá, and Gabriel Barbosa.

4. Corinthians

With the second-largest fan base in Brazil and elected the most valuable football club in the Americas in 2017, Corinthians has enjoyed immense success over the last four decades.

All of its seven national titles have been won since 1990, and they are also 31-time winners of the Campeonato Paulista. The recent years have not been easy for the People's Team. Often battling against relegation and far from winning the Campeonato Paulista, the glory of the 2012 Club World Cup is nothing but a distant memory for its loyal fans.

Still, the club's brand and identity are more widely recognized than many of its competitors in the top division of Brazilian football. If history has taught us anything about Brazilian football, it's that it won't be long before Corinthians is back competing for titles.

5. São Paulo

With the third-largest fan base in Brazil, some argue that São Paulo should be in a higher position on this list.

If we analyze the situation considering the club's image around the world, São Paulo is probably not on the same level as the top four teams.

This despite having won six national titles and three Libertadores. Kaká is also on the list of former players of the club, along with Lucas Moura and Cafu.

On the other hand, São Paulo is one of the two clubs (along with Flamengo) that have never been relegated and the only club in the country to have won all possible titles.

With such a large fan base, The Sovereign had to have a place among the top five, but would you place it among the top four clubs that come to mind when you think of Brazilian football?

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.