Rivals for nearly 100 years, Brazil and France are evenly matched
· Yahoo Sports
In the Brazil squad announcement for the first FIFA international window of 2026, Danilo is the only player left from the last match between Brazil and France, in March 2015Credits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Opponents this Thursday (26), Brazil and France have a history of closely contested matches whenever they have faced each other, the result of a rivalry that goes back nearly a century. In 16 matches between the two countries, Brazil holds a slight edge, with seven wins and 27 goals scored, compared to five French victories and 20 goals. There have also been four draws.
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The average number of goals in Brazil vs. France matches is high: 2.93 per game. In 16 matches, 47 goals have been scored. If there are three goals in Thursday’s clash, the fixture will reach its 50th goal in history.
The most recent match took place more than ten years ago. On March 26, 2015, Brazil beat the hosts 3-1, coming from behind at the Stade de France, with goals from Oscar, Neymar and Luiz Gustavo. Earlier, on June 9, 2013, Brazil defeated France 3-0 — with goals from Oscar, Lucas and Hernanes — at the Arena do Grêmio in Porto Alegre, in a warm-up match for the Copa América.
Luiz Gustavo and Willian in action in the 3-1 win in the friendly against France on March 26, 2015, at the Stade de FranceCredits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
In the first meeting, on August 1, 1930, the friendly was played at Laranjeiras Stadium in Rio de Janeiro and ended with a 3-2 Brazilian victory. Heitor (2) and Friedenreich secured the comeback win over Les Bleus, who had taken the lead through goals by Edmond Delfour and André Machinot.
This time, Brazil and France will face each other in one of the most anticipated international matchups of recent years. The match will be played at Gillette Stadium in Boston and will kick off at 5 p.m. (Brasília time), with live coverage on TV Globo, SporTV, GE TV (YouTube) and Globoplay.
Lucas Moura during Brazil’s 3-0 friendly win over France at the Arena do Grêmio on June 9, 2013Credits: Rafael Ribeiro/CBF
Tribute to FIFA
In tribute to FIFA’s centenary, the body that governs world football and was founded on May 21, 1904, Brazil and France took the field on May 20, 2004, at the Stade de France. The teams were chosen because they were, at the time, the two most recent world champions: Brazil in 2002 and France in 1998. The scoreboard, however, remained unchanged.
In the first half, the Brazil team, coached by Carlos Alberto Parreira, wore a uniform inspired by the one used in the first match in its history, played on July 21, 1914, against Exeter City, at Laranjeiras. The starting lineup even recreated the team photo pose that was common at the beginning of the century.
Brazil’s starting lineup in the friendly celebrating FIFA’s centenary against France on May 20, 2004, at the Stade de FranceCredits: CBF Archive
Top scorer in Brazil vs. France
The top scorer in this fixture is Pelé, who scored six goals against the Europeans, including two hat-tricks. In the 1958 World Cup semifinal, on June 24, the King of Football found the net three times in the 5-2 rout at Rasunda Stadium in the Swedish city of Solna, with Vavá and Didi completing the scoreline — five days later, in the final, Brazil would repeat the score against Sweden, with two goals each from Pelé and Vavá and one from Zagallo, and would win its first world title.
Brazil’s lineup for the 1958 World Cup semifinal against France at Rasunda Stadium on June 24, 1958Credits: CBF Archive
During Brazil’s 1963 tour of countries in Europe as well as Egypt and Israel — the trip included friendlies against Portugal, Belgium, Germany, the Netherlands, England, Italy, Egypt, Israel, and even Racing Club de France and the West Berlin national team — the greatest player of all time scored all three goals in Brazil’s 3-2 win over France. The friendly took place at Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir in Paris on April 28.
Brazil’s starters for the friendly against France on April 28, 1963; Brazil won 3-2, with all three goals scored by PeléCredits: CBF Archive
Zico’s 500th goal
In the 3-1 win on May 15, 1981, Zico scored the 500th goal of his career against the French at Parc des Princes. Reinaldo and Sócrates scored Brazil’s other goals.
Roberto Carlos’ iconic goal
At the 1997 Tournoi de France, which served as a “warm-up” for the following year’s World Cup, the opening match was played between the hosts and Brazil and ended in a 1-1 draw in Lyon. The match, however, was immortalized by the stunning goal scored by Roberto Carlos.
From a free kick about 35 meters from the French goal, the former left-back struck the ball powerfully with the outside of his foot — a technique known in Brazil as a “trivela” — and produced an incredible curve. He stunned everyone in world football, especially goalkeeper Fabien Barthez, who could do nothing about it.
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See all Brazil vs. France matches:
1st) 08/01/1930 - Brazil 3 x 2 France - Laranjeiras, Rio - Heitor (2) and Friedenreich - Friendly;
2nd) 06/24/1958 - Brazil 5 x 2 France - Rasunda Stadium, Solna - Pelé (3), Vavá and Didi - World Cup semifinal;
3rd) 04/28/1963 - Brazil 3 x 2 France - Stade Olympique Yves-du-Manoir, Paris - Pelé (3) - Friendly;
4th) 06/30/1977 - Brazil 2 x 2 France - Maracanã, Rio - Edinho and Roberto Dinamite - Friendly;
5th) 04/01/1978 - Brazil 0 x 1 France - Parc des Princes, Paris - Friendly;
6th) 05/15/1981 - Brazil 3 x 1 France - Parc des Princes, Paris - Zico, Reinaldo and Sócrates - Friendly;
7th) 06/21/1986 - Brazil 1 (3) x (4) 1 France - Jalisco Stadium, Guadalajara - Careca - World Cup quarterfinals;
8th) 08/26/1992 - Brazil 2 x 0 France - Parc des Princes, Paris - Raí and Luiz Henrique - Friendly;
9th) 06/03/1997 - Brazil 1 x 1 France - Stade de Gerland, Lyon - Roberto Carlos - Tournoi de France;
10th) 07/12/1998 - Brazil 0 x 3 France - Stade de France, Paris - World Cup final;
11th) 06/07/2001 - Brazil 1 x 2 France - Suwon World Cup Stadium, Suwon - Ramon Menezes - Confederations Cup semifinal
12th) 05/20/2004 - Brazil 0 x 0 France - Stade de France, Paris - FIFA Centenary Friendly;
13th) 07/01/2006 - Brazil 0 x 1 France - FIFA World Cup Stadium, Frankfurt - World Cup quarterfinals;
14th) 02/09/2011 - Brazil 0 x 1 France - Stade de France, Paris - Friendly;
15th) 06/09/2013 - Brazil 3 x 0 France - Arena do Grêmio, Porto Alegre - Oscar, Hernanes and Lucas Moura - Friendly;
16th) 03/26/2015 - Brazil 3 x 1 France - Stade de France, Paris - Oscar, Neymar and Luiz Gustavo - Friendly.
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