For a long time, Brazilian footballers have lit up the fields of the German Bundesliga. Talents like Giovane Elber, Lucio, Zé Roberto, Ailton and Grafite have left a memorable mark forever in the history of the championship. These players brought their magic and contributed to the success of their clubs.
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Giovane Elber (Stuttgart, Bayern Munich):
The striker arrived in Germany in 1997 and was one of Stuttgart’s main stars. He then played for Bayern Munich, where he became a star. German champion in 1999 and finalist of the Champions League the same year. During 7 seasons, Elber scored no less than 113 goals in 209 matches. An efficiency never equaled by a Brazilian in the Bundesliga. The charismatic striker remains a living legend to this day.
Lucio (Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich):
A gruff but technical central defender, Lucio established himself as the boss of Bayern’s rearguard between 2001 and 2009. His impressive athleticism made him an insurmountable barrier. Lúcio also made Bayern history by becoming the first Brazilian captain in its history.
Zé Roberto (Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich, Hamburg):
A complete midfielder, Zé Roberto enjoyed his time at Bayer Leverkusen between 1997 and 2001, becoming one of the public’s favorites. Transferred to Bayern Munich, he won two league titles and a German Cup. Despite his 36 years, he will still amaze by scoring 17 goals in 214 matches for Bavaria. His physical defeat was simply phenomenal.
🤩 Just how good was Ze Roberto for Bayern and Brazil?
🥳 Happy birthday to one of the most multifunctional midfielders you'll ever see and one of the stars of the 2006 #WorldCup 💫@ZR11 | @FCBayernEN | @CBF_Futebol pic.twitter.com/D8wVlAyjBK
— FIFA (@FIFAcom) July 6, 2021
Ailton (Werder Bremen, Schalke 04):
The former striker remains forever the Brazilian top scorer in the Bundesliga with his 96 goals in the green and white jersey of Werder between 1996 and 2003. Fast and opportunistic in front of goal, Ailton won the European golden boot in 1999 with 28 goals . A season apart which still makes him a living legend in Bremen today.
Grafite (Wolfsburg):
When he signed for Wolfsburg in 2007, few imagined that this little-known player would become the second best Brazilian pyrotechnician in the championship. With his 57 goals between 2007 and 2010, Grafite largely participated in VfL Wolfsburg’s surprise title in 2009 as well as their lost Europa League final the same year. An exceptional career crowned by a sixth place in the Golden Ball in 2009.
Vote now for Samba Gold 2023!
Do you already have your favorite candidates in each category of the Samba Gold 2023 award? So don’t hesitate to leave your vote here!
