Greatest Brazilian All-Time XI Fan Survey & Aguero's Copa America Thoughts
Sergio Agüero snubs Brazil and names Uruguay and Bielsa as Argentina’s biggest threat at Copa America - as fans pick Greatest Seleção side Of All Time
South American football fans have picked their Greatest Brazil team Of All Time on the eve of the beginning of their Copa America campaign - featuring Ronaldo, Neymar and Socrates.
Yet our ambassador Sergio Agüero believes Uruguay present the biggest threat to Argentina’s Copa America defence - not this current Seleção side.
Stake ambassador Agüero has welcomed Lionel Messi and his Argentina teammates to Miami - the home of Argentinian football in the United States - with a herd of Goats.
Laying down the gauntlet to opposing nations this Copa America, Agüero’s message that ‘The GOAT’s Have Arrived’, aims to place this current Argentina crop amongst the best ever.
Working with market research firm Censuswide, we asked more than 1,000 South American football fans to pick the best Brazil side of all time, featuring some of the greatest names in the country’s history.
In goal, former AC Milan shot-stopper Dida was selected between the sticks. The 2002 World Cup winner won 91 caps for his country and won an Olympic medal as well in 1996.
Joining him in the side is fellow 2002 World Cup winner Cafu at right-back. The former Roma defender beat out fellow Brazilian Dani Alves to claim a place in the side. Roberto Carlos was an unequivocal choice at left-back, collecting an amazing 54% of votes ahead of Marcelo.
Alongside him at centre-half is Thiago Silva, one of the most decorated footballers of all time and an imperious figure in European football. At AC Milan, PSG and then Chelsea, he collected a litany of trophies, including the Champions League in 2021 with the Blues.
Silva is joined at centre-half by a certified legend of the game. Domingos da Guia is considered one of the greatest Brazilian defenders of all time. He was a cornerstone of Brazil's defence during their World Cup campaign in 1938, aiding his nation in securing a third-place finish at the tournament held in France.
Ahead of them sit two of the greatest midfielders of all time; 1982 World Cup captain Socrates earns a spot in the side, his measured and calculated approach on the field reflected with his medical degree and political awareness.
The 1983 South American player of the Year is joined by the legendary Zico in midfield. Regarded as one of the greatest players in the world during his time, the Brazilian scored an incredible 101 goals from free-kicks alone.
On the wings, Neymar and Ronaldinho collected the majority of votes to claim their place in the side. Vinicius Junior, Garrincha and Rivaldo were the other possible contenders, but Neymar and Ronaldinho collected more than 50% of the vote combined.
Up front, few could argue with the strike partnership of Pele and Ronaldo, who scored a combined 139 goals for Brazil during their illustrious careers. Romario was the next closest challenger, who missed out on being included in the starting XI by just 4%.
Although the five-time World Cup winners have also won the Copa America nine times in their illustrious history, Agüero believes Uruguay are the biggest threat to Argentina.
He told us: “My favourite three teams outside of Argentina, because obviously they are the main candidates, I think Uruguay has a lot to give now with Marcelo Bielsa, even though Brazil isn’t in their best version they are also to be feared, and finally Colombia because they haven’t lost a game in a long time, but the important thing will be to prove themselves in the big stages.
“I don’t know if they are candidates to be champions, but they should go far in the tournament. I think Argentina are their own biggest threat, because we shouldn’t be over confident.
“But Uruguay is the only team that could beat us, because Marcelo Bielsa knows Lionel Scaloni very well. Let’s not forget that Uruguay is the only team that has beat us since becoming world champions.”
Discover more survey results with our Argentinian and South American All-Time XI survey results !