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Brazilian roots, different destinations
The 2026 World Cup is just a few weeks away, and the squad announcements are coming thick and fast.
Last week, Carlo Ancelotti released the list of 26 players for the Brazilian national team for the tournament.
Once again, the five-time champions arrive surrounded by expectation. Brazil have not won the title for over two decades, and this could be the last World Cup for Neymar – the national team’s all-time leading goalscorer and a nine-time Ballon d’Or nominee.
It would be his final chance to lift football’s most iconic trophy and cement his legacy once and for all amongst the greatest in the country’s history. After all, the trophy has passed through the hands of some of the sport’s greatest names: Pelé, Garrincha, Romário, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Cafu, Roberto Carlos, Ronaldinho and Kaká.
The relationship between Brazil and the World Cup is almost inseparable. The tournament simply wouldn’t be the same without the Seleção.
But did you know that there are Brazilian players who have made their mark on world football… without ever having worn the national team shirt?
That’s right: several prominent names built iconic careers playing for other national teams. And eight of them were even nominated for the biggest award in world football, the Ballon d’Or.
These are those players.
José "Mazzola" Altafini
José João Altafini was born in 1938 in Piracicaba, in the interior of São Paulo, into a working-class family of Italian origin. As a child, he took his first steps in football in a town marked by a strong Italian community.
It was in this context that the nickname “Mazzola” emerged, a reference to the legendary player Valentino Mazzola, due to the resemblance between the two.
At the age of 17, Altafini joined Palmeiras – a club with historic links to Italian immigration. A centre-forward with a nose for goal, he scored on his debut in 1956, becoming the youngest player to find the net in the club’s history.
The following year, he also made his debut for the Brazilian national team and made an immediate impact, helping Brazil win the Copa Roca against Argentina in 1957.
His fine performances earned him a place at the 1958 World Cup, aged 19, as the second-youngest player in the squad – behind only Pelé. Altafini started the tournament in fine style, scoring twice on his debut against Austria, but ended up losing his place as the competition progressed due to injury, being replaced by Vavá in the starting line-up.
Even so, he was involved in a key move in the quarter-final against Wales, which ended with a goal from Pelé. Brazil, of course, would go on to win the title – the first of their five World Cup triumphs.
After the World Cup, Altafini left Palmeiras and moved to Milan, beginning a distinguished career in Italian football. He would also play for Napoli and Juventus, establishing himself as one of Serie A’s great strikers.
From then on, he never again wore the Brazilian national team shirt.
The reason was that, at the time, the national team only called up players who were playing in Brazil, and Altafini was already an established figure in Italian football.
Over time, he eventually became eligible for the Italian national team – and went on to represent them. He even helped the Azzurri qualify for the 1962 World Cup, but the campaign ended in disappointment, with elimination in the group stage.
Later, FIFA began to prevent the selection of players who had represented two different national teams at World Cups, which put an end once and for all to any possibility of an international comeback for Altafini – whether for Brazil or Italy.
In total, he made 8 appearances and scored 4 goals for the Brazilian national team, as well as 6 appearances and 5 goals for Italy.
Today, aged 87 and living in Alessandria, Italy, Altafini still harbours a certain nostalgia for what might have been his career in the national team shirt. In an interview, he summed up this feeling: “If you were born Brazilian, you are Brazilian. I must thank Italy, because I learnt a lot and improved my life here. But if Brazil play against Italy, unfortunately I’ll have to support Brazil.” (Band)
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Angelo Sormani
A year after Altafini, Angelo Benedicto Miguel Sormani was born in the city of Jaú, also in the interior of São Paulo. He grew up playing football and became a strong and versatile forward, capable of playing in any position in attack.
He began his career at Santos, initially as Pelé’s understudy, before earning a place in the first team and attracting attention for his potential.
At the age of 20, he moved to Italy to play for Mantova, where he quickly impressed and earned the nickname “White Pelé”. He says his decision had a lot to do with the quality of life in the country at the time: “I came to live in Italy at a wonderful time, when industry and commerce were booming in the post-war period. Everyone had a job. Everyone was buying a car.” (The Football Historian)
Having acquired Italian citizenship through his ancestry, Sormani played briefly for the Italian national team, scoring two goals in seven matches between 1962 and 1963.
