Association football league in Brazil
Not to be confused with Serie AFootball league
The Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (Portuguese pronunciation: [kɐ̃pjoˈnatu bɾaziˈlejɾu 👄 ˈsɛɾii ˈa]; English: "Brazilian Championship A Series"), commonly referred to as the Brasileirão (pronounced [bɾazilejˈɾãw]; English: "Big Brazilian"), and also 👄 known as Brasileirão Assaí due to sponsorship with Assaí Atacadista, is a Brazilian professional league for men's football clubs.
At the 👄 top of the Brazilian football league system, it is the country's primary football competition.
Contested by 20 clubs, it operates on 👄 a system of promotion and relegation with the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B.
In 2021 the competition was chosen by the IFFHS 👄 as the strongest national league in South America as well as the strongest in the world.[1]
Due to historical peculiarities and 👄 the large geographical size of the country, Brazil has a relatively short history of nationwide football competitions.
Only in 1959, with 👄 the advancements in civil aviation and air transport and the need to appoint a Brazilian representative to the first edition 👄 of the Copa Libertadores was a nationwide tournament created, Taça Brasil.
In 1967, the Torneio Rio-São Paulo was expanded to include 👄 teams from other states, becoming the Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, which was also considered a national tournament.
The first tournament downright 👄 called a national championship was held in 1971, although it was only referred to as "Campeonato Brasileiro" starting in 1989.
In 👄 2010, the champions of national tournaments from 1959 to 1970-Taça Brasil and Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa-have been declared official winners 👄 of the Brazilian championship or champions of Brazil (not winners of Brasileirão or Série A) by the Brazilian Football Confederation.
[2] 👄 The titles of old tournaments, cited in the Brazilian championship history, are equated to the title of Série A, but 👄 the tournaments are cataloging with their original name in the statistics[3] (despite being different competitions, they confer the same title).[4][5]
The 👄 Campeonato Brasileiro is one of the strongest leagues in the world; it contains the second-most club world champions titles, with 👄 10 championships won among six clubs, and the second-most Copa Libertadores titles, with 20 titles won among 10 clubs.
The IFFHS 👄 ranked the league fourth in strength for the 2001–12 period after the Premier League (England), La Liga (Spain), and Serie 👄 A (Italy).
[6] The Campeonato Brasileiro is the most-watched football league in the Americas and one of the world's most exposed, 👄 broadcast in 155 nations.
It is also one of the world's richest championships, ranked as the sixth most valuable with a 👄 worth of over US$1.
43 billion, generating an annual turnover of over US$1.17 billion in 2012.
Since 1959, a total of 156 👄 clubs have played in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
[7] Seventeen clubs have been crowned Brazilian football champions, thirteen of which have won 👄 the title more than once.
Palmeiras is the most successful club of the Campeonato Brasileiro, having won the competition eleven times, 👄 followed by Santos with eight titles, and Corinthians and Flamengo with seven titles each.
Santos' Os Santásticos won five consecutive titles 👄 between 1961 and 1965, a feat that remains unequalled.
The state of São Paulo is the most successful, amassing 32 titles 👄 among five clubs.
History [ edit ]
The Taça Brasil trophy.
The Taça Brasil was introduced in 1959,[8] and ran until 1968.
[9] The 👄 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa was competed for between 1967 and 1970.
In 2010 the CBF announced that these were to be 👄 regarded as Brazilian championships.[10]
In 1968, the delay in closing the 1968 Taça Brasil made CBD use the Robertão to determine 👄 the Libertadores representatives.
With the extinction of the Taça Brasil, the Robertão, officially named by CBD as "Taça de Prata" (Silver 👄 Cup) remained the top Brazilian championship the following two years.[11]
Following Brazil's third world title at the 1970 FIFA World Cup, 👄 president Emílio Médici decided to better organize Brazilian football.
In a reunion with the CBD and the club presidents in October 👄 1970, it was decided to create the following year a Brazilian championship contested by twenty teams, inspired by the national 👄 tournaments in the European nations.
The first edition of the named "Campeonato Nacional" ("National Championship"), was held in 1971.
