“WHEN ROMARIO WAS LEFT OUT IN 2002, THERE WAS HUGE PRESSURE ON US – WE ALL HAD TO BE UNITED”

WELCOME

Rejoice! By the time you read this, football will be

JAAP STAM

“I pulled into a petrol station, and Sir Alex met me there. He got in my car, then told me I’d been sold to Lazio – it was such a shock”

MEANWHILE IN…

...Germany, Monchengladbach have been cheered on by an army of cats, blobfish and bog roll-hoarding ghosts

GAMES THAT CHANGED MY LIFE LES FERDINAND

“I came off the bench to make my senior debut

SCOTLAND: GREATEST TEAM EVER

Forget Brazil – the Tartan Army remain top of the unofficial world rankings

BEST & WORST SOUTHAMPTON

Nick Illingsworth, editor of Saints fanzine The Ugly Inside, recalls King Kev’s arrival and a very unhappy birthday

THE FOOTBALL GRID

This isn’t the first year when matches have faced unexpected delays – one was called off 33 times

REQUIRED READING

The fall of Communism had a huge impact on football

THE BRAZIL QUIZ

Don’t often fare well here? Christ, it’s time to redeem yourselves with our latest set of posers

ALISTAIR McGOWAN

The esteemed impressionist explains his teenage team switch – and how sticker books ruined his life

EUROPE’S LUCKIEST TEAM

Zero points, no relegation: the club with more escape acts than Houdini

HULK

The Brazilian is in China with Shanghai SIPG – and witnessed how the coronavirus brought a halt to normal life there

THE VIEW FROM THE STANDS

Your recent 100 greatest managers feature [FFT 313] got me

WHY THE WORLD LOVES BRAZIL

Brazil’s global domination may have begun early, but it was in 1970 – aided by a pivotal decision from Pele – that the Selecao’s popularity went through the roof. Thanks to Socrates, Rivaldo, Ronaldinho, Ronaldo and more, little has changed in the half a century since

“WINNING WAS SO EXCITING, I PASSED OUT AFTER THE FINAL WHISTLE WE PRODUCED FOOTBALL PERFECTION”

Brazil’s revered heroes of Mexico 70 conquered the world for a third time with their glittering brand of brilliance – and no shortage of japes. Rivelino remembers life within the greatest international team ever assembled

25 THINGS WE LOVED ABOUT MEXICO 70

Brazil’s defining tournament was also one of many glorious firsts – and arguably the most colourful World Cup finals of all time. FFT celebrates its movie star goalkeepers, amateur pyro and baffling forgotten soundtrack

RIVALDO

He won’t go down among football’s most beloved players – just ask Louis van Gaal or anyone in Turkey – but peak Rivaldo was briefly the world’s best. From the greatest-ever hat-trick to World Cup glory, FFT celebrates a superstar

ROMARIO AND BEBETO ROCKING IN THE USA

The Selecao’s ‘Diabolical Duo’ went into the 1994 World Cup battling reports about a bitter feud, but devastating on-field exploits confirmed their status as football’s finest odd couple

“IN 2002, I DIDN’T EVEN SEE WHAT ZIDANE DID LIVE – BUT HE ALWAYS THANKED ME FOR IT!”

Roberto Carlos won the lot in a stellar career as the most celebrated full-back of his generation – even if he didn’t see it all himself. Now, the thunder-thighed icon discusses life as a samba hero, inspiring Becks and almost joining Chelsea

RED BULL GIVES YOU WINS

When the energy drink giants’ bid for Brazilian domination didn’t go to plan, they simply changed tact and purchased another club. A good call, as it turned out – Bragantino have now reached the top tier and are ready to take flight in their quest for continental glory

WHERE DID IT ALL GO WRONG FOR ROBINHO?

The hot-stepping sensation was once football’s glittering future, hyped by the greats and destined for stardom. But how will history really remember Robinho? FFT retraces the missteps

DENER THE LOST WONDERKID

Brazil’s early-90s sensation wowed Diego Maradona and was poised for a big move to Europe, only for a cruel car accident to make his a tragic tale of what might have been. FFT recalls an icon-in-waiting

“SOMETIMES I ENDED UP LITERALLY FIGHTING BOYS TO GET THEIR RESPECT”

Marta has battled bullies, sexism and financial strife to become the planet’s best player – now she wants to inspire a new generation. The Selecao legend tells FFT about her journey to the top

PAIN POVERTY BRIBERY AND GLORY

Roberto Firmino battled the odds to become a European champion at Liverpool, after making a miraculous journey from Maceio to Merseyside via five-year spell in Germany. FFT retells the remarkable tale with those who were part of it

BRAZIL 1982 THE GREATEST EVER LOSERS

Tele Santana’s mesmerising all-stars inspired the world and remain revered nearly 40 years on, but ultimately came up just short in Spain. FFT understands how with Zico and the gang

GARFORTH JUST LIKE WATCHING BRAZIL

The Northern Counties East Football League side stunned English football by luring Brazilian great Socrates to West Yorkshire in 2004 – and he wasn’t the only one. FFT learns the extended story of a legendary non-league curiosity

MY PERFECT XI LUCAS LEIVA

Liverpool’s beloved midfielder picks the best Reds he played alongside over a decade at Anfield – with a generous sprinkle of samba stardust to finish off his formidable line-up

ANDERSON “GIGGS ASKED FERGIE TO BRING ME ON FOR THE PENALTY SHOOTOUT IN MOSCOW - I JUST THOUGHT, ‘OH F**K!’”

Now retired in his early-30s, the midfielder helped Manchester United secure European glory before escaping death in a car crash

“AT NEWCASTLE, ME AND GAZZA HAD FAKE ROWS ON THE PITCH TO GET MORE PRESS COVERAGE – AND IT WORKED!”

Arriving at St James’ Park in 1987, the striker was the first Brazilian in English football – and loved every second of it

GEOVANNI “PHIL BROWN DID HELP ME AT HULL, BUT HE SHOULDN’T HAVE DONE THAT INFAMOUS TEAM TALK AT MAN CITY”

One of the best players in the Tigers’ history, the playmaker didn’t enjoy his 2008 return to former club Manchester City