Corinthians, the São Paulo soccer team founded in 1910, is one of the most traditional and successful clubs in Brazilian soccer. Their achievements wouldn’t be the same if they didn’t have so many powerful players in the team.
Throughout their history, Corinthians have had a number of star players, especially in the midfield position, where creativity, skill and vision are fundamental to the team’s success.
That’s why we’ve put together a complete list of the 20 best midfielders in Corinthians’ history – check out who these players are!
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20 best midfielders in Corinthians history: complete list
- Rivellino
- Sócrates
- Neto
- Marcelinho Carioca
- Ralf
- Basílio
- Viola
- Danilo
- Tevez
- Ricardinho
- Fábio Luciano
- Marcelo Oliveira
- Zenon
- Zé Elias
- Biro-Biro
- Neco
- Dinei
- Edílson
- Baltazar
- Cláudio
20 best midfielders in Corinthians’ history: find out more about them
1. Rivellino
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1977)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Known for his ability with his left leg and his accurate shots from outside the box.
- Life Story: Roberto Rivellino, Corinthians’ eternal idol, also shone for the Brazilian national team, winning the World Cup in 1970.
2. Socrates
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1979, 1982, 1983, 1988)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: As well as his technical ability, he was known for his medical training and his political commitment.
- Life Story: Sócrates Brasileiro Sampaio de Souza Vieira de Oliveira left a legacy both on and off the pitch.
3. Neto
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1988, 1995)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Famous for his strong personality and accurate free-kicks.
- Life Story: Neto was one of the great idols of the Fiel Torcida in the 90s, playing a key role in important victories.
4. Marcelinho Carioca
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1995, 1997, 1999, 2001)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Known as “Pé-de-Anjo”, he was a specialist in free-kicks and penalties.
- Life Story: Marcelinho is remembered not only for his decisive goals, but also for his unique identification with the club.
5. Ralf
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (2009, 2013, 2018), Copa do Brasil (2009), Libertadores (2012), FIFA Club World Cup (2012)
- Team: Corinthians
- Trivia: Tactically important midfielder, known for his race and tackling in midfield.
- Life Story: Ralf stood out for his consistency and dedication on the pitch, being a key player in historic victories.
6. Basílio
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1977)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Scored the winning goal in 1977, ending a long run of state titles.
- Life Story: José Carlos dos Santos, known as Basílio, is remembered as a Corinthians hero for the achievement that ended a period without titles.
7. Viola
- Titles: Campeonato Brasileiro (1990), Campeonato Paulista (1995, 1997)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: A versatile striker, he also played as a midfielder, with skill and a nose for goal.
- Life Story: Viola was one of the most important scorers in the club’s recent history, with decisive goals at crucial moments.
8. Danilo
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (2013, 2017), Libertadores (2012), FIFA Club World Cup (2012)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Versatile midfielder, known for his refined technique and decision-making ability.
- Life Story: Danilo has made his mark on the club’s history with important goals and a successful career.
9. Tevez
- Titles: Campeonato Brasileiro (2005), Campeonato Paulista (2005)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Although he has mainly played as a striker, he has also contributed as a midfielder in some matches.
- Life story: Carlos Tévez had a remarkable spell at the club before shining in Europe, with his race and skill on the pitch.
10. Ricardinho
- Titles: Campeonato Brasileiro (1998, 1999), Campeonato Paulista (1999, 2001)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Skilled midfielder, known for his vision and precise passing.
- Life Story: Ricardinho was a key player in Corinthians’ important achievements in the 90s and 2000s.
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11. Fábio Luciano
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1999, 2001), Copa do Brasil (2002), Rio-São Paulo Tournament (2002)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Skilled defender who also contributed in attack, known for his leadership on the pitch.
- Life Story: Fábio Luciano was one of the pillars of Corinthians’ defense in the early years of the 21st century, being a key player in several of the club’s important victories.
12. Marcelo Oliveira
- Titles: Paulista Championship (1982, 1983), Brazilian Championship (1990)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: A midfielder of great technical quality, he was one of the highlights of several seasons.
- Life Story: Marcelo Oliveira had a solid and successful career at Corinthians, contributing with his skill and tactical intelligence.
13. Zenon
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1979, 1982, 1983)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: A classic midfielder, known for his accurate passing and free-kicks.
- Life story: Zenon was one of the big names at Corinthians in the 1980s, contributing with his refined technique.
14. Zé Elias
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1995, 1997, 1999)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: A versatile midfielder, he sometimes played as a midfielder, known for his race and commitment.
- Life Story: Zé Elias was one of the players most identified with the fans during the 90s, due to his dedication and quality on the pitch.
15. Biro-Biro
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1977, 1979)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Skilled midfielder, known for his speed and ability to dribble past opponents.
- Life Story: Biro-Biro is remembered as one of the great names of the 1970s at Corinthians, for his skill and race.
16. Neco
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1914, 1916, 1922)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: A versatile attacking midfielder, he was one of the club’s first idols.
- Life Story: Neco was fundamental in the early years of Corinthians, helping to consolidate the club as a powerhouse in São Paulo soccer.
17. Dinei
- Titles: Campeonato Brasileiro (1990), Campeonato Paulista (1988, 1995)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Skilled attacking midfielder, known for his technique and goal scoring prowess.
- Life Story: Dinei was one of Corinthians’ highlights in the 80s and 90s, contributing important goals and decisive plays.
18. Edílson
- Titles: Campeonato Brasileiro (1998, 1999), Campeonato Paulista (1999, 2001)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Skilled attacking midfielder, known for his speed and disconcerting dribbling.
- Life story: Edílson Capetinha made his mark at Corinthians with memorable individual plays and important goals.
19. Baltazar
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1951, 1952, 1954)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Striker who also played as a midfielder, known for his nose for goal.
- Life Story: Baltazar was one of the greatest scorers in Corinthians’ history, with an impressive goal average during his time at the club.
20. Cláudio
- Titles: Campeonato Paulista (1951, 1952, 1954)
- Team: Corinthians
- Fun facts: Skilled midfielder, known for his vision and ability to create plays.
- Life Story: Cláudio was one of Corinthians’ standout players in the 1950s, helping the club win important titles.
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20 best midfielders in Corinthians history: complete list
- Rivellino
- Sócrates
- Neto
- Marcelinho Carioca
- Ralf
- Basílio
- Viola
- Danilo
- Tevez
- Ricardinho
- Fábio Luciano
- Marcelo Oliveira
- Zenon
- Zé Elias
- Biro-Biro
- Neco
- Dinei
- Edílson
- Baltazar
- Cláudio
All the players mentioned above have made history in the world of soccer, which is why they stand out as the best midfielders in Corinthians’ history!
If you’ve enjoyed getting to know the athletes, take the opportunity to continue browsing the site and check out much more about the world of sports!
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