Pele (right) in the 1958 World Cup via Wikimedia Commons
by Andrew Jordan
Football was popularized in Brazil by Charles Miller, an Ango-Brazilian who started a football club in Sao Paolo with other Brazilian elites after returning from schooling in England in 1894. Even though it began as a rich man’s game in Brazil, played mostly among British expatriates and Anglo-Brazilians, it soon diffused down to the working class and the growing Afro-Brazilian population. Football quickly became Brazil’s national sport by the 1930s; however, it did little to unite the country in the midst of racial and regional tensions. President Getulio Vargas was the first to use the narrative of football to bring Brazil together. He created the narrative that the samba-like play style of the Brazilian national team was a symbol of the country’s national style. This not only helped unite rivaling states under a single cause, but also helped improve race relations for Brazilians of African descent. It was their cultural style that was said to be the reason for Brazil’s success. The improvisation, creativity, and cunning of black footballers, replaced negative stereotypes with positive stereotypes. The national image of Brazil’s soccer team, and by extension the rest of the nation was built upon Afro-Brazilian culture (Nadel 42-81).
The strength of this national rhetoric rested entirely upon the success of the Brazilian national team. When the team was successful, like in 1938 when they made a strong run in the World Cup, it was as if the ingenuity of the black and mulatto Brazilian footballers triumphed over the mechanized and boring European teams. However, when Brazil lost to Uruguay in the 1950 World Cup, the narrative fell apart. Instead of being lauded for their talent, the Afro-Brazilian players were criticized for their lack of discipline and focus (Benglasse). To make matters worst, Brazil hosted the 1950 World Cup, so their shortfall also reflected poorly on the development of the nation. Yet once again, the narrative of Afro-Brazilian dominance would return when Brazil won the 1958 World Cup lead by Afro-Brazilian Pele and Garrincha. This team played a 4-2-4 formation which allowed the attacking players more freedom and opportunities to schowcase their skills. It is this 1958 team that is considered to be the benchmark of joga bonito for Brazilian soccer (Nadel 42-81). Brazilian style football did more than win games, it created a national identity for a divided state. It was a rhetoric based on racial stereotypes and generalizations, but even now, the first thing that comes to one’s mind when they think Brazil is beautiful attacking football.
Great Teams or Just Great Players
How to Cite this page: “Brazil’s Joga Bonito: Good Football, Better Narrative”, Written by Andrew Jordan(2016). Olympic Football 2016 Guide, Soccer Politics Blog, Duke University, http://sites.duke.edu/wcwp/tournament-guides/olympic-football-2016-guide/team-playing-styles-in-soccer/brazils-joga-bonito/brazils-joga-bon…better-narrative/, (accessed on (date)).
