Will Brazil NEVER Be Good at Soccer Again?!

Ultimate Football

Relive jaw-dropping goals from Brazil’s golden era—and see how data, tactics, and modern football changed the game. From Dodô’s outrageous chip to today’s high-pressing defenses, this nostalgic breakdown will make you rethink what “beautiful football” really means. Watch to the end and join the debate!  Subscribe for more football stories and analysis! Tell us in the comments what you liked most about the video. #Football #Soccer #Brazil #Sports #Nostalgia  👉 This channel was created in collaboration with https://www.youtube.com/@futebolmaximo  0:00 - Nostalgia and Brazil’s Football Decline 1:32 - How Data Reshaped Sports 6:05 - How Football’s Tactical Demands Changed 12:33 - Brazilian Talent and Football’s Evolution 15:04 - National Team Selection and Youth Development  We're now available on Spotify! Listen now https://open.spotify.com/show/

Transcript

00:00Check it out. Watch this amazing goal with me. Good old times. Check it out.

00:03Look at that. Felipe Maestro. Remember? What a cross. Beautiful. Viola.

00:10You see that? Man, oh man. That's the kind of thing you just don't see anymore nowadays.

00:14No way at all. Look at this right here.

00:17This right here is Dodo, who remembers Dodo.

00:20Dodo, a lob, a bounce, and when we call someone nostalgic, we, that was Guillermi.

00:25Man, oh man. That guy was the craziest of them all.

00:28When we see someone being nostalgic, we also have to realize that, man, you have to understand what he saw,

00:33what football generation he watched and fell in love with.

00:35To get to today and understand that, like, come on, hold on a second.

00:38The things this guy misses. I didn't look at it that closely. That year was 1999.

00:45In 2002, right around the corner, Brazil became five-time world champions.

00:48Until the moment of the 7-1 loss to Germany, the 4-1 loss to Argentina, and getting eliminated by

00:53Norway in the World Cup.

00:54But nowadays, we watch the national team, the guys trying to play soccer, and they just can't do it, man.

00:59Will Brazil ever be the same again?

01:02What's the deal, man? Like, wow, this one was insane too, look.

01:05Ronaldinho Gaucho. Good grief, that's Ronaldinho Gaucho.

01:08He was already playing so well back then, wasn't he?

01:10This was a screamer, man. This goal was crazy important.

01:12I love this goal right here. The Inter guy putting his hands on his head.

01:15After he gets nutmegged, he thinks, oh, I can't believe he got me.

01:18Look, he gets nutmegged and goes, oh, I can't believe it.

01:21What's the deal? Why was the gap between Brazilian football and the rest so huge?

01:24And now it has shrunk so much to the point where we've been overtaken?

01:27And we're left thinking, damn, bro, pretty soon someone else is going to be a five-time champion?

01:31Someone is going to be a six-time champion before us?

01:33What I think about this whole thing is the way and the extent to which football has been studied.

01:37Sport. All sports, generally speaking, are studied a lot.

01:40I can show you an example of a shot chart right here from basketball.

01:43Want to see? Check this out.

01:44Where the guys were shooting from on the court back in 2001 and 2002, in the 2001, 2002 season,

01:50and then almost 20 years later, how it changed the spots where they, the spots they chose to shoot from.

01:55I admit I'm not a guy who follows basketball, but I've got eyes and a brain to understand what happened

02:00here, right?

02:01What's my takeaway here?

02:03Through analyzing data, shot volume and efficiency,

02:06they measured the efficiency of these shots from this spot on the court compared to the efficiency of this one

02:11and that one.

02:12And they thought, man, wait a minute.

02:15Considering the efficiency of shooting from here, which is worth two points,

02:19and the efficiency of shooting from here, which is worth three points.

02:22Man, only slightly fewer go in from here, and it gives you more points on offense.

02:27Here, man, we waste several possessions, and when we score, it's only worth two points.

02:31It's the same thing with the shot from here.

02:32This happens through in-depth study, using software and the advancement of technology in the game.

02:37With the advancement of technology, new tools emerge to map where these shots are coming from,

02:41and by mapping where they come from, you take the volume, then you look at the hit rate, the miss

02:45rate,

02:45you already know how many points it's worth, and add that to the rules of the game.

02:49And this in-depth analytical statistical study, with the modernization of the sport, these guys come to a conclusion.

02:55Hey, man, look, here's the deal.

