Sport Club Internacional Greatest All-Time Team

This blogger Artur Yanturin of Russia copied many of my blog teams.  This blog was one of them.  It was my Russia All-Time Team here.  His team was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.   His Spartak Moscow All-Time team entry of was published in October 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2017.  His entry of the Dutch-German rivalry between Real Madrid and Barcelona was written in 2020, but mine was uploaded in 2014.  He also copied many many of my blog entries.

His Facebook and Instagram

2010 Copa Libertadores

Please also see my All-Time World Cup Team Index.

Santos, Flamengo, Sao Paulo, Corithians, Botafogo
Vasco Da Gama, Palmeiras, Internacional
Fluminense, Gremio, Cruzeiro, Atlético Mineiro, Bahia.

This is my selection of a 25 member all-time team for the club.  The number 25 was chosen because it is the official squad size for the Champions' League.

Sport Club Internacional is ranked first in Americas and sixth in the World in number of paying members, with more than 104,000. Internacional won Copa Libertadores titles twice: 2006 and 2010.  In 2006, they also the FIFA Club World Cup, defeating European champions Barcelona in the latter and South American reigning champions São Paulo in the former. Other international titles include the 2007 Recopa Sudamericana, the 2008 Copa Sudamericana and the 2011 Recopa Sudamericana.  Perhaps no other time is remembered with more affection and longing by the Internacional supporters than the victorious Seventies. In that decade, Inter became the most successful club in Rio Grande do Sul and in Brazil. 

2006 World Club Cup

Team
GK: Claudio Taffarel
Claudio Taffarel earned over 100 caps.  He was the starting goalkeeper for the World Cup winning team in 1994. During an 18-year career, he played professionally for six clubs, including Parma, Internacional, Atlético Mineiro and Galatasaray. He won an UEFA Cup with Galatasaray, which was the first ever European trophy for a Turkish club team. He is a member of Brazilian Football Museum – Hall of Fame.

GK: Manga  (Brazil)
Manga was the starting keeper for the legendary Botafogo side that also featured Garrincha, Nílton Santos and Mario Zagallo in the great Botafogo of the 1960s.  He also won the Copa Libertadores and the Intercontinental Cup in 1971 with the extraordinary Uruguay's Nacional playing alongside Luis Cubilla and Luis Artime. For the national team, he had 12 caps.  He went to the World Cup in 1966.

Manga

GK: Clemer (Brazil) 
Clemer played for several Brazilian clubs, but his most important stints were with Portuguesa, Flamengo and International. He played for International from 2002 and 2009. With Inter, he won Copa Libertadores and the FIFA Club World Cup in 2006.  The Club World Cup Final was an upset win against FC Barcelona featuring Ronaldinho.  He was uncapped.

RB: Paulinho (Brazil) 
Paulo de Almeida Ribeiro is better known as Paulinho. At Internacional, Paulinho was known as "Captain Piranha" for his leadership.  He won three Campeonato Gaucho between 1951 to 1953.  He moved to Vasco De Gama and played there for 9 seasons in two spells. Between the two spells. He spent one year playing for River Plate. He was the backup rightback at the World Cup Finals in 1954.

RB: Claudio Duarte (Brazil)
Claudio Duarte was a one club man.  He played his entire career with Internacional in Brazil. He was a member of the club's great side of the 1970's, playing with Chile's Elias Figueroa in defense.  He won two Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles: 1975 and 1976, and six straight Campeonato Gaúcho 6 times between 1971 and 1976.

SW:  Elias Figueroa (Chile)
Elias Figueroa was one of the best defenders in South American history.  He was named the Brazilian Player of the year award whilst playing for Internacional in 1972 and 1976. He was also awarded the South American Footballer of the Year three times in a row. He played notably for Santiago Wanderers, Internacional and Uruguayan club Peñarol. He also represented Chile 47 times, appearing in three world cups, in 1966, 1974, and 1982.

Elias Figueroa 

CB: Nena (Brazil)
From 1940 to 1949, Nena played with SC Internacional and won with the club eight state championships. In 1949 he moved to Portuguesa with which he won the Torneio Rio-São Paulo of 1952 and 1955. Between 1947 and 1952 he played 5 times for Brazil. He was also part of the Brazilian roster of the 1950 World Cup where Brazil finished as runner up, but did not get to play.

CB: Mauro Galvão (Brazil)
In Brazil, Galvão played for Internacional, Bangu, Botafogo, Grêmio  (two spells) and Vasco da Gama. In 1990–91 he moved to FC Lugano in Switzerland, where he would remain for the following six seasons.  He was capped 24 times for Brazil.  He was an unused sub in the 1986 World Cup Finals, but he played 4 games in 1990.  He helped Brazil to win the Copa America in 1989.

CB: Indio (Brazil)
Indio played most of his career with Internacional between 2005 and 2014. He was on both of their Copa Libertadores' winning teams in 2006 and 2010.  In 2006, he also won the World Club Cup, beating Barcelona in the Final. He was also one of the club's most dedicated player.  He also won the Recopa twice(2007 and 2011), and Copa Sudamericana in 2008.  He was a fan favourite while at the club. He was voted into Brazilian Bola de Prata (Placar) for 2006.

