The Beautiful Game

The Beautiful Game

Brazilians are mad about futebol (soccer), and players here are fast and skillful. The best possess jinga (literally, "sway"), a quality that translates roughly as a feline, almost swaggering grace. Some of their ball-handling moves are so fluid they seem more akin to ballet -- or samba -- than to sport.

Futebol is believed to have been introduced in the late 19th century by British immigrants. By the early 20th century upper-class Brazilians had formed their own leagues, as had the nation's European immigrants, who were already familiar with the game. Because it requires little equipment, the sport also found a following in Brazil's poor communities.

Today you see young brasileiros everywhere practicing -- any of these boys could be a future futebol hero. Brazil has turned out many international stars: the most famous, Pelé, retired more than 20 years ago and is still revered as a national hero. The country's team is a repeat World-Cup titleholder. Nothing inspires more pride in Brazilians than their fifth World Cup win in 2002.

Fans come to games with musical instruments, flags, banners, streamers, and firecrackers. There's no better way to witness the spectacle than to join 91,999 other fans at the world's largest soccer stadium, Rio's Estádio Maracanã. Even if you don't have a great view of the field, you'll certainly be a part of the event. The main carioca teams are Flamengo, Vasco da Gama, Fluminense, and Botafogo. A match between any of these teams (especially a legendary "Fla-Flu" game) is a great spectacle.