He even represented Italy at the 1962 World Cup in Chile, alongside Altafini, but like his Italian-Brazilian compatriot, he did not make a significant impact – Italy were knocked out in the group stage.
In club football, Sormani built a solid career, particularly at Milan, where he won five titles in five seasons and was even nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 1969.
Despite his success in Europe, his time with the national team was short-lived. In a recent interview, he admitted to missing Brazil, and especially his hometown of Jaú, but stated that he had built his life in Italy alongside his family: “I am drawn to staying here, naturally, because of my children, who grew up here. [...] Our roots have taken hold in this land and now we are here.” (O Historiador do Futebol)
Donato
When defender Donato Gama da Silva was nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 1995, he was already an established figure in Spanish football.
Having come through the ranks at Vasco, he joined Atlético Madrid in 1984 and quickly established himself in European football. At the capital club, he won two consecutive Copa del Rey titles before moving to Deportivo La Coruña in 1993.
It was at the so-called “Super Depor” that Donato reached the peak of his career, becoming a key player in one of the most memorable periods in the club’s history. He helped Deportivo win two Copa del Rey titles and the historic La Liga title in the 1999–2000 season.
In total, he spent a decade in La Coruña, where he also ended his career, scoring 54 goals in 393 matches. In his final year, he went down in history as the oldest player to score a goal in Spanish football.
Although he was born in Rio de Janeiro in 1962 – the same year that Altafini and Sormani played in their only World Cup for Italy – Donato never wore the Brazilian national team shirt at international level.
Instead, he obtained Spanish citizenship in 1990 and went on to play for the Spanish national team, for whom he made 12 appearances between 1994 and 1996.
Even after retiring, he continued to live in La Coruña and forged a strong bond with the country. In an interview, he summed up this feeling: “Today I am a much-loved figure in Spain. Wherever you go in Spain even now and ask for Donato, people usually remember me.” (Museu da Pelada)
Deco
When it comes to Brazilians who chose to play for other national teams, few cases are as striking as that of Deco.
Anderson Luís de Souza, known as "Deco", was born in 1977 in São Bernardo do Campo, in the ABC Paulista region. From an early age, he attracted attention for his technical ability. A versatile and creative midfielder, he combined intelligence with great intensity on the pitch, and was spotted by Benfica scouts whilst playing for CSA in the late 1990s.
After accepting the offer and moving to Portugal, the elegant midfielder built a hugely successful career in European football.
His greatest achievements came at two clubs: at Porto, where he won 10 titles in five seasons, including the Champions League in 2004, and later at Barcelona, where he won two consecutive league titles and the Champions League again in 2006.
He was nominated for the Ballon d’Or five times in a row between 2003 and 2007, finishing as runner-up for the award in 2004, beaten only by Andriy Shevchenko.
His decision to represent Portugal rather than Brazil has always been a subject of debate throughout his career and remains a topic of discussion even after his retirement.
Neither of Deco’s parents were Portuguese – nor were his grandparents or great-grandparents. Nevertheless, six years after arriving in the country, he obtained citizenship and began representing the Portuguese national team.
At the time, the decision left many people confused. Many Brazilian fans felt betrayed that one of their own had chosen to play for another nation, whilst some in Portugal questioned his connection to the country. One such critic was Luís Figo, winner of the Ballon d’Or in 2000, who considered Deco’s call-up a ‘dangerous’ precedent, as it “allows a country’s team to have several players born in other nations in the future.” (BBC Brasil)
There are reports that Deco had hoped for a call-up from Brazil, particularly for the 2002 World Cup, but was ultimately not selected. Meanwhile, the Portuguese Football Federation had been monitoring the player since 2000 and expedited his naturalisation process. Faced with a lack of opportunities in the Brazilian national team and interest from Portugal, he ultimately opted for Portugal.