Indio

LB: Oreco (Brazil)
Oreco began his career at the Santa Maria, where he played for a year. He then played for Internacional of Porto Alegre, for which he played for seven years and won five Rio de Janeiro championships in that period. He was also a Corinthians player for eight years.  He also played for Dallas Tornado, winning the NASL Cup. At the international level, he won the 1958 World Cup as Nilton Santos' backup.

LB: Abigail (Brazil) 
Abigail began his career with Força e Luz football Club of Porto Alegre club that are obsolete today. In February 1942, at the age of twenty years, he was signed by Internacional where he was part of the legendary "Scroll Compressor" Colorado (considered by some critics as the greatest team that existed in Rio Grande do Sul).  He won Campeonato Gaúcho: six times (1942, 1943, 1944, 1945, 1947 and 1948).

DM: Dunga (Brazil)
Dunga's bluecollar and defensive style of football symbolized a new era in Brazil's football.  This period in Brazil's football history was called "Era Dunga", as according to fans and journalists. He played 91 times for Brazil.  He was the captain of Brazil's World Cup winning team in 1994. He also went to Italia 1990 and France 1998.  For domestic football, he played in Brazil, Japan, Italy and Germany in his career.

Dunga

DM: Caçapava (Brazil)
Caçapava began his professional club career at CE Gaúcho de Caçapava do Sul.  He went to the Internacional de Porto Alegre in 1972, playing in the club's greatest period.  He won the Brasileiro in 1975 and 1976. He was also a Gaucho Champion for Inter in 1974, 1975, 1976 and 1978. In 1979, he transferred to Corinthians where he won Paulista in the same year. He also played in Palmeiras, Vila Nova de Goiás, and Ceará.

DM: Batista (Brazil) 
Bastista began his career with Internacional, where he won 3 Brasileiros and 4 Campeonatos Gaúchos.  In Europe, he played for Lazio and Belenenses.  He was capped 38 times for Brazil.  He started all matches at the World Cup Finals in 1978, but was used mainly as a sub fours years later in 1982.  In 1982, he was famously remembered being fouled by Diego Maradona in the 2nd round that led to Maradona's red card.

CM: Falcao
At one stage, Falcao was the world's highest paid footballer.  He played with Internacional at home before becoming the star of Italy's AS Roma in the 1980's, winning the Serie A in 1982-83. In 1985, he returned home and played for Sao Paulo. For the national team, he was a key player for the fantastic Brazilian of the 1982 World Cup Finals.  He won the Silver Ball in Spain. He also went to the World Cup Finals in 1986.

Falcao

CM: Paulo César Capergiani (Brazil)
Carpegiani began his professional career at Sport Club Internacional of Porto Alegre, in the Rio Grande do Sul, where he played from 1970 to 1977, winning two Brazilian Championships (1975 and 1976). Carpegiani also played for Flamengo (1977–1980), winning the Brazilian Championship in 1980.  He was capped 30 times and went to the WC Finals in 1974.

AM: Andrés D'Alessandro (Argentina)
With River Plate, D'Alessandro won the 2001–02 and 2002–03 Primera División titles with them before heading to Europe in 2003. He played with Wolvesburg, Portsmouth and Zaragoza before playing with San Lorzenzo and Internaconal. In 2010, D'Alessandro led Internacional to their second Libertadores Championship, and was elected the best player in South America for that year.  He was capped 28 times for Argentina.

Andrés D'Alessandro 

FW: Claudiomiro (Brazil)
Claudiomiro played for several Série A clubs in Brazil.  He won the Campeonato Gaúcho six times with Internacional.  However, injury problems led him to leave the club.  In 1975, he joined Botafogo-RJ. The following year, he went to Flamengo-RJ, where he remained until 1977.  At the international level, he earned 6 caps all in 1971, scoring a single goal.

FW/RW: Tesourinha (Brazil)
With Internacional, Tesourinha was a member of the club's famous "Rolo Compressor" team of the 1940's.  He was also a part of the "Expresso da Vitória" at Vasco de Gama.  He was the first black player  in history to play for Grêmio.  He was capped 23 times. He was chosen as the best player for the 1945 South American Championship.  An injury kept him out of the 1950 World Cup Finals.

ST: Larry (Brazil)
Larry began his career at Fluminense where he played from 1951 to 1954, and champion of Campeonato Carioca in 1951 and the Copa Rio in 1952. He played for Internacional between 1954 and 1961.With Bodinho, he formed the most invaluable double striker attack of Internacional. He was also the top scorer of the Brazilian team in the 1952 Summer Olympics, when he scored four goals in three games. 

ST: Bodinho (Brazil) 
Known for his header, Bodinho began his career with Ibis. He spent 4 seasons with Flamengo. He joined Internacional in 1951, where he formed a great offensive partnership with Larry.  He won Campeonatos Gaúchos five times. He also played for Flamengo.  He played 5 times for Brazil. He represented Brazil at the 1956 Pan-American Games in Mexico.