[12] The top 👄 division was named "Divisão Extra" (Extra Division), while a newly created second division earned the "Primeira Divisão" (First Division) name.[13]
In 👄 1987, CBF announced it was not able to organize the Brazilian football championship, a mere few weeks before it was 👄 scheduled to begin.
As a result, the thirteen most popular football clubs in Brazil created a league, The Clube dos 13, 👄 to organize a championship of their own.
This tournament was called Copa União and was run by the 16 clubs that 👄 eventually took part in it (Santa Cruz, Coritiba and Goiás were invited to join).
CBF initially stood by the Club of 👄 the 13 decision.
However, weeks later, with the competition already underway, and under pressure from football clubs excluded from the Copa 👄 União, CBF adopted a new set of rules, which considered the Copa União part of a larger tournament, comprising another 👄 16 teams.
According to that new set of rules, the Copa União would be dubbed the Green Module of the CBF 👄 championship, whereas the other 16 teams would play the Yellow Module.
In the end, the first two teams of each Module 👄 would play each other to define the national champions and the two teams that would represent Brazil in the Copa 👄 Libertadores in 1988.
However, that new set of rules was never recognized by the Club of the 13 and largely ignored 👄 by most of the Brazilian media, who concentrated their attention in the independent league, eventually won by Clube de Regatas 👄 do Flamengo.
The eventual final tourney was set to have Sport and Guarani, from the yellow module, and Flamengo and Internacional 👄 from the green one.
It never materialized, however, as Flamengo and Internacional refused to partake in it.
As a result, Sport and 👄 Guarani played each other, with the first one winning the Championship for 1987 and both going on to represent Brazil 👄 in the Copa Libertadores in 1988.
Although Flamengo has attempted to gain ownership of the championship multiple times through the justice 👄 system, Sport remains recognized by both CBF and FIFA as 1987 Champions.
[14][15] Popularly, Flamengo is considered the only Brazilian Champion 👄 of 1987, as it faced clubs at the level of the first division of the national championship.[16]
In 2010, CBF decided 👄 to recognize the champions of both Taça Brasil (1959–68) and Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa (1967–70) as Brazilian Champions, creating some 👄 controversy as there was a two-year period when both tournaments were held, thus Palmeiras was awarded two times for winning 👄 both in 1967 and both Santos and Botafogo were recognized as champions in 1968 as each tournament was won by 👄 one of them.
[4] The CBF's decision was strangely received by Brazilian soccer fans when many supporters understood that it was 👄 a political decision.
Competition format [ edit ]
Competition [ edit ]
There are 20 clubs in the Brasileirão.
During the course of a 👄 season (from May to December) each club plays the others twice (a double round-robin system), once at their home stadium 👄 and once at that of their opponents, for a total of 38 games.
Teams receive three points for a win and 👄 one point for a draw.
No points are awarded for a loss.
Teams are ranked by total points, victories, goal difference, and 👄 goals scored.
At the end of each season, the club with the most points is crowned champion.
If points are equal between 👄 two or more clubs, the rules are:[17]
If the tie is between more than two clubs not competing for the national 👄 title or relegation, then the tie is broken using the results of the games the clubs have played against each 👄 other (head to head points and goals difference).
If the tie is still not broken, the winner will be determined by 👄 Fair Play scales.
e) fewest yellow cards f) fewest red cards
If there is a tie for the championship, for relegation, or 👄 for qualification to other competitions, the Fair Play scales will not be taken into account; a play-off match at a 👄 neutral venue decides rank.
Otherwise, a drawing of lots will determine the final positions.
A system of promotion and relegation exists between 👄 the Brasileirão and the Série B.
The four lowest placed teams in the Brasileirão are relegated to Série B, and the 👄 top four teams from the Série B promoted to the Brasileirão.
Qualification for international competitions [ edit ]
Since 2016, the top 👄 six clubs in the Brasileirão qualify for the following Copa Libertadores.
The top four clubs directly enter the group stage whilst 👄 the fifth and sixth-placed clubs enter in the second round.
The number of teams qualifying for the Libertadores may increase depending 👄 on who wins the Copa do Brasil, Copa Sudamericana or Copa Libertadores.
Clubs from seventh to twelfth place qualify for the 👄 following Copa Sudamericana, although as above the numbers can depend on other competitions.
