The country of Brazil is synonymous with footballing flair and success on the international stage. Players have been enthusiastically migrating from South America to Europe since the 1970s, with Serie A a welcoming stage for Brazilians to showcase their skills.
From Ronaldo at Inter Milan to Kaka and Dida at Milan, the Italian top tier has been illuminated in a carnival of soccer colour by Brazilians for many years. Juventus have also had their fair share of players from Brazil over the years.
Juve's first Brazilian player was Pedro Sernagiotto, aka Ministrinho. He held Italian citizenship, despite being born in São Paulo, and won the 1932/33 title with the club.
The recent departure of Danilo leaves the Bianconeri with just two Brazilians on their books, namely defender Gleison Bremer and midfielder Douglas Luiz.
OldJuve's first edition of our regular Top 10 column focused on the best clashes with Inter Milan, we now turn our attention to Juve's greatest ever Brazilians.
Here’s how OldJuve has ranked the Bianconeri's greatest samba stars:
10. Arthur
Arthur arrived from Barcelona in the summer of 2020, as part of a controversial swap deal that saw Miralem Pjanic join Barca. He failed to live up to the high-profile expectation, making a total of 63 appearances and scoring one goal in that time.
Arthur then had a catastrophic loan spell at Liverpool in 2022/23, where recurring injuries saw the Brazilian fail to make a single appearance before bouncing back on loan at Fiorentina the following season. He made 48 appearances in all competitions, including 32 as a starter.
He has found himself frozen out of the team under Thiago Motta this season, and is currently on loan at Girona. His contract with the Bianconeri runs until June 2026.
9. Chinesinho
Born in Rio Grande, Chinesinho (‘Little Chinese’) made his name back home with Internacional and Palmeiras before moving to Italy to play for Modena and Catania before joining the Bianconeri.
Chinesinho was an integral part of the Juve’s 1966/67 Serie A title-winning season, captaining the side.
Even after departing the Old Lady, Chinesinho would benefit Juve. While playing for Venezia, his samba skills would inspire a young bright-eyed boy by the name of Roberto Baggio to lace up a pair of boots and get into football.
8. Gleison Bremer
Bremer joined in July 2022 on a five-year deal, signing from city rivals Torino after winning the Best Defender award in the 2021/22 Série A campaign.
This led to a memorable moment in February 2023 when the defender notably scored against his former club Torino in a 4–2 Derby della Mole triumph.
Since then, Bremer had become a fan favourite and an integral part of Juventus’ defence until October 2924 when he sustained an ACL injury in his left knee that ruled him out for the rest of this season.
7. Douglas Costa
Signed in the summer of 2017 from Bayern Munich. He made 103 appearances for the club, scoring 10 goals, lifting three Serie A titles, one Coppa Italia and one Supercoppa.
Showed occasional glimpses of brilliance with the club, but was never able to consistently become the Juve icon many fans expected.
Nonetheless, the Juve faithful still think of him fondly thanks to a litany of outrageous dribbles and box office goals in his time.
6. Dani Alves
Only played a single season with Juve, but did so in arguably the most exciting side since their return to Serie A following the Calciopoli scandal.
The Barcelona legend was key in a season that saw Juve not only win Serie A and the Coppa Italia, with Alves scoring in the final against Lazio, but also reach the Champions League final.
Alves was released from his contract after a single season after expressing his frustration at being unable to help lift the standards of the game in Italy.
5. Julio Cesar
Moved to Turin from Montpellier in 1990, as the club looked to rebuild its brittle defence.
Julio Cesar was a solid player in his four years at the club, making 125 appearances and scoring six goals.
The only trophy of his Juventus career was in 1993, when he won the UEFA Cup, under the watch of manager Giovanni Trapattoni.
4. Danilo
Arrived from Man City in August 2019 in a €37 million (US$38.7m) transfer that saw Joāo Cancelo move the other way in return.
After a shaky first season, the defender soon found his footing. Following the departure of Leonardo Bonucci, Danilo became captain for the 2023/24 season, the club's first non-Italian captain since Omar Sivori in 1965.
He made 213 appearances for Juventus, scoring nine goals in that time. He won one Scudetto, one Supercoppa and two Coppa Italias, winning the second as the captain in the 2024 final.
3. Emerson
Emerson was signed in 2004 from AS Roma, after a protracted transfer saga which saw Emerson demand an exit due to depression, with Juventus paying €16m (US$16.75m) and Matteo Brighi moving the other way.
“Il Puma” came with a huge reputation, having featured heavily in Brazil’s 1998 FIFA World Cup run to the final but injury meant Emerson missed their 2002 World Cup triumph.
The midfield maestro won league titles in both of his seasons at the club, with both subsequently revoked from the club in the wake of the Calciopoli scandal. Emerson departed for Real Madrid when Juve were relegated to Serie B as punishment for Calciopoli in 2005.
2. Jose Altafini
The joint-fourth highest scorer in Italian Serie A history, Altafini made his name at AC Milan and Napoli prior to joining the Bianconeri, joining at the same time as Napoli team-mate Dino Zoff.
Was instrumental in helping Juve scoop the Scudetto twice, both times at the expense of his former clubs.
In 1973, Altafini scored an equaliser on the final day against AS Roma, inspiring Juve onto victory. Having trailed Milan by a point before the final day, Milan’s loss to Hellas Verona saw Juve crowned champions thanks to Altafini.
In 1975, he then broke Napoli hearts, coming off the bench against the Gil Azzurri in 1st vs. 2nd clash to score a winner on 88 minutes. The win put Juventus clear at the top of the table, with Napoli unable to recover.
1. Alex Sandro
He joined from Porto in August 2015, in a deal worth €28m (US$29.3m), and hit the ground running. His first three seasons in Turin saw Sandro have a legitimate claim to being the best left-back in the world, dazzling in Serie A and on the European stage.
A huge part of Juve’s run to the 2016/2017 Champions League final, his finest hour came in the quarter-finals against Barcelona. He completely shut out Lionel Messi, which ensured clean sheets in both legs of their tie.
Won five Scudetti, five Coppa Italias and two Supercoppa Italiana trophies, notching up 16 goals in 327 appearances during his nine-year spell.