They're seen as among the best in the world. Brazil have lifted the World Cup five times - more than any other team on the planet. With that in mind, you may be surprised to learn that it was in fact actually the Scots who introduced football to Brazil, sparking the country's incredible journey into sporting history.
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But who were the men who took football across the Atlantic?
Thomas Donohoe
Football was introduced to Brazil by a Scottish man called Thomas Donohoe. The first football match played in the country was on a pitch marked out by the Scotsman next door to his place of work. The textile worker from Busby, East Renfrewshire, was living in Rio de Janeiro and it is understood that he organised a five-a-side match.
Donohoe was also involved in the founding of Bangu Athletic Club - the first team to allow black Brazilians to join. Donohoe was immortalised by the people of Bangu when a statue of him was erected in the town of Bangu back in 2013.
Charles Miller
Just a few months after Donohoe’s five-a-side game, textile engineer Charles Miller also played a role in bringing the beautiful game to the nation. The story goes that Miller was seen carrying two footballs in Sao Paulo and promptly set up a football match with locals. Known as the father of Brazilian Football, Miller helped set up the now famous Sao Paulo Athletic Club (SPAC) and was the a founder of the Liga Paulista which is the oldest official competition in Brazilian football.
Archie McLean
Despite being a textile engineer, Archie enjoyed a respectable football career that saw him run out for Ayr FC and St Johnstone. He was sent to Sao Paulo to work in 1912 where he soon set up football team for ex-pats like himself. Known as the Scottish Wanderers the team played at the Sao Paulo State League. He began to make a name for himself and was eventually called up to play for the Sao Paulo State team against Rio de Janeiro which at the time was the highest accolade for players in that region.
Jock Hamilton
Hamilton was a football player with an illustrious career that saw him play for Wolverhampton Wanderers, Bristol City, Leicester Fosse and Fulham among others. In 1907 he made a move to the Brazilian side Club Atletico Paulistano where he introduced the team to new training methods and a system the Brazilians called ‘Systema Ingleza. This involved short passing and an emphasis training and preparation.
Hamilton’s methods catapulted Paulistano to success and the team went on to win the league the a season after Hamilton left.
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