From Carlos Alberto Torres to Tiago Silva, our country has had many great defenders throughout history. Choosing just ONE to occupy the top spot on the list of best defenders in Brazil is torture!
Anyone who’s a soccer fan knows just how many stars we have in the country today. However, we have a mission: to rank the 10 best Brazilian defenders of all time and we’re going to do it!
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How do you know who the best defenders in Brazil are?
To say who really is the best defender in Brazil or who are the best defenders in Brazil, we can use different criteria. In this topic, we’ll base ourselves on the last Brasileirão. Let’s look at the criteria:
In general
In this criterion we will take into account the number of matches, minutes played, cards, assists and goals.
Disarms
The defender’s main job is to take the ball away from the attacker, don’t you agree? This criterion will only take into account the number of correct tackles.
Brazilian national team
The awards that took place after the Brasileirão and chose the best players in the competition on that occasion are also good criteria for analysis.
Brazil’s best defenders: an overview of the Brasileirão
We can also use this criterion to choose the best defenders in Brazil. On the eve of the start of another edition of the Campeonato Brasileiro, let’s take a look back at the best defenders in Brazil in the last tournament.
- Murilo from Palmeiras
With 25 games played, Murilo played a crucial role in Palmeiras’ conquest. The 26-year-old scored three goals and provided two assists during the tournament. He also received four yellow cards. In total, he spent 2,166 minutes on the pitch.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Adryelson from Botafogo
The highlight of Botafogo’s good performance in the first half of the season, Adryelson made 35 appearances, contributing one goal and one assist. At 25, the player has received six yellow cards and been sent off once.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Fabrício Bruno from Flamengo
At 27, Fabrício Bruno has stood out as one of Flamengo’s main players this season. He has played in 34 matches for Mengão, providing one assist, despite not scoring. Wearing the number 15 shirt, he received eight yellow cards, but wasn’t sent off at any point in the competition. He started as a starter in 89% of those games and was never substituted.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Léo Ortiz from RB Bragantino
Coveted by several important clubs during the transfer window, Léo Ortiz has played in 20 matches for Red Bull Bragantino in the Brazilian Championship. The defender has scored two goals and received just three cards.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Gustavo Gómez from Palmeiras
The Alviverde captain played and played a lot: 32 out of 38 games, always as a starter, with three assists and two goals, undoubtedly one of the key players in the club’s conquest.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Bruno Méndez from Corinthians
A defender for the Uruguayan national team, with 27 matches played, Bruno Méndez – now a Granada player – picked up five yellow cards and only one red card during the competition.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Alan Franco from São Paulo
Despite not always playing as a starter, Alan made 13 appearances, scoring one goal and one assist. The defender has picked up three yellow cards.
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- Raul Gustavo from Bahia
Defender Raul Gustavo, aged 24, currently with Corinthians, played 7 games for Bahia, helping the team escape from the 2nd division.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Tiago Pagnussat from Ceará
Now at Avaí in Florianópolis, Tiago had an excellent Série B for the northeastern team, playing 20 games, scoring one goal and providing one assist. The defender only picked up two yellow cards and one red card.
Personal archive/Instagram
- Iago Maidana from América-MG
Also a standout in Serie B, Iago played in 30 games. A first-team regular, he picked up six yellow cards and one red during the competition.
Personal archive/Instagram
List of the best defenders in Brazil:
- Murilo
- Adryelson
- Fabrício Bruno
- Léo Ortiz
- Gustavo Gómez
- Bruno Méndez
- Alan Franco
- Raul Gustavo
- Tiago Pagnussat
- Iago Maidana
Brazil’s best defenders: the 10 with the most tackles in the Brasileirão 2023
A good defense is always the guarantee of good results. The Brasileirão 2023 revealed those who secured important points and saved their teams in crunch time;
Check out the top 10 defenders in Brazil with the most tackles:
- Bruno Méndez (Internacional) – 16 correct tackles
- Alan Franco (São Paulo) – 12 correct tackles
- Raul Gustavo (Corinthians) – 11 correct tackles
- Murilo (Palmeiras) – 11 right tackles
- Tiago Pagnussat (Ceará) – 11 correct tackles
- Iago Maidana (Atlético-MG) – 10 correct tackles
- Kannemann (Grêmio) – 10 correct tackles
- Brayan Ceballos (Fortaleza) – 10 certain disarms
- Gustavo Gómez (Palmeiras), Lucas Oliveira (Cruzeiro), Gabriel Mercado (Internacional) and Victor Cuesta (Bahia) – 9 tackles
Brazil’s best defenders: the pick of the Seleção Brasileirão
Murilo of Palmeiras and Adryelson of Botafogo were the best defenders in Brazil chosen to make up the Brazilian national team in 2023;
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