The host nation, Germany, and Scotland will play in the opening match of Euro 2024 tomorrow. The first game will be held at the Allianz Arena in Munich, with the final taking place on July 14 at the Olympic Stadium in Berlin.
Although the tournament features UEFA national teams, several Brazilian-born players, who later became naturalized in European countries, have lifted this trophy. Here is a list of those players who have reached glory.
READ MORE
++ Footballers born in Brazil who will be at Euro 2024
++ Brazil tied with the United States in their last friendly before the Copa America.
++ The Brazilian champions in Europe in the 2023-24 season
Marcos Senna (Spain in 2008)
The former midfielder was born in São Paulo and, after playing for local teams like Rio Branco and Corinthians, moved to Spain in 2002 to play for Villarreal. There, he shone in a team that, with stars like Juan Román Riquelme and Diego Forlán, reached the Champions League semifinals in the 2005-2006 season.
📺 ¡No todos los días cumple 42 años un campeonísimo de Europa como @MarcosSenna19! Así que, para celebrarlo, hemos preparado este vídeo recordando su etapa con nosotros.
¡Y QUE CUMPLAS MUCHOS MÁS!🎂
🔗 https://t.co/qGIVkLKQye pic.twitter.com/PhQsTN6A1d
— Selección Española Masculina de Fútbol (@SEFutbol) July 17, 2018
His defensive skills, tireless energy, and leadership earned him a call-up to Spain. He played in the 2006 World Cup and Euro 2008, which was won by La Roja, and Senna was selected as part of the tournament’s ideal team.
Pepe (Portugal in 2016)
Originally from the beautiful coastal city of Maceió, he moved to Portugal at 18 without having made a professional debut in Brazil. In Europe, he began building a successful career that took him to Marítimo, a decade at Real Madrid, and two stints at Porto, his current team, although at 41, this might also be his last.
Pepe in the EURO 2016 final: 🧱#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/sZInYi8x4B
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) February 26, 2024
The defender, part of the Portuguese national team since 2008, won Euro 2016 held in France. He aims to repeat that feat in Germany alongside another idol who is also saying farewell to this tournament, Cristiano Ronaldo.
Emerson Palmieri (Italy in 2020)
Emerson Palmieri is not currently part of Italy’s squad, but he was part of the team that won Euro 2020. In fact, the left-back started in the final that La Azzurri won on penalties against England at Wembley.
From Santos’ rich academy, the player moved to Palermo at just 20 years old. That successful first European experience later took him to AS Roma, Chelsea, Lyon, and West Ham, his current team.
Jorginho (Italy in 2020)
Another Brazilian who has already won a Euro and will try to relive that achievement is Jorginho. The midfielder from Arsenal, born in Imbituba, in the southern state of Santa Catarina, lifted this cup in the 2020 edition, held a year later due to the Covid-19 pandemic.
Called up again by coach Luciano Spalletti, Jorginho was instrumental in the previous Euro and was part of the ideal team of the tournament.
Jorginho securing Italy's place in the EURO 2020 final 🇮🇹👊#EURO2024 pic.twitter.com/m2Iz0NfeDi
— UEFA EURO 2024 (@EURO2024) December 20, 2023
Rafael Tolói (Italy in 2020)
That Italian squad had a third Brazilian representative, the defender Rafael Tolói. Developed at Goiás, he was transferred to São Paulo, had a brief stint at AS Roma, and has been playing for Atalanta for nine years.
He played for Brazil in youth categories and in 2021 was called up by then-Italy coach Roberto Mancini for Euro 2020. Always a substitute, he entered the group stage match against Switzerland, in the quarterfinals’ stoppage time against Belgium, and in the semifinal against Spain.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the full series, available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel.