02:56It's not worth taking shots from this spot on the court, knowing that shots from here are worth two points.

03:02It's going to be much better to somehow step back, make a play to try a three-point shot,

03:06or else run some other play to get right under the basket, right here in the paint.

03:11And then over nearly 20 years, coaches constantly hammered this into the players, running plays,

03:15and forbidding them from shooting from that spot, saying, look, it's no good.

03:19The data science guy said it's not good to do that.

03:21But we're not going to do that.

03:22We'd be wasting possessions in the medium to long term throughout the season.

03:26With the number of games we play, with the number of possessions we get minus per gram aim,

03:30we're going to score a lot more points.

03:31If we stop shooting from these areas, then this spot right here becomes a forbidden zone to shoot from.

03:37You know, guys?

03:37Then the players go, holy shit, this is crazy, man.

03:40What kind of weird shit is this?

03:41Okay?

03:42I didn't feel that way.

03:43I feel like shooting.

03:44I think I'm going to make it when I shoot.

03:45But if the guy is saying so, fine, let's do it.

03:48Let's obey what he's saying.

03:49So when we see a bunch of dots here, we face the coldness of the data and think,

03:54man, these graphs are wild.

03:55This is total bullshit, whatever.

03:57But in truth, it's history and the work of time.

04:01With this information and matching it with reality, you see the evolution of the sport happening through study.

04:08That's why we're always going to see records being broken, you know?

04:12Because technology keeps advancing.

04:14There are deeper studies thanks to new tools.

04:16And these deeper studies guide athletes better, especially because they become more and more efficient.

04:20And I remember when I saw the record being broken, I'd be like, my God,

04:23a historic world record being broken while I'm alive.

04:27How lucky am I?

04:28I thought I'd never see this.

04:30And as I got older, I kept seeing records breaking, records being broken, records being...

04:34Man, I'm from the era when Tony Hawk landed the 900 and bro that blew everyone's minds.

04:38The other day, I watched a video of a 14-year-old girl who did it for the first time.

04:42The exact same trick.

04:43But anyway, I'm already digressing here like crazy.

04:46Check this out.

04:46For example, in this chart we just saw.

04:48Look right here.

04:49NBA 2001, 2002.

04:50This right here.

04:52See, 3 PA.

04:53That's 3-point attempts.

04:54It's 3-point field goal attempts.

04:56It was 14 per gram aim at the time of this chart right here.

05:00See?

05:00And if you look at 2019 and 2020.

05:03Look.

05:04It went from 14 to 34 3-point field goal attempts.

05:07The number of 3-pointers made more than doubled as well.

05:09It was 5.

05:09And now it's 12.

05:10When it became this shot chart right here, the players became more efficient.

05:14Both tactically by trying to shoot from the best spot and by practicing.

05:19Since we're going to shoot a lot from here.

05:20I'm going to practice more.

05:21That kind of thing.

05:22And you focus the training more on that specific thing.

05:24So it's a technical and tactical evolution of the sport as a whole.

05:28Right there.

05:29All sports go through this kind of thing.

05:30And soccer is no different.

05:31You know that little vest that looks like a little bra, looks like a crop top.

05:34It's really tight on the players.

05:36There's a little device here which is a GPS that maps out exactly where he ran.

05:39How many kilometers per hour are how many sprints the guy made.

05:43How many per gram aim.

05:45This is a tool that came out recently which is new.

05:47That allows for new studies.

05:49And nowadays football is an intense territorial fight.

05:54Where players need to run the right way to the right place.

05:57At the perfect time.

05:59Without wasting time.

06:00And the dynamics of the sport changed in a way.

06:03That we don't see this kind of thing here anymore.

06:05This amazing goal by Dodo.

06:07Where he lobs it over the defender.

06:09A stunner here.

06:10What a great goal this is man.

06:11If we go back to the start of the play.

06:13At the start on the counter attack.

06:14What feels strange to me.

06:16Being used to the territorial battle that the game is nowadays.

06:19What feels strange to me.

06:20Is this player right here.

06:21Look.

06:21Take a look.

06:22He doesn't understand the urgency.

06:24To get in front of the ball.

06:25And close it down.

06:27So the player can't play any kind of long ball.

06:30And another thing that really boggles my mind.

06:32Man.

06:32The back line isn't holding the line bro.

06:34The back line isn't holding the line.

06:36Look at this.

06:37You have these guys here.

06:38And look where the other dude is.

06:40In a bit.