Ironically, his debut for Portugal, in March 2003, was against Brazil – a match made all the more symbolic by the fact that he had been selected by Luiz Felipe Scolari, the manager who had recently taken charge of the Portuguese national team after winning the World Cup with Brazil in 2002.
Before the match, Deco summed up the conflict in no uncertain terms: “One thing will never change: Brazil is the country I love. I will never stop being Brazilian. I don’t know what will go through my mind if I have to face Brazil. My heart will be torn, but on the pitch I will be all Portugal.” (Folha de São Paulo)
And that last sentence could not be truer. The following day, on his debut, he scored the winning goal for Portugal against Brazil from a free-kick.
From then on, he became a key player for the Portuguese national team, featuring in two European Championships and two World Cups.
Years later, reflecting on the decision, he remained convinced he had made the right choice: “When I made the decision, first of all, I was sure of what I wanted to do – because of the relationship I have with Portugal, with the players in the Portuguese national team, with my generation in the national team. So I don’t dwell on it, because it was a decision I felt I had to make, and because I felt good about it. So I don’t dwell on ‘what if’ scenarios.” (Abre Aspas, GE)
Marcos Senna
In 2017, defender Gerard Piqué sparked controversy in Spain by claiming that naturalised players in the Spanish national team “don’t feel the national team” in the same way as those born in the country.
Several naturalised players responded to the statement. Among them was Donato, but also another important Brazilian who made his mark in the Spanish shirt – Marcos Senna, who replied: "I feel more and more Spanish. Right now, I can say that, ever since I arrived, I felt a little more Spanish every day. Now, I no longer have that feeling, because I feel totally Spanish. I’m just another one from here." (UOL)
Senna’s strong reaction helps to understand the depth of his connection with Spanish football.
In 2002, Marcos Antônio Senna da Silva left São Caetano to play for Villarreal. Born in São Paulo in 1976, the defensive midfielder had already won the Club World Cup with Corinthians and been runner-up in the Libertadores with São Caetano before moving to Europe.
In his early years in Spain, his career was hampered by a serious knee injury, which limited his playing time. After his recovery, however, he established himself as a key player for Villarreal.
He quickly became a first-team regular and one of the team’s leaders, helping the club reach the semi-finals of the Champions League in 2005–06. He later took over the captain’s armband and was also part of the historic 2007–08 campaign, when Villarreal finished La Liga in second place, their highest-ever finish.
Senna spent over a decade at the club and was nominated for the Ballon d’Or in 2008.
Naturalised as a Spanish citizen in 2006, he was called up by Luis Aragonés to play for the Spanish national team, forming part of a legendary midfield alongside Ballon d’Or nominees such as Andrés Iniesta, Sergio Busquets and Xavi.
Like Deco, Senna harboured some hope of being called up by Brazil, but ultimately opted for Spain in the face of uncertainty. He explained: “If I hadn’t received the invitation from Luis Aragonés to play for the Spanish national team, I would have held out hope of playing for the Brazilian national team. But when he invited me, I thought, ‘I don’t know if I’ll be called up for the Brazilian national team’, because there are so many players. In my situation, I think anyone would have accepted the offer. Because what if the Brazilian call-up hadn’t come through? How would I have felt? Then I really would have regretted it.” (UOL)
For Senna and for Spain, the decision was worth it. The midfielder took part in the 2006 World Cup and the victorious 2008 European Championship, a tournament in which many voted him the best player.
Pepe
Two years ago, Pepe retired from professional football, bringing to a close a career marked by successes at Porto, Real Madrid and with the Portuguese national team. An idol in all these settings, the defender also became yet another example of a Brazilian who chose to represent another nation in international football.
Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, known as ‘Pepe’, was born in 1983 in Maceió, in the state of Alagoas. A physically imposing defender with a characteristic aggression, he began to make a name for himself at Corinthians Alagoano before moving to Europe at a young age.
In 2001, he moved to Madeira to play for Marítimo, where he began his career in Portuguese football. After a first season split between the first team and the reserves, he began to earn his place and established himself as one of the club’s promising defenders.
