Brazil has long been celebrated for producing exceptional, skillful players who have left an indelible mark on football history with their performances in clubs across the globe. In women’s football, Brazil’s national team has been shaped by legendary players like Marta, Formiga, and Sissi from the very beginning. Their contributions not only sparked a deep national passion for the sport but also attracted crucial investments and fostered a stronger, more supportive culture for women’s football in the country. The history of women’s football in Brazil mirrors that of the rest of the world, with periods of amateurism and interruptions. However, it was officially recognised and regulated by Brazilian law in 1983.
Talking about the recent history of national women’s football, there’s a big club that stands out not only countrywide but continent-wide: Corinthians. Outside Latin America, most people can recognise the Corinthians men’s team by their win against Chelsea at the Club’s World Cup final in 2012. Still, the women’s team had even bigger achievements in a shorter period. Since 2017, they have won the Women’s Libertadores five times, the Brazilian Supercup three times, the national championship Campeonato Brasileiro six times, and four of the regional championship Campeonato Paulista. But what makes Corinthians so influential in the South American women’s football scene?
The history behind the titles:
Sport Club Corinthians Paulista was founded in 1910 and became one of Brazil’s most popular clubs, having fans all over the country and the world. The women’s team was founded in 1997, but it was deactivated between 2008 and 2009 and stood paralysed until 2016 when the club announced a partnership that lasted two years with Grêmio Osasco Audax, a smaller club from São Paulo. This is where it all started. In 2016, Corinthians clinched their first Copa do Brasil title, followed by their inaugural Libertadores victory the next year. Since then, they have amassed an impressive 20 titles in just 8 years, and the count continues to rise.
The records have come hand-in-hand with their titles. In 2020, Corinthians matched the record for the most consecutive wins, held by Lyon Women, with 48 straight victories. The following year, they achieved an incredible triple-treble, securing titles in the Copa Libertadores, Campeonato Brasileiro, and Campeonato Paulista. Just when it seemed like things couldn’t get any better, in 2023, they made history as the first women’s team to win all four major titles in a single season. In addition to their treble, they claimed their second Brazilian Women’s Supercup title.
Did all these titles earn the recognition they deserved? Absolutely. In 2021, Corinthians was ranked the 7th best women’s club in the world by the IFFHS Women’s Club World Ranking, making them the only non-UEFA team in the top 10. By 2023, they had risen to 4th place, just behind Barcelona, Wolfsburg, and Lyon.
Management, structure, and voice:
Strong mentality, solid structure, and strategic investment – these are the key ingredients for success in any sport. While it’s rare for a club to dominate in such a short time, Corinthians had something that set them apart from others: a genuine belief in the growth and potential of women’s football. They invested in the sport’s development and backed their players, which ultimately fuelled their extraordinary success.
If there are people to credit for this success, two figures stand out: Cris Gambaré, the former director of women’s football at Corinthians, and Arthur Elias, the former manager of the team. They were instrumental in keeping the core group of players together. Alongside national treasure Ramires, affectionately known as “Corinthians’ mother,” key players like goalkeeper Letícia, defenders Érica and Yasmin, and the attacking duo Gabi Zanotti and Victoria Albuquerque have been writing their names into the history of women’s football, day by day.
On the field, the team has managed to maintain a strong core, earning significant recognition both in Brazil and internationally. With this respect comes the responsibility of being role models, not just on the field but off it as well. The players and the club have consistently used their platform to speak out on issues affecting the sport. For instance, while celebrating their fourth Libertadores title last month, they shared a video addressing the poor structure of the competition, highlighting their commitment to advocating for the growth and improvement of women’s football.
“We won, but not everything is a celebration. The host changes at the last minute, lack of publicity, bad pitches, injury risks, only 20 players registered, 3-day departures, empty stadiums, not allowed to warm up on the pitch, and precarious structures. This is a lack of respect. Inadmissible. Not only with Corinthians but with all the players, all the clubs, all the countries. We want respect to grow together.”
Can Corinthians compete with the European and North American teams?
This is a question that sparks much debate across South America: If the team excels within the continent, are they strong enough to compete against top European clubs like Lyon and Barcelona? Can they challenge teams such as Chelsea, Manchester City, and Arsenal? And how do they measure up to the powerhouse American teams?
The answer to these questions will come in 2026, when the FIFA Women’s Club World Cup takes place, likely in January or February. The only details FIFA has released so far are that 16 clubs will participate, but the distribution of teams by continent and the tournament’s location have yet to be announced.
Links:
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sport_Club_Corinthians_Paulista_(women)
https://www.iffhs.com/posts/1731
https://www.iffhs.com/posts/3156
https://www.fifa.com/en/news/articles/key-tournament-decisions-made-by-fifa-council