06:40We'll look at a more recent play.

06:42And really compare the defense's decision making.

06:44Understanding what it means to occupy the space properly.

06:48Instead of just playing ball out there.

06:50And intuitively taking up space.

06:52On this long ball here.

06:54This guy back there.

06:56Who.

06:56You can't even say he's breaking the line.

06:58Because.

06:59This isn't a line.

07:00You get me.

07:01He's the one keeping Dodo on side to receive it.

07:03And man.

07:04The high Dodo.

07:06Dodo.

07:07Gets on this chip bro.

07:08I doubt it.

07:09Do you see any regular game nowadays.

07:11Where the ball goes up that high.

07:13And nobody gets there.

07:14At least two guys there.

07:15Before the ball hits the ground again.

07:16Man.

07:17There are already two guys there.

07:18Because nowadays.

07:20Players already know.

07:21They've already mapped out the space.

07:22They've practiced enough.

07:24They've studied the game enough.

07:25To teach the player.

07:26Where he needs to be positioned.

07:28As much as his instinct.

07:29Before learning that.

07:30Tells him to do something else.

07:32Training provides relentless repetition of the movements.

07:35So that he always runs to the right place.

07:37At the right time.

07:38And the player starts to understand.

07:39What we used to see.

07:41That crazy experienced old guy.

07:43And we saw the guy as the commentator.

07:45Saying man.

07:45This guy knows the shortcuts on the pitch bro.

07:48That was an expression used a lot for that guy.

07:51Who couldn't handle running much anymore.

07:52And all that.

07:53But he positioned himself well.

07:54Took it easy.

07:55In that sweet spot on the pitch.

07:57That he learned empirically.

07:58From playing soccer for so long.

07:59He'd go.

08:00The smart move is to stay right here.

08:02The smart move is to run over here.

08:04The smart move is along this path right here.

08:06And boom.

08:07The guy is experienced.

08:07He knows all the shortcuts on the pitch bro.

08:09This wonder goal here from Corinthians.

08:11And we also saw look.

08:12A gorgeous layoff.

08:13A rocket into the top corner.

08:15Unstoppable.

08:16Right at the start of the play.

08:17There's a really curious thing too.

08:19If we compare it to nowadays.

08:21Look at what happens.

08:21Portuguesa on the ball.

08:22Check this out man.

08:23The ball carrier isn't being closed down.

08:26Once again.

08:26The player doesn't realize the urgency of closing down the ball carrier.

08:29To stop the long pass from happening against the high line.

08:31Look where Corinthians line is.

08:33And what really catches my attention.

08:35It's something that nowadays is talked about a lot.

08:37A lot in modern soccer.

08:38Which is which way the guy's body is facing.

08:41This back line here.

08:42Look at this guy.

08:43This guy.

08:43Before the pass happens.

08:44The other player there.

08:45He's kind of turned sideways.

08:47But he.

08:48He's not ready to cover the space in behind.

08:50In case a ball is played over the top of this line.

08:52So nowadays.

08:54If the ball isn't under pressure from anyone.

08:57Defense.

08:57Please turn right away to cover the space in behind.

09:00Start dropping back a bit.

09:01And get ready.

09:02So that if that long ball comes in.

09:03You can run.

09:04If a defender manages to close down the ball.

09:06And get in front of it.

09:07Then yes.

09:07Then you turn to face forward.

09:09And push the line up.

09:10Back then.

09:10That ball over the back of the defense.

09:12Didn't happen.

09:12Because the guy miskicked it.

09:14Here.

09:14I don't know if he kicked more ground than ball.

09:15But it's a little chip.

09:17That went right to the center back's feet.

09:18And you know what catches my eye mano.

09:20Just the fact that the defense was holding a line.

09:22Was already an organization.

09:23That caught the commentator's attention.

09:25Check it out.

09:26There's a line of players right there.

09:27It's not easy no.

09:28The bar with the crowd.

09:29You see that.

09:30There's a line of players right there.

09:31It's not easy no.

09:32And then Corinthians gets the counter attack.

09:34This spectacular goal right here.

09:35At the start of the play.

09:36Yeah.

09:37It's a mistake that nowadays would put someone through on goal.

09:40Without a shadow of a doubt.

09:42And actually nowadays it's easier to concede a goal here.

09:45Than to manage to set up a counter attack.

09:46To score an incredible goal off a rocket like that.

09:49So when we look back at that golden era of football.

