Dunga

Dunga was born on October 31, 1963 in Ijui, Brazil. This young player began his career in 1982 at Internacional at the age of 18. Considered one of the greatest hopes of his generation, he won the Under-20 World Cup in 1983 against Argentina.

Dunga already showed great maturity at his young age, great leadership that comes from authority on the field. Captain of this team that won the Under-20 World Cup, he then went on to a great Olympic Games in 1984 where he finished silver medalist with Olympic Brazil.

At the same time, the player won several trophies with Internacional. His talent is immense and his leadership already makes him a future great player. In 1984, he joined Corinthians, then moved on to Santos FC and Vasco de Gama before joining European football and Italy in Pisa.

Aged 24, the defensive midfielder is very complete, solid and efficient. Characteristic traits that will follow him throughout his career. He will also have been considered by many of his coaches as a "player-coach" capable of helping his team tactically. Far from being a "joga bonito" player, he is in efficiency and not technical gestures and Brazilian folklore.

After his first season in Europe in Pisa, it was already the consecration since he was recruited by Fiorentina. With the club of Florence, he was a finalist of the UEFA Cup in 1990. Unfortunately he lost this final against Juventus Turin. During this passage, he made good performances, but he then signed in a less posh club in Pescara before going to VfB Stuttgart, in Germany.

His club career remained blank in terms of trophies. However, his talent is undeniable, and he remains an undisputed starter with Brazil and captain of the Seleçao. With Dunga, Brazil will find success again, he wins the Copa America 1989. During the World Cup 1990, Brazil is less flamboyant but on an individual level, he is good. He had an excellent match against Argentina: 90 minutes played, 76 balls touched, 81% of successful passes, 100% of successful long passes, 1 successful dribble, 13 ground duels won out of 18 and 2 interceptions.

Victim of criticism after Brazil's defeat at this World Cup, particularly on his white skin color connoting the "Europeanization" of Brazil. Not very elegant, he was also criticized for his less impressive game than his teammates in the national team.

The player being now politicized, the team coach, Carlos Alberto Parreira decided to exclude him from the Brazil group. The player would not make a comeback until 1993, when he became captain of the team. A tireless worker, an incredible passer and very good defensively, the player silenced media and public opinion critics.

During this 1994 World Cup, the player achieved an incredible individual and collective performance. His final was exceptional, firstly because he scored the winning penalty during the penalty shootout between Italy and Brazil, but also for his match itself: 120 minutes played, 172 balls touched, 86% of successful passes (126 successful passes), 2 key passes, 14 ground duels won out of 22 and 2 interceptions. An almost perfect final for a defensive midfielder! The captain thus celebrated this World Cup won and at the same time signed one of the best returns to the national team in history, only 1 year after his definitive return to the group.

1 year after the World Cup, the player decided to join the exotic championship that is Japan through the Júbilo Iwata club. He won the Japanese championship in 1997 and finished best player of the championship for the season. Enough to allow him to continue his adventure with the Brazilian selection until 1998, when he was 3 years old.

A player of character, he did not hesitate to reframe his own teammates, Bebeto paying the price during a match against Morocco. His 1998 World Cup was excellent, he chained 3 high-class performances against Chile, Denmark and the Netherlands. And his last match for his country was the final of the tournament against France, lost 3-0, individually he signed a great performance but his team will have sunk. Dunga will have been overall one of the best players in the history of the World Cup, always knowing how to respond at the right time.

- Voted best player of the Japanese league in 1997

- Named in the 1994 and 1998 World Cup tournament team of the year

- Named in the 1997 and 1998 Japanese league team of the year

- Voted among the "legends" of football by Golden Foot in 2010

- Named in Fiorentina's all-time best eleven in 2016

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