Brazil's Five Stars — The Only Nation at Every World Cup

Brazil is the only country to have played in every FIFA World Cup — 22 editions and counting — and the only one to have won it five times. The golden canary shirt, worn across four continents, has become shorthand for a specific idea of how football should look.

1958 — A 17-year-old named Edson

Brazil’s first title came in Sweden, and it is best remembered for a teenager who had barely played in Europe. Pelé — Edson Arantes do Nascimento — scored a hat-trick in the semi-final against France and two more in the 5–2 final against the hosts. Alongside him Garrincha, the bow-legged winger, terrorised defenders throughout. It was the first World Cup to be televised widely in Europe, and football suddenly looked like a different sport.

1962 & 1970 — Pelé’s bookends

Brazil retained the trophy in Chile 1962, with Garrincha carrying the side after Pelé was injured in the group stage. Eight years later in Mexico 1970 came the side most historians still rank as the greatest ever: Pelé, Tostão, Gerson, Rivellino, Jairzinho, Carlos Alberto. The 4–1 final against Italy ended with Carlos Alberto’s sprinted right-back goal, often voted the best team goal in World Cup history.

1994 — The long wait ends

Twenty-four years passed before the fourth star. At USA 1994, Romário and Bebeto formed one of the sharpest strike partnerships of the decade, and coach Carlos Alberto Parreira built a pragmatic side that won the final against Italy on penalties in the Rose Bowl — the first World Cup final ever decided from the spot. It was also the first World Cup played in the United States, a dry run for 2026.

2002 — Ronaldo’s redemption

Four years after collapsing in the 1998 final under mysterious circumstances, Ronaldo Nazário came back from two years of knee injuries to score eight goals in Korea/Japan 2002, including both in the final against Germany. Coach Luiz Felipe Scolari also had Rivaldo and a 22-year-old Ronaldinho in his squad — three Ballon d’Or winners in the same XI. The crown cemented Brazil’s record of five.

24 years and counting

Brazil has not won a World Cup since 2002 — the longest drought in their history. The 2014 home tournament ended in the notorious 7–1 semi-final loss to Germany; 2018 and 2022 ended in the quarter-finals. In 2026, under coach Dorival Júnior, a new generation led by Vinícius Júnior and Rodrygo will try to end the wait. The pressure of that fifth star has been quiet since Yokohama, but in 2026 it will be loud again.