In 2004, he made the move to Porto – where his career would reach new heights.
At the club, he won two consecutive Portuguese League titles, as well as the Portuguese Cup, the Cândido de Oliveira Super Cup and the Intercontinental Cup, becoming a key player in one of the country’s most dominant teams of that era.
He then moved to Spain, where he reached the peak of his career at Real Madrid. With Los Blancos, he won three La Liga titles and three Champions League titles, as well as receiving two Ballon d’Or nominations, in 2008 and 2016.
But, deep down, Pepe’s heart always lay with the Dragons of northern Portugal. In 2019, he returned to Porto, where he remained for a further five seasons, adding to his trophy haul until he retired in 2024.
Pepe’s career became deeply intertwined with Portugal. He never went on to represent Brazil at international level, despite being born in the country. According to reports, he was approached by Dunga in 2006, but chose to wait for Portuguese citizenship to play for the European side. The following year, he was naturalised and called up by Portugal for the first time.
Pepe has spoken about how he never considered any other option, despite the frustration of his parents, who dreamed of seeing their son wear the yellow shirt. When asked about his decision, he explained: “I felt this debt to Portugal. Because Portugal opened its doors to me. Portugal made me the Pepe I am today.” (Conversations with Champions – O Jogo)
Pepe went on to make history for Portugal, helping to lead the country to its first major international title – the 2016 European Championship. In the final against hosts France, he was voted man of the match for his tireless commitment.
At Euro 2024, already nearing the end of his career, he became the oldest player to feature in the competition’s history, at the age of 41, as well as joining the ranks of players who have competed in five editions of the tournament.
In total, he made 141 appearances for the Portuguese national team and established himself as one of the greatest icons in the country’s footballing history.
Pepe has always made it clear that he has no regrets about his decision. In an interview, he reiterated this sentiment: “I don’t regret a thing, and it never crosses my mind to have any doubts about the decision I made. I often say that Portugal has given me everything. I wish I’d been born in Portugal; that’s the only thing that separates me.” (GE - O Jogo)
Diego Costa
Among the players on this list, few have generated as much controversy with their decision not to play for Brazil as Diego Costa.
The striker, known for his explosive temperament – but undeniable talent – was born in the town of Lagarto, in Sergipe, in 1988. He was named Diego da Silva Costa in honour of one of his father’s idols, Diego Maradona. His brother, meanwhile, was christened Jair, in reference to Jairzinho.
While still young, playing for Barcelona Esportivo Capela in São Paulo, he caught the eye of agent Jorge Mendes, who took him to Braga in Portugal. Despite his father’s reluctance to allow the move, Diego accepted the challenge and transferred in 2006.
Throughout his career, he played for clubs in Portugal, Spain and England, but it was at Atlético Madrid that he reached his peak. At the Spanish club, he won two La Liga titles and one Europa League, as well as reaching the final of the 2013–14 Champions League.
A decisive goalscorer, he netted 83 goals for Atlético and was a key figure in major triumphs. He was the top scorer in the 2013–14 Copa del Rey campaign, also scoring in the final against Real Madrid. That same year, he received a Ballon d’Or nomination. Later, he went on to score in decisive matches, including two goals in the 2018 UEFA Super Cup against Real.
The year 2013 marked a turning point in his international career.
In March, he was called up by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari for Brazil’s friendlies against Italy and Russia, where he came on as a substitute. A few months later, Costa obtained Spanish citizenship, and the Spanish Football Federation submitted an official request to FIFA to be able to call him up. The request was approved, and in October, Costa sent a letter to the CBF asking for permission to play for Spain. The CBF accepted, and he made his debut for the Spanish national team in March 2014.
At the time, Felipão did not hold back with his criticism when questioned about Costa’s decision: “A Brazilian player who refuses to wear the Brazilian national team shirt and compete in a World Cup in his own country can only automatically be dropped from the squad. He is turning his back on a dream shared by millions: that of representing our five-time World Cup-winning national team at a World Cup in Brazil.” (CBF)
But why? If Costa had already been called up by Brazil months earlier, why did he decide to switch national teams so suddenly?