09:51Of those guys who were just so damn good man.

09:53To score an absolute screamer like this.

09:55What stays in our hearts.

09:56What stays in our feelings.

09:57Is that spectacular control.

09:59Look at that gorgeous thing.

10:01But the control is beautiful.

10:03It's poetic.

10:03He's already in the air.

10:04Chest puffed out.

10:06And bang.

10:07He kills it.

10:08The feeling stays.

10:09Just like I remember the bicycle kick bro.

10:10I don't dwell on that play.

10:13On the massive gap between the center backs.

10:16And what's worse.

10:17This guy takes a few steps back.

10:21While the ball.

10:22Only Viola was there.

10:24To receive this ball.

10:25And the guy is taking a few steps back there.

10:27To leave Viola more open.

10:29While the near post still isn't covered.

10:31Because he's still not in the most valuable spot.

10:33At the near post.

10:34I won't remember that step back.

10:35I'll remember this chest control right here.

10:37The bicycle kick.

10:38And the rest.

10:38I don't give a damn about.

10:39I remember this chip over the keeper right here.

10:42And this screamer.

10:42And that's what stays in my memory.

10:44But I don't see that when the defender.

10:45Goes to control this ball.

10:47He had no economy of motion.

10:48Look.

10:49Crossing his legs.

10:50Controlling it.

10:50Taking a bunch of strides.

10:51Bunch of steps on the ground.

10:52Wasting a ton of movement.

10:53Only to get closed down.

10:54And then lose that 50 to 50.

10:55I won't remember either.

10:56That in the midfield.

10:57Over there.

10:58It was just this guy.

10:59Take advantage of the guy's counter movement.

11:01Feint.

11:01A back pass.

11:02Fooling him.

11:02And open up his foot.

11:03And play the pass.

11:04In the middle here.

11:05It's Rincon.

11:06In the middle here.

11:06This guy was a fucking beast.

11:08Even more so being Rincon.

11:09Man.

11:09I'm not gonna remember any of that.

11:10What I will remember is this lock.

11:12And the header toward the goal.

11:14Nowadays.

11:15The Australian player.

11:16He knows the importance of closing down the ball carrier.

11:19Look at the difference.

11:20The drive.

11:21He has running to cover the ball.

11:22And in case he can't close down the ball carrier in time.

11:25The back line knows exactly how to react.

11:27If the ball carrier isn't closed down.

11:29Turning their bodies toward the space in behind.

11:31To protect against the pass into that space.

11:33And the area that the defense can't protect.

11:35Even turning their bodies the right way.

11:37The goalkeeper is sharper.

11:39And pushes up.

11:40To cover the space in behind.

11:41Along with the defense too.

11:42And in this case here.

11:43He even caught the ball inside the box.

11:46There are several instances of the goalkeeper.

11:48Playing as a sweeper keeper.

11:49Coming out of his box.

11:50Heading it away.

11:51Clearing it with a kick.

11:52It's the most common thing in the world.

11:53To see the complete opposite of this play here.

11:55Where this guy doesn't get the urgency.

11:56Of closing down the ball carrier.

11:57The back line isn't.

11:58Isn't.

11:59Not even in line.

12:00And then there's this madman here.

12:01Keeping Dodo onside.

12:02For Dodo to score this spectacular wonder goal.

12:04And even when this long ball works out.

12:05Just look at when the precision is really good.

12:08Where the ball is out of reach for the defense.

12:10And still doesn't go to the keeper.

12:11It goes.

12:12Bounces perfectly.

12:13Right where it has to bounce.

12:14The player only gets the chance to take a touch on the ball.

12:17Without thinking.

12:17Without anything.

12:18He has far less time and space.

12:20And that's precisely what football analyzed and evolved for.

12:23And this territorial battle today matters much more than skill and ball control.

12:27And in this specific aspect of the territorial battle.

12:29Which is what the game is all about nowadays.

12:33Brazil fell behind bro.

12:34It's over.

12:35Brazil was left behind.

12:36On that front.

12:36It's still the country that produces the most stars.

12:39It's still the country that has the most.

12:42There are people playing ball.

12:43There's the fight man.

12:44If you look at the guys out there who play this.

12:46Truly magical football.

12:47If you look at Lamin Yamal.

12:49This Pedro Neto guy.

12:50Or even Dwayne.

12:50These guys are fans of Brazilian players.

12:52They're fans of Brazilian football.

