Jorge Ben wrote numerous titles about “futebol”. The most famous was ‘Fio Maravilha’, other hits included ‘Zagueiro’ and ‘Camisa 10 Da Gavea’ in honor of Zico, the Flamengo player, the club from Rio.

Trio Esperança
Replay
(from Trio Esperança / Odeon / 1974)

“It’s a goal… What a happiness! It’s a goal for my team… What a happiness for the city” The band from Rio paid tribute to the great Paulo Cesar, the player from Botafogo and Flamengo.

Marcos Valle
Flamengo Até Morrer
(from Previsao Do Tempo/Odeon / 1973)

Marcos Valle is well known to be a black and red supporter (the colors of Flamengo). He is also the composer of ‘Paz e futebol’ and ‘Que bandeira’…

Wilson Simonal
Aqui é o Pais Do Futebol
(from 45’s Aqui E Pais Do Futebol / Odeon /1970)

The same year, in 1970, Milton Nascimento also recorded his own cover of this track, like Elis Regina twelve years later. But in Wilson Simonal’s case, he had previously recorded another classic : ‘Obrigado Pele’.

Chico Buarque
O Futebol
(from O Futebol / RCA / 1989)

This Fluminense fan plays with his own Rio team as soon as he gets a chance and, for a long time, he also had a team in Paris. Chico Buarque never failed to chat about his passions, music and football, with the greatest, such as Pele and Bob Marley!

João Bosco
Linha de Passe
(from Linha de Passe / RCA / 1979)

Garrincha, with his tragic destiny, played an iconic role in the history of the country and its music, having been the lover of the sambista Elza Soares. His name is hailed amidst many others during this evocation of Brazil.

Os Batuqueiros e As Mulatas
Olele Olala
(from O Couro Come / RCA/ 1974)

This title, ‘Olele Olala’, was often sung in stadiums. It is originally an adaptation of a samba,  written by Adilson Ribeiro, which evokes Sundays at the Maracana stadium in Rio. However, it had nothing in common with Zuzuca’s ‘Festa Para Um Rei Negro’ based on the same lyrics. Olele Olala !

Novos Baianos
Samba Da Minha Terra
(from Novos Baianos FC / Continental / 1973)

Because of dictatorship, the band of hippies choosed to live the family life in the countryside, being divided between their two main pleasures, ball and music. Check the title of this record, FC meaning football club. It was also followed one year later by a second record where they composed ‘Reis Da Bola’ (the kings of football), a frevo paying tribute to “futebol”.

Gilberto Gil
Meio de Campo
(from Viramundo / Philips / 1974)

“I am not Pele, I am Tostao and to score a goal in this game, it is not easy, my brother…” Back to Salvador de Bahia, the futur boss of Culture in Brazil recorded this early track on 7 inch !

Bezerra da Silva / Junior
Flamengo e Mangueira
(from A Giria e Cultura Do Povo/ Atração/ 2002)

“Every time Flamengo wins, it always has an enemy.
Flamengo is like Mangueira, it can’t win over anybody”
A tribute from the bad boy of samba to Flamengo who he says plays like the Mangueira (the famous Rio samba school) home-boys!

Arnaldo Medeiros
Flamengo 2 X 1
(from O Homem, O Poeta / RCA / 1975)

Check this unknown samba funk composed by this native of Rio de janeiro. Rare.

SUBSTITUTES

Wilson Simoninha
Aquele Gol
(from Volume 2 / Trama / 2000)

Big crate digger, the son of Wilson Simonal chooses to mix the words about futebol to evoke the roots of the “nordestinos” (the people from the North East of Brazil).

Pixinguinha
Um A Zero
(from Sao Pixinguinha / Odeon / 1971)

This choro, composed by Pixinguinha and Benedito Lacerda, is a typical old school song from Brazil. Stay tuned!

Caju e Castanha
Brasil  X Argentina
(from Embolando No Futebol / Trama / 2005)

These two brothers from Pernambuco used to battle with the words. Like in this game between both countries! The next final of the World Cup?

Jacob do Bandolim
Flamengo
(from Jacob do Bandolim e Waldir Azevedo/ Relevo/ 1983 )

Never forget this great composer, like on this rare reissue… Deep soul!