Brazil is an undisputed powerhouse in the surfing world, with its beaches becoming the birthplace of some of the most talented and inspiring athletes in the history of the sport.

With this in mind, we’ve created a complete list of the 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time! These are Brazilian men and women who have stood out in the world of sport and left their mark.

The 20 greatest Brazilian surfers of all time win titles, break records and inspire generations with their dedication and skills;

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melhores surfistas brasileiros de todos os tempos — Check out the 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time

The 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time: complete list

Check out the ranking of the 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time! Among the names are Gabriel Medina, Silvana Lima, Rico de Souza, Renan Rocha and many more!

Gabriel Medina
Adriano de Souza (Mineirinho)
Italo Ferreira
Silvana Lima
Filipe Toledo
Maya Gabeira
Fábio Gouveia
Tatiana Weston-Webb
João Paulo “Bira”
Rico de Souza
Wiggolly Dantas
Ricardinho dos Santos
Sylvia Nabuco
Raphael Becker
Barbara Müller
Jerônimo Vargas
Renan Rocha
Carlos Burle
Suelen Naraisa
Magno Passos

The 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time: find out more!

Get to know the profile of the 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time! Discover their titles, teams, curiosities, brief life story, records and controversies.

1. Gabriel Medina

Titles: WSL World Champion (2014, 2018), Pipeline Masters Winner (2021).
Team: Rip Curl.
Curiosities: Medina was the first Brazilian to win the men’s world title.
Life story: Born in São Sebastião, São Paulo, Medina started surfing at the age of 9 and quickly stood out as a sports prodigy.
Highest record: Highest score on a single wave on the world circuit.
Controversy: His rivalry with other top surfers has generated controversy over the years.

2. Adriano de Souza (Mineirinho)

Titles: WSL World Champion (2015).
Team: O’Neill.
Curiosities: Known for his aggressive style and determination in competitions.
Life story: Born in Guarujá, São Paulo, De Souza started surfing at the age of 8 and quickly rose to the top of the sport.
Highest record: First Brazilian to win the men’s world title.
Controversy: Involved in heated disputes during competitions, but also known for his loyalty and sporting ethics.

3. Italo Ferreira

Titles: WSL World Champion (2019), Winner of the Oi Rio Pro (2018, 2019).
Team: Oakley.
Curiosities: Italo is known for his contagious energy in and out of the water.
Life story: Born in Baía Formosa, Rio Grande do Norte, Ferreira started surfing at the age of 10 and quickly stood out as a unique talent.
Major record: First Brazilian surfer to win an Olympic gold medal.
Controversy: Your competitive nature sometimes puts you in confrontations with other competitors.

4. Silvana Lima

Titles: WSL World Vice-Champion (2008, 2009).
Team: Mormaii.
Curiosities: Silvana is one of the pioneers of women’s surfing in Brazil.
Life story: Born in Paracuru, Ceará, Lima overcame economic challenges to become one of the best surfers in the world.
Highest record: He has achieved the status of number 1 in the world ranking.
Controversy: He faced financial difficulties in competing at a high level, despite his undeniable talent.

5. Filipe Toledo

Titles: Winner of the Oi Rio Pro (2015, 2019), Winner of the Quiksilver Pro Gold Coast (2015).
Team: Hurley.
Curiosities: Filipe is known for his innovative aerial maneuvers.
Life story: Born in Ubatuba, São Paulo, Toledo started surfing at the age of 10 and soon stood out as one of the most talented surfers of his generation.
Major record: First Brazilian surfer to win the prestigious Trestles event.
Controversy: His risky moves sometimes land him in controversial situations during competitions.

6. Maya Gabeira

Titles: World record for the biggest wave surfed by a woman (2018).
Team: Red Bull.
Curiosities: Maya is known for challenging the limits of women’s surfing on giant waves.
Life story: Born in Rio de Janeiro, Gabeira started surfing at the age of 14 and has been a prominent figure in the world of big wave surfing ever since.
Highest Record: Surfing the biggest wave ever recorded by a woman.
Controversy: He suffered serious injuries while surfing giant waves, sparking debates about safety in big wave surfing.

7. Fábio Gouveia

Titles: ASP World Vice-Champion (1991).
Team: Mormaii.
Curiosities: Fábio was one of the pioneers of professional surfing in Brazil.
Life story: Born in Recife, Pernambuco, Gouveia started surfing at the age of 10 and quickly made a name for himself as one of the best Brazilian surfers of his time.
Highest record: He has won several events on the world circuit throughout his career.
Controversy: His outspoken views on Brazilian surfing often generate controversy among fans of the sport.

8. Tatiana Weston-Webb

Titles: Winner of the Maui Women’s Pro (2021).
Team: O’Neill.
Curiosities: Tatiana was born in Brazil, but represents Hawaii in international competitions.
Life story: Daughter of a Brazilian mother and an English father, Tatiana grew up surfing on the beaches of Rio de Janeiro before moving to Hawaii to pursue her professional surfing career.
Highest record: Winner of the prestigious Maui Women’s Pro.
Controversy: His choice to represent Hawaii rather than Brazil has generated debate about his national identity.

9. João Paulo “Bira”

Titles: ASP World Longboard Champion (2000).
Team: Mormaii.
Curiosities: Bira is a legend of Brazilian longboarding.
Life story: Born in Santos, São Paulo, Bira started surfing at the age of 12 and has been an influential figure in the world of longboarding ever since.
Highest record: ASP longboard world champion.
Controversy: His traditional approach to surfing contrasts with modern trends in the sport, generating debate about the evolution of the longboard.