ST: Escurinho (Brazil)
Escurinho played for Internacional from 1970 to 1977. He was a part of the club's greatest side in the 1970's. He won two Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles: 1975 and 1976, and Campeonato Gaúcho seven times.  He also played for Palmeiras and Coritiba. He also played in Ecuador and Chile. He was also a musician, recording a Samba record while he was an active player with Musician Bedeu.

Escurinho 

ST: Carlitos (Brazil)
With Tesourinha and Adãozinho formed most invaluable three striker attack of the 1940s, a team known as the "Rolo Compressor".  He played entire career (1938–1951) at Sport Club Internacional, and scored 485 goals. He is still to this date the top scorer in the club history. He won ten Campeonato Gaúcho, eight consecutive (1940–48, 1950 and 1951). 

ST: Valdomiro (Brazil)
Valdomiro Vaz Franco was better known as Valdomiro. He was best remembered for playing the great Internacional side of the 1970's, playing alongside Falcão, Carpegiani and Figueroa.  For Brazil, he played 23 times between 1973 and 1977.  He went to the 1974 World Cup Finals and remembered for scoring a goal against Zaire in the first round.

ST: Fernandão (Brazil)
Fernandão started his career with Goiás of Goiânia before moving to Marseille in 2001.  He returned to Brazil to play for Internacional in 2004.  In 2006, Fernandão led them to win the Copa Libertadores for the first time ever. Fernandão was a joint top scorer of the competition and was voted man of the Match in the final against São Paulo.  He also skippered the club to win the Club World Cup in the following December. He was capped once.

Fernandão 

Honorable Mention
Bolivar, Luiz Carlos Winck, Pablio Guinazu, Dorinho, Dario, Lula, Milton Ramos Vergara, Bráulio, André Döring, Gainete, José Villalb, Edinho Campos, Adãozinho, Salvador, Edevaldo.

Squad Explanation  
-- The Cope Libertadores in 2006 was Internacional's first major international trophies. I selected Fernandão, Clemer and Indio from that team.
-- Fernardao was the hero of Copa Libertadores in 2006. He was the MVP as well as the top scorer.  He captained the team as they beat FC Barcelona for the World Club Cup. Barcelona featured a team of Ronaldinho, Andrea Iniesta, etc.  Up until that point, it was the club's two biggest trophies.
-- In 2010, the Internacional won their second Copa Libertadores. Only Andrés D'Alessandro and Indio made my team.  Indio played in both Copas Libertadores.  Andrés D'Alessandro became the South American Player of the Year that year.
-- Internacional won three Brasileiro titles in the 1970's.  It was one of the club's greatest period.  Ten players from that era were selected. Elias Figueroa, Falcao, Valdomiro, Claudio Duarte, Escurinho, Manga, Claudiomiro, Caçapav, Batista and Paulo César Capergiani from that era made my all-time team. 
-- Falcao won the Bola de Ouro Player of the Year award in both 1978 and 1979. He finished 3rd at the 1979 South American Player of the Year.  He is probably Internacional's greatest ever player.
-- Elias Figueroa was probably the greatest defender playing in South America during his career in Brazil.  He was among the greatest ever from the region.  He was named the Brazilian Player of the year award in 1972 and 1976. He was also awarded the South American Footballer of the Year three times in a row. 
-- Many critics felt that Batista should have started for Brazil at the 1982 World Cup Finals in Spain. His defensive presence would have saved Brazil.  In 1982, he was playing with Greimo, but he played with Falcao over here. Both came from the academy and contributed to glorious period in the 1970's. See this blog team of Brazil 1982.

-- In 1984, Brazil called the entire Internacional to represent Brazil at the Los Angeles Olympics. The team became known as "Sele/Inter". After beating Italy and Germany, Brazil won the football silver medal,
-- Manga is another big name player on this team.  However, he came after his glorious career with Botafago.  Cláudio Taffarel started his career with the club.  He actually did not play many games for the club.  Nevertheless, he made a name with the club and earned his first cap while playing here.  
-- For rightback, Paulinho was known for his leadership.  Claudio Duarte played his entire career with the club. He won many titles for the club. I have to leave out Luiz Carlos Winck and Edevaldo.
-- By name recognition, Carlos Gamarra is probably the second most famous centerback who played here.  However, he only spent a short time with the Reds.  His exclusion for this team is somewhat controversial, I admitted. 
-- I rewarded Dunga a spot on the team because he was a home grown.  I do not need to talk about his achievements as a player for Brazil.
-- Carlitos, Tesourinha and Adãozinho formed the famous three striker attack of the 1940s, a team known as the "Rolo Compressor". The first two players are on my all-time team, but I did not have space for Adãozinho. Carlitos remains as the all-time leading scorer for the team.  The term "Rolo Compressor" was coined to represent Inter's power of "crushing the opposition" in their quest for victories. It showed the superiority of the team at that time.
-- Internacional never had a world famous striker with many caps playing for Brazil liked Romario, Ronaldo, Bebeto, etc. With over 20 caps, Valdomiro is the club's biggest name. 

-- As mentioned, Fernandão was the hero of 2006 Copa Libertadores team.


Formation