The Black Man in Brazilian Soccer

The late sports journalist Filho’s famed 2003 account of Brazilian society and soccer gets its English-language debut in this lively translation by Draper. Viewing soccer’s “increasingly multiclass and multiracial playing field” through a postcolonial lens, Filho uses scores of interviews to discuss the cultural shifts of the game—from its original white, upper-class roots to its distinctly Brazilian character. Introduced to Brazil by wealthy Englishmen in the late 19th century, the game rose in popularity on the streets and among the country’s working class and Black communities. Soccer, Filho notes, became a “showier” performance when Brazilians played it, with players favoring individual flourishes and intricate shot-making over the more methodical, traditional game. He also paints a memorable portrait of Brazilian soccer legend Pelé, who became an international idol in the 1960s for embracing his blackness and pushing back against racial tensions within the sport. “No black man in the world has contributed as much to sweeping away racial barriers as Pelé,” writes Filho, who credits the star’s indelible style and magnetism for helping distinguish Brazilian soccer and its star Afro-Brazilian players from the European game. Dense but readable, Filho’s comprehensive work will leave sports fans with a better understanding of soccer as both a sport and a global cultural phenomenon. (Apr.)