10. Rico de Souza

Titles: IBA World Bodyboard Champion (1993).
Team: Morey Boogie.
Curiosities: Rico is a Brazilian bodyboarding legend.
Life story: Born in Rio de Janeiro, Rico started bodyboarding at the age of 14 and quickly became one of the best in the world.
Highest record: IBA bodyboard world champion.
Controversy: His daring maneuvers and aggressive style often bring him into confrontation with other competitors.

11. Wiggolly Dantas

Titles: Winner of the Tahiti Pro (2016).
Team: Vissla.
Curiosities: Wiggolly is known for his bold approach on big waves.
Life story: Born in Ubatuba, São Paulo, Dantas started surfing at the age of 10 and has been a constant presence on the world circuit ever since.
Highest record: Winner of the prestigious Tahiti Pro event.
Controversy: His controversial performances during competitions often divide opinion among spectators.

12. Ricardinho dos Santos

Titles: Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau (2009).
Team: Billabong.
Curiosities: Ricardinho was known for his courage in facing big, powerful waves.
Life story: Born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, dos Santos started surfing at the age of 9 and has since become one of the most respected figures in the world of big wave surfing.
Highest record: Vencedor do prestigioso evento Quiksilver in Memory of Eddie Aikau.
Controversy: His tragic death in a gun violence incident shocked the surfing community and sparked debate about beach safety.

13. Sylvia Nabuco

Titles: ASP World Longboard Champion (1997).
Team Roxy.
Curiosities: Sylvia is one of the pioneers of women’s longboarding in Brazil.
Life story: Born in Rio de Janeiro, Nabuco started surfing at the age of 13 and has since been an inspiration to female surfers all over the world.
Highest record: ASP World Longboard Champion.
Controversy: She faced sexist challenges and discrimination at the start of her career, but persevered to become one of the best in the world.

14. Raphael Becker

Titles: World skimboard champion (2010).
Team: Exile Skimboards.
Curiosities: Raphael is a legend of Brazilian skimboarding.
Life story: Born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Becker started skimboarding at the age of 11 and has been one of the sport’s most prominent figures ever since.
Highest record: World skimboard champion.
Controversy: His daring maneuvers and innovative style inspired a new generation of skimboarders, but also generated debates about safety in the sport.

15. Barbara Müller

Titles: Brazilian bodyboard champion (2007, 2008).
Team: NMD.
Curiosities: Barbara is one of the main representatives of women’s bodyboarding in Brazil.
Life story: Born in São Paulo, Müller started surfing at the age of 10 and has been a constant presence on the national and international circuit ever since.
Highest record: Brazilian bodyboard champion.
Controversy: She faced financial difficulties to compete at a high level, but her determination and talent led her to success.

16. Jerônimo Vargas

Titles: Winner of World Masters Championships (2008).
Team: Rusty.
Curiosities: Jerônimo is a Brazilian surfing legend.
Life story: Born in Florianópolis, Santa Catarina, Vargas began surfing at the age of 12 and has since become one of the most respected figures in the world of big wave surfing.
Greatest record: Winner of the prestigious World Masters Championships.
Controversy: His aggressive and fearless approach sometimes puts him in dangerous situations during competitions.

17. Renan Rocha

Titles: Brazilian adapted surfing champion (2019).
Team: Quiksilver.
Curiosities: Renan is an inspiration to disabled surfers all over the world.
Life story: Born in São Paulo, Rocha lost part of his left leg in a motorcycle accident at the age of 18, but found a new passion and purpose in adaptive surfing.
Highest record: Brazilian champion in adapted surfing.
Controversy: He faced physical and emotional challenges when adapting to surfing with a prosthesis, but his determination and courage made him an example to other disabled surfers.

18. Carlos Burle

Titles: Winner of the Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards (2010).
Team: Red Bull.
Curiosities: Carlos is a legend of big wave surfing in Brazil.
Life story: Born in Rio de Janeiro, Burle started surfing at the age of 8 and has since challenged the limits of surfing in giant waves all over the world.
Biggest Record: Winner of the prestigious Billabong XXL Global Big Wave Awards.
Controversy: His quest for giant waves has led him to face extremely dangerous situations, but his skill and courage have made him a respected figure in the world of big wave surfing.

19. Suelen Naraisa

Titles: Brazilian longboard champion (2018).
Team: Channel Islands.
Curiosities: Suelen is one of the main representatives of women’s longboarding in Brazil.
Life story: Born in Santos, São Paulo, Naraisa started surfing at the age of 9 and has been a prominent figure on the national and international circuit ever since.
Highest Record: Brazilian longboard champion.
Controversy: She faced financial difficulties to compete at a high level, but her passion for surfing drove her to overcome the obstacles.

20. Magno Passos

Titles: Winner of the Itacoatiara Pro (2017).
Team: Science Bodyboards.
Curiosities: Magno is one of the rising stars of Brazilian bodyboarding.
Life story: Born in Salvador, Bahia, Passos started bodyboarding at the age of 11 and has been impressing fans of the sport ever since with his talent and unique style.
Highest record: Winner of the prestigious Itacoatiara Pro event.
Controversy: His daring maneuvers and aggressive style have made him a controversial figure in the world of bodyboarding, but his undeniable skill places him among the best in the world.

The 20 best Brazilian surfers of all time

Gabriel Medina
Adriano de Souza (Mineirinho)
Italo Ferreira
Silvana Lima
Filipe Toledo
Maya Gabeira
Fábio Gouveia
Tatiana Weston-Webb
João Paulo “Bira”
Rico de Souza
Wiggolly Dantas
Ricardinho dos Santos
Sylvia Nabuco
Raphael Becker
Barbara Müller
Jerônimo Vargas
Renan Rocha
Carlos Burle
Suelen Naraisa
Magno Passos