Champions [ edit ]
Seventeen clubs are officially recognized 👄 to have been the Brazilian football champions.
In bold those competing in Série A as of 2023 season.
Note: although everyone consider 👄 Flamengo as champion of the Brazilian Championship in 1987, "officially", Sport is the only champion of this competition.
The Campeonato Brasileiro 👄 had its official name changed often before settling on Campeonato Brasileiro in 1989.[18]
Identity English name Years Official Sponsor Taça Brasil 👄 Brazil Cup 1959–1968 None Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Roberto Gomes Pedrosa Tournament 1967–1970 Campeonato Nacional National Championship 1971–1973 Copa Brasil 👄 Brazil Cup 1974–1979, 1984, 1986 Taça de Ouro Golden Cup 1980–1983, 1985 Copa Brasil Brazil Cup* 1987–88 Copa João Havelange 👄 João Havelange Cup 2000 Campeonato Brasileiro Brazilian Championship 1989–1999, 2001– 2001: LATAM (Brasileirão TAM)
2002: Visa (Troféu VISA Electron)
2005: Nestlé (Taça 👄 Nestlé Brasileirão)[19]
2009–2012: Petrobras (Brasileirão Petrobras)[20][21]
2014–2017: Chevrolet (Brasileirão Chevrolet)[22][23]
2018–: Assaí Atacadista (Brasileirão Assaí)[24]
The official name was Copa Brasil (Brazil Cup), but 👄 it became known as Copa União (Union Cup).
Finances [ edit ]
The Brasileirão had total club revenues of US$1.17 billion in 👄 2012.
This makes the Brasileirão the highest revenue football league in the Americas, and the highest outside of Europe's "big five."[25]
The 👄 Brasileirão is also one of the world's most valuable football leagues, having a marketing value and worth over US$1.24 billion 👄 in 2013.
[26] The total worth of every club in the 2013 Brasileirão is US$1.07 billion.[27]
The Brasileirão's television rights were worth 👄 over US$610 million in 2012; that accounts for over 57% of Latin America as a whole.[28]
In 2013 Corinthians was the 👄 16th most valuable club in the world, worth over US$358 million.
[29] As of 2021, no Brazilian club enters the list 👄 of the most valuable football clubs.[30]Clubs [ edit ]
The following 20 clubs are competing in the Série A during the 👄 2023 season.
a: Unrelegated clubs
b: Clubs that never played outside the top division
Most appearances [ edit ]As of 2023 season
Below is 👄 the list of clubs that have more appearances in the Campeonato Brasileiro.
There are 157 teams that have taken part in 👄 10 Taça Brasil, 4 Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa and 52 Campeonato Brasileiro editions.
The teams in bold compete in Série A 👄 currently.
The year in parentheses represents the most recent year of participation at this level.
Clubs relegated from Série A [ edit 👄 ]Taça de Ouro era
Clubs are relegated from Taça de Ouro to Taça de Prata of the same year, likewise happens 👄 today in international club competitions (3rd place of Copa Libertadores to Copa Sudamericana knock-out playoff).
The last place of each group 👄 and the four clubs that lost in the repechage play-off were sent to the dispute of Taça de Prata.[31][32]Copa União
Year 👄 Clubs 1987 Santos, Corinthians
According to the regulation, The 15th (Santos) and 16th (Corinthians) placed teams would play the 1988 Second 👄 Level.
[33] However, the Clube dos 13, organizer of the Copa União, and the Confederação Brasileira de Futebol, put an end 👄 to the litigation between the associations, and the 1988 championship was again organized entirely by the CBF, making the relegations 👄 invalid.[34]
Knock-out tournament
Round-robin tournament
All-time Campeonato Brasileiro table (1959–2019) [ edit ]
The All-time Campeonato Brasileiro table is an overall record of all 👄 match results, points, and goals of every team that has played in the Brazilian League since its inception in 1959.
The 👄 table is accurate as of the end of the 2019 season.
