🏆 Brazil in the Champions League

UEFA CHAMPIONS LEAGUE

Want to win the Champions League? Field a Brazilian.

The Champions League final between PSG and Internazionale could be decided before the teams even take to the pitch this evening at the Allianz Arena in Munich. That is, if the Italian side’s manager Simone Inzaghi decides not to play his Brazilian-born left-sided defender Carlos Augusto.

Only once in the last 25 editions of the Champions League has a team managed to lift the trophy without fielding a Brazilian player in the final. A Brazil-less Liverpool in 2005 is the only exception to this rule; beyond them, every 21st century European champion before or since has featured at least one Brazilian player — often more than one.

As French champions PSG are very unlikely not to field their Brazilian captain Marquinhos, the superstitious onus lies on Internazionale.

🔒 This was a free preview; the rest is behind our paywall

Don’t miss out! Upgrade to unlock full access. The process takes only seconds with Apple Pay or Stripe. Become a member.

Don’t take this newsletter for granted

We’re here for readers who want to truly understand Brazil and Latin America — a region too often ignored or misrepresented by the international media.

Since 2017, our reporting has been powered by paid subscribers. They’re the reason we can keep a full-time team of 10 journalists across Brazil and Argentina, delivering sharp, independent coverage every day.

If you value our work, subscribing is the best way to keep it going — and growing.

Our annual plan goes for just USD 0.52 a day — but the value you'll get back from it is truly immeasurable. So… what’s stopping you from joining right now?

Get smarter on Brazil and Latin America

Already a paying subscriber? Sign In.

The full picture. The sharpest takes. All in your inbox, every day:

• • 🏆 Award-winning journalism, trusted worldwide
• • 📊 Exclusive charts and analyses
• • 🗃️ Archive access
• • 💬 Commenting