12:54And they're fans of some guys.

12:55Who are fans of Ronaldinho Caucho.

12:57Of Ronaldo Fenomo.

12:58Of Brazilians as well.

12:59So this thing about the ginga.

13:01The deception.

13:02The dribbling.

13:03This cleverness.

13:05A creative ability to solve problems on the pitch.

13:07That's still very Brazilian.

13:09But we as fans.

13:10We have to understand.

13:11That the things we used to see in that magical era.

13:13That made Brazil five time champions.

13:15And slaughter everyone.

13:16Made us have a different feeling watching the national team play.

13:18It's not the same behavior.

13:20And the same attitudes that are going to make Brazil six time and seven time champions soon.

13:25When we look at what worked in the past.

13:27And think that nowadays it's not working.

13:29Because it's missing that thing I used to see in the past.

13:33Bro.

13:33It's not necessarily like that.

13:35Because the environment has changed.

13:36The environment is different.

13:38You know.

13:38That kind of evolution happens in everything.

13:41Whether we like it or not.

13:41What's happening isn't exactly that.

13:44Brazilian soccer is dying.

13:46And they're trying to copy European soccer.

13:49It's more like this.

13:51Whoever keeps shooting.

13:52From this spot on the court.

13:54Man.

13:54Is going to be losing points.

13:55And losing the game.

13:58And if you don't adapt to take more efficient shots.

14:01Considering the shooting percentage.

14:03And the points it gives you.

14:04You're going to fall behind either way.

14:06You know.

14:07A basketball team that starts shooting more from these areas.

14:09Isn't just copying the other team.

14:11And trying to win.

14:12Bro.

14:12They're chasing an inevitable evolution of the sport.

14:14Those who keep up with this stuff.

14:16Are the ones who do well.

14:19Those of us at Futebol Maximo.

14:21Believe this applies to fantasy games as well.

14:23We think this category based model.

14:25Rewards those who read the game best.

14:28Get it.

14:29Like you set your lineup.

14:31And your team has.

14:32A percentage of shots.

14:33On target.

14:34Higher than your opponent's team.

14:36So.

14:36In this category here.

14:38Since my team beat the other team.

14:40It counts.

14:40A goal for me on the final scoreboard.

14:42Whereas in key passes.

14:44Which are passes leading to a shot.

14:46Not necessarily.

14:46Assists.

14:47Passes that put the guy in a position to shoot.

14:50If the opposing team makes more passes than my team.

14:53They beat me in this category.

14:54So.

14:55They score a goal.

14:56This match ended 5-2.

14:58Because in 5 categories.

14:59My team was superior.

15:00And in 2 categories.

15:01My opponent was superior.

15:035-5-2 for me on the final scoreboard.

15:05When we see.

15:06The national team call up.

15:07Giving preference to players.

15:09Playing in European football.

15:10Over players playing here in Brazilian football.

15:12No.

15:13It's this turf battle.

15:14That's still evolving here.

15:15In the Brazilian championship.

15:16For the national team coach.

15:18It ends up being picking.

15:19Guys who are more.

15:20More experienced.

15:21Who understand this turf battle better.

15:23When a guy lives this day in and day out.

15:25If he doesn't experience it here in the Brazilian championship.

15:27He's going to have to explain things.

15:29He's going to get a guy who's a bit greener.

15:31On that specific topic.

15:32Oh and just for the record.

15:34This blowout was basically what the guys called up to the Brazilian national team.

15:38Okay.

15:39And so bro.

15:40To me this topic touches on several discussions that we have daily in soccer.

15:43Like a call up that we just can't understand.

15:45Why did he call up so and so and not.

15:47What's his name.

15:48Why is so and so a starter.

15:49And what's his name a sub.

15:50This coach is a tinkerer.

15:52Oh and in the youth academy.

15:53They're stifling this kid's creativity.

15:55And the inventive side of his soccer game.

15:57Just to teach him how to run down the wing.

15:59And to pass it.

16:00And make the right run to the right spot man.

16:03That's at the root of so many debates that happen all the time in soccer.

16:06And our fantasy game is also undergoing an evolutionary process.

16:10And the official launch is going to be next year.

16:12But you can already join in on this process.

16:14By giving us feedback right here on YouTube.

16:16Which will help us keep improving.

16:17And a lot more is going to happen too.

16:19Click on this video right here to stay in the loop on how the match works.

16:21Kind of thanks.

16:22Catch you later.

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