Flamengo Faces Corinthians in Match of World Cup Players

SÃO PAULO, Brazil — The Campeonato Brasileiro features a clash between two of Brazil’s biggest football clubs this Sunday at 4 p.m. (Brasília time) at the Maracanã Stadium. The match showcases Flamengo and Corinthians, both teams boasting a significant number of players who have participated in the FIFA World Cup.

Out of the 38 players currently playing in the Brasileirão who have World Cup experience, 12 hail from Flamengo and Corinthians. Flamengo leads with eight World Cup athletes, while Corinthians follows with four.

Maracanã, which hosted the 2014 World Cup final, will once again be a prominent stage for this football event. Notably, among the 20 clubs in Serie A, only six teams lack World Cup representatives: Ceará, Juventude, Mirassol, Red Bull Bragantino, Sport, and Vitória.

In terms of national representation, Brazil tops the list with 17 players amongst the World Cup participants in the league. Other countries represented include South American nations and three European countries.

Thiago Silva, the Fluminense defender, holds the record for the most World Cup appearances among current players, having represented Brazil in four tournaments from 2010 to 2022. Neymar from Santos is a close second, having played in the last three World Cups.

Interestingly, no player from either team has won a World Cup during their careers. The closest was Memphis Depay from Corinthians, who secured a third-place finish with the Netherlands in the 2014 World Cup.

This match represents not only a rivalry but also a gathering of talent shaped by international competition, further fueling the excitement around Brazilian football.