WELCOME

Rejoice! By the time you read this, football will be back in England. And while many questions about its future remain unanswered, its return is a hugely positive step.

For this issue, though, we’re focusing attention elsewhere. Regardless of your age, you’ll have at least one Brazil team that you look back on with fondness – whether it’s a young Pele winning in 1958, Garrincha’s snake hips of 1962, the technicolour kings of 1970, or more modern sides featuring Cafu, Romario, Ronaldo, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho and Neymar.

Over the following pages, we hail the mighty Selecao 50 years on from their 1970 triumph. Rivelino talks us through that glorious tournament first- hand, while we evaluate why Socrates & Co. didn’t succeed in 1982, speak exclusively to Roberto Carlos and Marta, remember when Rivaldo ruled and chart Roberto Firmino’s ascent.

During my early days in journalism, I covered a Fulham pre- season tour of Austria. After a 0- 0 draw with Real Madrid, I asked England captain David Beckham for a photo. He agreed and called over his team- mate to take it, then told me, “He’ll be a star”. That player? One Robinho, whose rise and fall is also captured in this magazine.

We hope you enjoy it.