Most Memorable Brazilian Goals

At this time here in Brazil we have some TV channels showing almost 24 hours of World Cup content every day. Today they will talk about Ronaldo’s words against Lula until their mouths dry out, but there is a good side to it too. We can watch the films of the past World Cups and remember what we have witnessed or learn what we haven’t seen. This post is about the most impressive goals I’ve seen and the feelings that made that moment so special to me. I hope you can recall some of them too.

5. The Flamengo superstars were at their prime in 1982 and I was in love with the sport. It was the first World Cup I really remember. I was 11 years old and my idols from Flamengo - Zico and Junior - were there to re-live the glory of the past I didn’t witness. Cerezzo, Falcão and Sócrates were there too. But the goal that got stuck in my memory was the atomic kick unleashed by Eder to score the winner against Russia at our first match. The game was tied with only 2 minutes to the end. His kick was like a lightning, from a very far position on the field exploding into the back of the net. What a thrill! Since then the World Cup would be the most important sporting event in my life.

4. This one happened in the United States, against the hosts just to add a bit of flavor to it. Now the extra spice: the game was one of the few that the Americans would bring their party to, not because it was against Brazil, but because it was at their Independence Day. Yes, the fourth of July! Round of sixteen. They were all excited absolutely sure they would win. But that year Romario and Bebeto were on the field. They were playing most of the time as reading the minds of each other. The city of Palo Alto (CA) was ready to celebrate the American triumph. Leonardo was sent off after breaking the jaw of an American player, so we were playing with 10 men only. It was weird. Brazil was not able to score and drama was starting to grow. As usual the dynamic duo saved the day. With only 17 minutes to the end of the game Romario passed a sweet ball to Bebeto who killed the goalkeeper. Brazil advanced to face another dramatic match. Netherlands! But that’s another story.

3. This goal holds a little controversy. Was it intentional or was it a happy accident? To the English people it was like a dagger to their hearts, obviously. It was a quarter final game in the 2002 World Cup (Shizuoka - Japan) and England scored first in that match, but Brazil managed to tie before the end of first half. The second half started and five minutes later Ronaldinho was going to shoot a freekick. If I remember it well it was Cafu who reminded him that the English goalkeeper, Seaman, usually positioned himself far from the posts. In Brazilian TV slow motion endless replays you can read their lips before Ronaldinho’s kick. Cafu points to Seaman saying “Look at the goalkeeper!” and Ronaldinho answers “I know”. Next thing you see is the ball flying over Seaman’s arms and reaching the far upper corner of the net. Ronaldinho runs near the Brazilian bench screaming “I told you! I told you!”. Amazing goal, amazing day. These days someone asked him again about that kick. He said that the intention was to score, but he didn’t know it was going to be that perfect. Matters not.

2. This is the most recent goal of my World Cup experience. Two teams of great tradition that have never met before in World Cup history, by the way. Kleberson advances trough the right, he turns left near the box and he sees Rivaldo running in the middle. The pass is perfect and the German defenders are desperate to avoid his killer kick. Ronaldo runs by his left and hints his presence to Rivaldo. The ball goes trough Rivaldo’s legs and Ronaldo touches it only twice: one to adjust it and another to explode our hearts. The top scorer against the best goalkeeper. Two ugly mugs making football history. We were hugging and jumping all over each other in my living room just before grabbing any pen to draw the fifth star on our shirts and running to the streets. The 2002 World Cup was ours!

1. I grew up without the pleasure of watching Brazil lifting the trophy. I was 23 years old and Romario was leading our team in the United States World Cup in 1994. Yes, that goal. It was a quarter final match against the Netherlands. Brazil was leading 2:0 but the Dutchs under Bergkamp’s command tied the game. It was an opened combat all the time.
Only nine minutes to the end of the game Branco was tripped to the ground after colliding with two big guys. Lets not forget he was under heavy criticism at that time and Parreira trusted him to that dreadful match. He was 25 meters (27 yards) distant from the net and few could believe it was possible for anyone to score from that distance. Branco invested all his power and all his soul to that kick.
To complete the scene the genius Romario was walking behind the barrier and saw that ‘flaming ball’ going towards him. He gently moved his hip foward, just enough to let the ball pass into the goal. The goalkeeper was probably confused by that move. It was a huge moment for my Brazilian heart. There we were almost going for the penalty kick inferno when Branco’s powerful blow got us into heaven again. The hope was stronger now. That was the most important goal because I started to believe that I was going to witness the splendor of our football, finally.

Many Brazilians will probably remember other goals, naturally, but each of us have a special bond with different moments in our football history, right? These were mine. This year I hope this list will be left behind. Please everyone feel free to add more Brazilian goals to this list, ok? It will be great to know your own favorite goals.