The 32 Greatest São Paulo FC Players of All Time

By YPB TeamApr 22

Choose the best players in Sao Paulo FC's history, one of Brazil's most successful clubs with three World Club Cup titles.

1
Rogério Ceni
Goalkeeper and Sao Paulo's all-time greatest icon who scored 131 goals from free-kicks and penalties — a world record for a keeper — across 1,237 appearances in a staggering 25-year one-club career.
1000pts
2
Raí
Brazilian captain who led Sao Paulo to back-to-back Copa Libertadores titles in 1992 and 1993, his intelligent leadership and creative midfield play earning him a move to PSG.
989pts
3
Arthur Friedenreich
Brazil's first football superstar, who scored prolifically for São Paulo da Floresta in the early 1930s and helped the club win the 1931 Campeonato Paulista.
607pts
4
Kaká
Academy graduate who burst through in 2001 by scoring twice in the Rio-São Paulo final as a teenager, starring until his move to Milan in 2003.
564pts
5
Jonathan Calleri
Argentine striker who returned in 2022 and became one of São Paulo's leading modern scorers, winning the club's first Copa do Brasil in 2023.
564pts
6
Josué
Tireless defensive midfielder who won the 2005 Copa Libertadores, the 2005 Club World Cup and the 2006 Brasileirão before joining Wolfsburg in 2007.
564pts
7
Silas
Elegant playmaker of the 'Menudos do Morumbi' generation who won the 1986 Brasileirão and two Campeonato Paulista titles before joining Sporting CP in 1988.
515pts
8
Toninho Cerezo
Veteran midfielder who returned to Brazil in 1992, won the 1993 Copa Libertadores and was named man of the match as São Paulo beat Milan in the 1993 Intercontinental Cup.
515pts
9
Waldir Peres
Goalkeeper who holds São Paulo's 20th-century appearance record with 617 games between 1973 and 1984, winning the 1977 Brasileirão after a penalty shoot-out final.
515pts
10
Leônidas da Silva
The 'Black Diamond' and 1938 World Cup top scorer who joined São Paulo in 1942 and led the club to five Campeonato Paulista titles before retiring in 1950.
515pts
11
Antonio Sastre
Argentine all-rounder signed from Independiente in 1943 who helped turn São Paulo into a powerhouse, winning three Campeonato Paulista titles in four seasons.
461pts
12
José Poy
Argentine goalkeeper who guarded São Paulo's goal from 1948 to 1962, winning four Campeonato Paulista titles, and later returned to coach the club.
461pts
13
Careca
Prolific striker signed from Guarani in 1983 whose goals won the 1985 Campeonato Paulista and the 1986 Brasileirão before his move to Napoli in 1987.
400pts
14
Cafu
Brazilian right-back who emerged from Sao Paulo to become a World Cup winner twice and arguably the greatest right-back in Brazilian football history, his stamina and attacking instincts defining his Tricolor years.
400pts
15
Leonardo
Brazilian left-back and attacker who was part of Sao Paulo's Copa Libertadores-winning generation in the early 1990s, going on to win the World Cup and find success at both AC Milan and PSG.
400pts
16
Zetti
Brazilian goalkeeper who deputised ably as Taffarel's national-team understudy and was Sao Paulo's dependable last line of defence through their Copa Libertadores trophy years.
400pts
17
José Carlos Bauer
Dynamic half-back of the 1940s 'Rolo Compressor' side who won several Campeonato Paulista titles with São Paulo and starred for Brazil at the 1950 World Cup.
400pts
18
Hernanes
Academy midfielder nicknamed 'O Profeta' who drove São Paulo to the 2007 and 2008 Brasileirão titles before joining Lazio in 2010.
400pts
19
Serginho Chulapa
Fiery centre-forward who became São Paulo's all-time top scorer with 242 goals between 1973 and 1983, winning three Campeonato Paulista titles.
400pts
20
Darío Pereyra
Uruguayan defender and midfielder who spent 1977 to 1988 at São Paulo, anchoring the sides that won the 1986 Brasileirão and four Campeonato Paulista titles.
400pts
21
Luís Fabiano
Brazilian striker who scored 212 goals across two spells from 2001 to 2004 and 2011 to 2015, the club's third-highest scorer, and won the 2012 Copa Sudamericana.
329pts
22
Lucas Moura
Dazzling academy winger who won the 2012 Copa Sudamericana before a record move to PSG, then returned in 2023 to help win the club's first Copa do Brasil.
329pts
23
Mauro Ramos
Classy centre-back who starred in São Paulo's 1953 and 1957 Campeonato Paulista triumphs before lifting the 1962 World Cup as Brazil captain.
329pts
24
Pedro Rocha
Uruguayan playmaker who joined from Peñarol in 1970, won three Campeonato Paulista titles and finished as joint top scorer of the 1972 Brasileirão.
329pts
25
Diego Lugano
Combative Uruguayan centre-back who anchored the defence that won the 2005 Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup during his 2003 to 2006 spell.
248pts
26
Müller
Brazilian striker who was Sao Paulo's most reliable goal-scorer through the late 1980s and early 1990s, his consistent performances during the Copa Libertadores-winning eras cementing his legacy.
248pts
27
Gérson
1970 World Cup winner whose passing ran São Paulo's midfield from 1969 to 1972, ending a long title drought with the 1970 and 1971 Campeonato Paulista crowns.
248pts
28
Denílson
Dribbling winger who broke through in 1994, won the Copa Conmebol that year and left in 1998 for Real Betis in a then world-record transfer.
248pts
29
Zé Sérgio
Speedy left winger and academy product who won the 1977 Brasileirão and two Campeonato Paulista titles with São Paulo, earning caps for Brazil.
248pts
30
Miranda
Commanding centre-back who won three straight Brasileirão titles from 2006 to 2008 and later returned to the club for a second spell in 2021 and 2022.
154pts
31
Roberto Dias
Elegant centre-back and São Paulo icon of the 1960s and early 1970s, among the club's most-capped players, who won the 1970 and 1971 Campeonato Paulista titles.
154pts
32
Cicinho
Attacking right-back who won the 2005 Copa Libertadores and FIFA Club World Cup with São Paulo, earning a move to Real Madrid in early 2006.
154pts