5 Best Brazilians to ever grace the Premier League
Samba boys have mesmerized the footballing world for generations. Being five-time world cup winners, they have unarguably been the most successful country in world football.
Right from good old days of Pele and Zico in the 60s, 70s, and 80s to last generation superstars like Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, and Kaka, Brazilians have always managed to rule the footballing stage at international as well as club level across the world.
Historically the great Brazilian footballers have always preferred to play their club football in the more lucrative league's in Spain, Italy or France rather than coming to England. The legendary names mentioned above and so many other greats have never opted to play for English clubs in their illustrious careers.
But in recent years, the new generation footballers from the South American nation have been opting to come to England and play in the Premier League due to its competitive nature, fast-paced style of football and high wages offered by most of the clubs.
The Brazilian World Cup Squad of 2002, 2006 and 2010 had only one player each from Premier league but the 2014 and 2018 squad had as many as six players each. This figure itself explains the growing popularity of the Premier League among present and future stars of Brazil. These premier league stars have significantly been contributing to Brazil's success on the international stage since last decade.
Of the current crop of youngsters, Fred, Gabrial Jesus, Ederson Moraes, Andreas Pereira, and Roberto Firmino are expected play a big part for their respective clubs and country in years to come. Below is the list of some prominent Brazilians who have graced the Premier League since its inception in the early 90s.
Honorable Mentions
David Luiz
Champions League winner of 2012, Luiz was also a key member of Chelsea's 2013 Europa League and 2016-17 Premier League winning side. Primarily a defender but equally capable of playing in defensive midfield position mostly due to his technique, work rate, and passing range.
Willian
Two-time premier league winner with Chelsea. Willan till date, has scored 47 goals in 254 appearances for the London club. Primarily known for his quick feet, sound technique, creativity, and proficiency from set pieces, he narrowly misses out on this list.
#5 Fernandinho
Two-time Premier League and three-time league cup winner with Manchester City, Fernandinho is a vital member of Pep Guardiola's all-conquering side. Signed for just £34million from Shakhtar Donetsk in 2013, Fernandinho has scored 23 goals till date for City.
Fernandinho is a defensively minded box to box midfielder with a great passing range and ability to break opposition attacks. He is also known for his blistering pace and ability to score long-distance screamers.