The best Corinthians players of all time have become household names worldwide with the club producing some of the greatest talents to have played in European football.
Fans of the club are nicknamed Bando do Loucos which means The Gang of The Crazy. These players kept them pumped up and are the ten best Corinthians players ever:
10. Freddy Rincón
Former Columbian captain Freddy Rincón had joined Real Madrid in 1995 and a few years later, ended up at Corinthians. The star midfielder was a physical presence in midfield and had speed and technical ability to match.
Rincón played some of the best football of his career at Corinthians in a four-year spell featuring in 151 games for the club. He helped guide the club to win the inaugural FIFA Club World Cup in 2000 as well as two league titles.
9. Wladimir
Before Wladimir Klitschko was born, Corinthians had Wladimir Rodrigues dos Santos, simply known as Wladimir debuting for the club. Playing his first game in 1972, the left-back played a whopping 803 games for the club.
A rock at the back he helped the club to four Campeonato Paulista titles. Wladimir is also regarded as the best left-back in club history, and was capped seven times for the Brazilian national team.
8. Cássio
A product of the Grêmio youth academy, goalkeeper Cássio moved to Europe with PSV in 2007 before finding his way to Corinthians in 2012. He went on to win the Campeonato Paulista four times, and the Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup in 2012.
Across a 12-year stint at the club, Cássio proved himself as one of the best Corinthians players ever, and greatest ever goalkeeper, through 712 total games for the club.
7. Zé Maria
Zé Maria played on the other side of Wladimir at right-back and formed part of one of the greatest defences in Brazilian domestic football history, joining the club from Portuguesa in 1970.
He alongside Wladimir, were part of the legendary Corinthians team that won four Campeonato Paulista titles during his time. In total he played 599 games for the club.
6. Gil
A stalwart defender, Gil is one of the best Corinthians players and greatest ever defenders in club history. While at the club he was voted Brazil’s best centre-back in 2015.
Across two spells, Gil played 444 games for Corinthians and was well renowned for his leadership, positional awareness, and ability to read the game.
5. Paulinho
Paulinho’s rose from a young Corinthians star to an international household name. Joining the club in 2010, the powerful midfielder was known for his box-to-box ability and earning a move to Europe in 2013.
Across two stints Paulinho played 212 games for Corinthians, scoring 40 goals and also starring in the 2012 Club World Cup final win over Chelsea. He also featured for Barcelona during a single La Liga season.
4. Rivellino
Promoted from the Corinthians youth team and earning his first senior appearance in 1965, Rivellino was an icon and fan favourite during one of the worst periods the club has experienced during the 1960’s and 70’s.
Rivellino’s performances as an attacking midfield were dazzling with his technical ability and having perfected the move known as the “flip flap” or “elastico”. He featured in 236 games for the club, scored 70 goals, and was also an inspiration for arguably the greatest footballer and Boca Juniors best ever player Maradona.
3. Cláudio
Cláudio Christóvam de Pinho, better known as Claudio, is the club’s greatest scorer and one of the best Corinthians players of all-time. He started his career at the club in 1944 after moving from Palmeiras and in 554 league games, scored 306 goals.
Mostly playing from the right win, Claudio was known for his pace and dribbling ability. Toward the latter part of his career he would exploit is skills on the ball and became a playmaking winger.
2. Sócrates
Sócrates was an exceptionally influential and technically gifted midfielder who starred for Corinthians through a seven-year period before moving to Europe in 1984. He played with a renowned level of elegance and intelligence as he led the club to three Campeonato Paulista titles.
Off the pitch he had just as equal of an impact as leader of the “Corinthians Democracy” movement against Brazil’s military government, as well as serving as captain of the national team at the 1982 and 1986 World Cups.
1. Ronaldo Nazário
The original Ronaldo, Brazil’s Ronaldo Nazário is the best Corinthians player ever. Arriving in Europe in 1994 from Cruzeiro, he won the Ballon d’Or at age 21 although had a career blighted by injuries.
Ronaldo scored 35 goals in 69 games, becoming a fan favourite in a triumphant return to Brazil. He often sent Corinthians fans into raptures and put the club into the global spotlight before succumbing to injury at age 34.