Teams in bold are part of the 2023 season.[42][43]
Team Pts 👄 GP W D L GF GA GD 1 São Paulo 2366 1462 647 425 390 2169 1546 +623 2 Cruzeiro 👄 2319 1486 638 405 444 2141 1688 +453 3 Santos 2311 1486 633 414 432 2202 1655 +547 4 Grêmio 👄 2300 1475 632 404 439 1973 1549 +416 5 Internacional 2287 1443 628 403 401 1947 1480 +467 6 Corinthians 👄 2280 1444 619 423 402 1908 1509 +399 7 Palmeiras 2271 1390 629 384 377 2042 1498 +544 8 Flamengo 👄 2245 1470 609 418 443 2014 1667 +347 9 Atlético Mineiro 2243 1458 612 407 439 2100 1715 +385 10 👄 Fluminense 1993 1407 539 391 477 1867 1692 +175 11 Vasco da Gama 1979 1371 521 416 434 1889 1656 👄 +233 12 Botafogo 1867 1348 493 388 467 1711 1644 +67 13 Athletico Paranaense 1614 1155 435 309 411 1513 👄 1415 +98 14 Goiás 1408 1052 372 292 388 1359 1352 +7 15 Coritiba 1398 1039 371 285 383 1228 👄 1233 –5 16 Bahia 1387 1054 351 334 369 1178 1259 –81 17 Sport Recife 1270 967 334 268 367 👄 1135 1195 –60 18 Vitória 1289 986 324 317 294 1198 1386 –189 19 Guarani 1055 725 279 218 228 👄 918 812 +106 20 Portuguesa 1044 795 264 252 279 961 965 –4
Campeonato Brasileiro table from 1971 to 1979[ citation 👄 needed ] Pos Team GP W D L Pts 1 Internacional 122 66 38 18 188 2 Grêmio 122 63 👄 38 21 176 3 Palmeiras 120 61 41 18 174 4 Corinthians 121 58 46 17 173 5 Cruzeiro 121 👄 56 47 18 171 6 Atlético Mineiro 121 58 36 27 168 7 Flamengo 122 59 32 31 164 8 👄 São Paulo 121 54 43 24 163 9 Vasco da Gama 121 41 27 158 750 10 Botafogo 120 44 👄 49 27 147
Campeonato Brasileiro table from 1980 to 1989[ citation needed ] Pos Team GP W D L Pts 1 👄 Flamengo 228 112 70 46 308 2 Vasco da Gama 214 101 64 49 287 3 Atlético Mineiro 209 100 👄 67 42 281 4 São Paulo 206 98 65 43 274 5 Grêmio 216 95 65 56 267 6 Fluminense 👄 203 203 87 61 248 7 Santos 201 82 67 52 241 8 Internacional 199 77 65 57 237 9 👄 Corinthians 201 79 65 57 234 10 Cruzeiro 179 67 62 50 205
Campeonato Brasileiro table from 1990 to 1999[ citation 👄 needed ] Pos Team GP W D L Pts 1 Palmeiras 235 123 59 53 368 2 Corinthians 235 106 👄 65 64 329 3 Santos 235 99 67 69 320 4 São Paulo 235 98 64 73 305 5 Atlético 👄 Mineiro 224 90 63 71 300 6 Vasco da Gama 225 86 70 69 297 7 Cruzeiro 218 86 57 👄 75 282 8 Flamengo 231 85 64 82 280 9 Botafogo 225 87 58 80 276 10 Internacional 217 80 👄 62 75 274
Campeonato Brasileiro table from 2000 to 2009[ citation needed ] Pos Team GP W D L Pts 1 👄 São Paulo 365 185 95 85 650 2 Santos 368 162 92 114 578 3 Cruzeiro 362 167 73 122 👄 574 4 Internacional 362 161 81 120 564 5 Athletico Paranaense 366 151 85 130 538 6 Fluminense 368 140 👄 104 124 524 7 Flamengo 362 139 94 129 511 8 Palmeiras 316 134 78 104 480 9 Grêmio 325 👄 132 77 116 473 10 Corinthians 330 126 85 119 463
Campeonato Brasileiro table from 2010 to 2019[ citation needed ] 👄 Pos Team GP W D L Pts 1 Corinthians 380 170 113 97 623 2 Grêmio 380 174 100 106 👄 622 3 Flamengo 380 161 111 108 594 4 São Paulo 380 163 101 116 590 5 Santos 380 163 👄 99 118 588 6 Atlético Mineiro 380 160 93 127 573 7 Cruzeiro 380 158 98 124 572 8 Fluminense 👄 380 153 94 133 553 9 Palmeiras 342 145 89 108 524 10 Internacional 342 140 96 106 516
Media coverage 👄 [ edit ]
Value of television rights Season(s) Price 1987–89 $3.