According to the striker himself, he felt undervalued in Brazil – especially by the federation and the press. Dissatisfied with the lack of opportunities for the national team, his frustration turned to anger when he wasn’t called up even though Hulk and Fred, the team’s other strikers, were injured.
In response to Felipão’s criticism, Costa retorted: “Did he go on Jornal Nacional to say that I turned my back on the dream of millions of Brazilians? For God’s sake, how could I turn my back? Why doesn’t he say he didn’t approach me? Why doesn’t he say he didn’t call me up before?” (ESPN)
And he went further, describing the decision as one of the most difficult moments of his career: “I want people to understand that, at no point, did I turn my back on Brazil. I don’t see it that way. I simply feel valued here. Everything I am, I owe to this country. It was a very carefully considered decision, but it wasn’t a renunciation.” (BBC News Brasil)
In total, Diego Costa played 24 matches for the Spanish national team, scoring 10 goals between 2014 and 2018.
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Jorginho
Whilst many players on this list faced great difficulties when choosing which national team to play for, the same cannot be said of Jorginho.
Jorge Luiz Frello Filho, known as "Jorginho", was born in 1991 in the city of Imbituba, in Santa Catarina, and is – like some others on this list – a Brazilian of Italian descent. His paternal great-grandfather, Giacomo Frello, is from Lusiana, in the Veneto region – a connection that secured the midfielder Italian citizenship whilst he was still a teenager.
At the age of 15, he left Brazil to live in Italy, where he began his development in the youth ranks of Hellas Verona. From there, he built a solid career in European football, playing for Napoli, Chelsea and Arsenal, always as a midfielder renowned for his tactical intelligence, passing accuracy and refined reading of the game.
Since last year, he has been at Flamengo in Brazil, and although he speaks Portuguese fluently and is fully adapted to the country’s culture, he has never shown any hesitation regarding his international choice. Even with dual citizenship, he has always opted to represent Italy at international level.
His debut for the Azzurri came over a decade ago, and since then Jorginho has become a key figure in terms of balance and leadership in the Italian midfield. The highlight came at Euro 2021, when he was one of the pillars of the European title-winning side, leading the way in defensive and ball-control statistics throughout the tournament – a performance that saw him nominated for the Ballon d’Or that year.
Although he has never played in a World Cup with Italy, Jorginho remains fully convinced of his decision not to wear the Brazilian national team shirt. As he himself explained: “I always saw the Brazilian national team as something very distant, because I never played professionally in Brazil and arrived here at the age of 15. So, as Italy opened its doors to me, I couldn’t turn them down. The fact that I arrived so young weighed heavily on my mind.” (ESPN)
A story that keeps repeating itself
These are the eight Brazilians nominated for the Ballon d’Or who chose to represent other national teams on the international stage.
Of course, there are several other Brazilian players who have made the same choice over the years, but who have not been nominated for professional football’s most prestigious award.
It will be interesting to see which of these names will feature in the upcoming World Cup.
After all, Brazilian players representing other national teams at the World Cup is nothing new – this has been happening since the tournament’s first edition in 1934, when São Paulo-born Anfilogino Guarisi, better known as “Filó”, helped Italy win the title.
Since then, 29 different Brazilian players have competed in the World Cup representing other nations: eight European countries, three from the Americas, one African and one Asian.
In the last World Cup, there were three such cases: Pepe, in his final major chapter on football’s biggest stage, as well as Matheus Nunes and Otávio – all wearing the Portugal shirt.
As for this year’s tournament, the squads are still being announced, but that number could rise significantly. Among the possible names are Matheus Nunes (Portugal), Carlos Coronel and Maurício (Paraguay), Tiago Coimbra (Canada), as well as Edmilson Junior, Lucas Mendes and Pedro Miguel (Qatar). Had Johnny Cardoso not recently picked up an injury, he would likely also be on the United States’ list.
In any case, Brazil – the home of football – can be proud of the talents it continues to produce year after year, players who demonstrate their quality and identity on the pitch, whether for the Brazilian national team or for other nations.
