Brazil

Brazil's golden age began in Sweden 1958, when a 17-year-old Pelé became the youngest player to score in a World Cup final. They successfully defended in Chile 1962, then produced the greatest team performance in tournament history in Mexico 1970 — a squad of Pelé, Jairzinho, Tostão, Rivellino, and Carlos Alberto that played an attacking style so joyful it permanently defined how the world wanted football to look.

Despite boasting legendary players, Brazil suffered a painful run without a title. The 1982 squad — featuring Zico, Sócrates, Falcão, and Éder — is still mourned as the best Brazilian team never to win; they were eliminated by Italy in a 3-2 thriller. The 1986 side also thrilled but fell on penalties to France in the quarter-finals.

Under Parreira in 1994, Brazil adopted a more defensive structure and claimed their fourth title — breaking a 24-year drought on penalties against Italy. In 1998 they reached the final under mystery circumstances (Ronaldo's pre-match seizure), losing to France. Then in 2002, Ronaldo delivered a redemption arc for the ages: two goals in the final against Germany, finishing the tournament with 8 goals to win his second title.

Despite consistent tournament qualification, Brazil struggled to recapture their best form. The nadir came at the 2014 home tournament — the 7-1 semi-final defeat to Germany (the Mineirazo) was the greatest shock in World Cup history, Brazil's worst-ever defeat, and a national trauma that still resonates.