4 million Globo 1990–94 not available Globo 1994–96 $31.
4 million Globo 👄 1997–2003 $50 million Globo 2003–05 $390 million Globo 2005–08 $900 million Globo 2009–11 R$1.
9 billion Globo 2012–15 R$2.
96 billion[44] Globo 👄 2016–19 R$4.
11 billion[45] Globo
Currently, the money of television represent a significant share in the finances of clubs in Brazil.
The league 👄 broadcasting rights are total exclusivity of Grupo Globo, which distributes the live matches for its television stations: TV Globo (terrestrial 👄 and satellite), SporTV (pay), and the Premiere FC (through the system pay-per-view), where subscribers have the privilege to follow all 👄 380 annual league matches.
Globo, first cited, displays the League first time in 1987, when was created the Clube dos 13, 👄 trading tool of clubs with the television.
The first television contract was negotiated in 1987, with only conveying the Green Module 👄 of the Copa União, organized by the Clube dos 13, the television rights were sold for $3.
4 million to Rede 👄 Globo.
[46][47] And only with the conveying of the championship final, SBT broadcast the game instead,[48] a blow to the Rede 👄 Globo, who says today that the Green Module would be the league itself, and then was prevented from entering the 👄 Ilha do Retiro.
[49][50][51] In 1990, only Rede Bandeirantes acquired the broadcast rights.
This edition marked the first national title of Corinthians, 👄 second most popular team in the country.
Both the final transmission, as the other games, attracted the attention of the public, 👄 causing the network to acquire an Ibope Rating of 53 points in the deciding game.
[52] This led to the Rede 👄 Globo prioritize the League from the next edition, in 1991.[52]
In 1997, began to be restricted games live in cities where 👄 the matches are held (except finals).
The Clube dos 13 closed the contract with Rede Globo's television rights as the holder 👄 of the Brasileirão for $50 million (including editions of 1998 and 1999), and resolves itself split the rights with Rede 👄 Bandeirantes during this period.
It was the first edition to be shown on pay-per-view (via Premiere).
[53] In addition, the first games 👄 shown on pay television were courtesy of SporTV, after a controversial signing contract of Clube dos 13 with Globosat.
Previously, in 👄 1993, the Club of the 13 an CBF had signed a contract with TVA, a company in which ESPN Brazil 👄 was part.
However, that decision was declined.[54]
In 2000, the broadcasting rights of the Copa João Havelange, organized by the Clube dos 👄 13, were sold to Rede Globo for $50 million.
However, the final of this competition in 2001, was marked by an 👄 unusual situation.
Vasco da Gama, a finalist against São Caetano, graced the logo of SBT, the second largest television station of 👄 Brazil, a direct rival to Globo.
This situation was somewhat embarrassing for Globo, which transmitted the final exclusively, and which was 👄 seen by an estimated audience of 60 million people.
[55] Despite the large number of spectators in the final match, this 👄 edition was marked by low ratings, what did the Rede Globo to cancel the broadcast of a few matches.[56]
In 2001, 👄 Clube dos 13 defines four divisions of transmission quota, with Corinthians, São Paulo, Palmeiras, Flamengo and Vasco in group 1, 👄 Santos in group 2, Fluminense, Botafogo, Atlético Mineiro, Cruzeiro, Internacional and Grêmio in group 3, and Bahia, Goiás, Sport Recife, 👄 Portuguesa, Coritiba, Athletico Paranaense, and Vitória in group 4.
[57] In 2003, the value was expanded by a considerable amount, for 👄 the first time surpassing the three digits, after the adoption of the new format of accrued points.
The contract of $130 👄 million per year was signed again by TV Globo.
[58] In 2005, C13 renews with Globo for the 2006–09 period in 👄 a deal worth $300 million.[59]
In 2009, for the first time, the sale of broadcasting rights of the Brazilian Championship were 👄 made via open bidding.
Media organisations were invited to bid for TV packages open, closed, PPV, internet and broadcast abroad.
[60] Rede 👄 Globo subsequently won the largest TV contract in the history of Brazilian football; $1.
4 billion for 2009–2011.[61]
In the early part 👄 of 2011, the majority of Clube dos 13 indicated they would be negotiating the 2012–2014 league rights independently.
[62][63][64][65][66]
In 2012, the 👄 final league rights amounts are uncertain.
However, it is known that the clubs were divided into four groups: Group 1: Flamengo 👄 and Corinthians receiving 84 to 120 million reals; Group 2: São Paulo, Palmeiras, Santos and Vasco receiving 70 to 80 👄 million reais; Group 3: Gremio, Cruzeiro, Atlético Mineiro VAR, Fluminense and Botafogo (45 to 55 million reais); Group 4: other 👄 first division clubs (18 to 30 million reais).[67]
In 2013, SporTV made a deal with Fox Sports, giving up the rights 👄 of Campeonato Brasileiro in exchange for live coverage of the Copa Libertadores.[68]
In 2016, Bandeirantes ended the partnership with Globo and 👄 ceased showing league matches, leaving Globo with exclusive rights.
[69] However, the channel of Turner Group, Esporte Interativo made a deal 👄 with Atlético-PR, Bahia, Ceará, Coritiba, Internacional, Joinville, Paysandu, Sampaio Corrêa, Santos, Criciúma, Fortaleza, Paraná, Ponte Preta and Santa Cruz for 👄 the broadcasting rights on cable television between 2019 and 2024, opposing Globo's SporTV channel.
A decision on whether Palmeiras will be 👄 joining these teams is awaited.[70]
In February 2021 the streaming service Paramount+ announced it will broadcast 350 matches[71]
Flamengo and Corinthians, the 👄 two most supported teams in Brazil, receive approximately 25% (1/4) of all revenue from television.
[72] Flamengo has the biggest budget, 👄 (R$115.
1 million), and Figueirense the smallest (R$18.5 million).
[73]Match ball [ edit ]
Since 1999 the Brazilian league's oficial ball has been 👄 manufactured by Nike, Before this exclusive supply of balls, some brands like Umbro and Topper had supplied balls for the 👄 championship.
The most recend ball it's called CBF Nike Brasil Flight 2023, Being based on Nike Flight ball's model of the 👄 2023 season
2019 Nike Merlin CBFAttendance [ edit ]
The audience of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A is low if put into 👄 consideration the popularity of football in the country.
Since the first data record, in 1967, each year the average attendance has 👄 fluctuated, more down than up, having the season of 1983 as the largest, averaging 22,953, and 2004 as the smallest, 👄 with a very low average of 7,556.
[74] The league is the second largest in attendance in South America, behind Argentina, 👄 with 18,817.
In comparison to other football league attendance, the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A figure only in fourteenth position, being overcome 👄 by the lower divisions in England and Germany.
The smallest attendance ever was a game between Juventude and Portuguesa in 1997 👄 with 55 fans, the largest was Flamengo and Santos in 1983 with 155,523.[75]
The attendance of 2014 season was 16,337 with 👄 average occupation of 40%.
[76] In this same year, the average price of the ticket was $12.
82, taking the games with 👄 an average income of $204,799.[77]
The spectator figures for the league since 2009:Players [ edit ]
Player records [ edit ]Notes:
All players 👄 are Brazilian unless otherwise noted,
Italics denotes players still playing professional football, and bold denotes players still playing in the Brazilian 👄 Série A.[82]
denotes players still playing professional football, and denotes players still playing in the Brazilian Série A.
Sources: Placar magazine - 👄 Guia do Brasileirão 2010[83] and GloboEsporte.com Website.[84]
Assists per season [ edit ]
2019 - Arrascaeta (Flamengo ) 14
Awards and trophies [ 👄 edit ]
Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão is the league's official award.
Placar magazine's Bola de Ouro is the oldest award, while the 👄 Troféu Osmar Santos and the Troféu João Saldanha are awards given by the newspaper Lance!.
See also [ edit ]
