Who has won the most World Cups in football?

Brazil is the most successful national football team, winning five World Cup titles.

They have appeared in seven World Cup finals, only Germany (8) has appeared in more, but winning one title fewer. 

Football is a religion in Brazil; the entire country stops when the team plays. 

The Seleção Canarinha are the only nation to win the FIFA Men's World Cup on four continents.

Germany and Italy are one behind, having each won the competition four times. 

SportsBoom recaps Brazil's five World Cup triumphs and the players who defined the era and the nation's success.

Brazil: The most successful football team in World Cup history

Brazil gave the world "O Jogo Bonito", "The Beautiful Game", and "Samba Soccer" as they entertained and won in style. 

They are the only country to have appeared in all 22 editions of the World Cup going back to the first tournament in 1930. 

The South Americans have played the most games (114), won the most matches (76), and scored the most goals (237)

Germany, however, has played two tournaments fewer but played 112 matches, winning 68, while scoring 232 goals, only five fewer than Brazil.

All the FIFA Men's World Cup Top Three Places

Pelé breaks record as Brazil becomes the most successful country at football World Cups

The Brazilian national football team is one of the best football teams of all time, certainly internationally. 

Brazil's five World Cup titles were won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002.

They have been runners-up twice (1950 & 1998) and finished third twice (1938 & 1978). 

Brazil: Year Achievement

•    Brazil's five World Cup titles were won in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994, and 2002.
•    They have been runners-up twice in 1950 and 1998.
•    They finished third twice in 1938 and 1978.
•    Pelé became a superstar in the 1958 tournament and won three World Cups, the only player to achieve this feat. 
•    He was duly nicknamed 'O Rei' ('The King') following the tournament, becoming an international sensation.
 

They were crowned world champions for the first time in 1958 in Sweden. 

The tournament saw a teenage Pelé become a superstar - he would win three World Cups, the only player to achieve this feat.

Pelé, duly nicknamed 'O Rei' ('The King') following the tournament, became an international sensation. 

He made his tournament debut in Brazil's last group-stage match versus the USSR and was an instant sensation.

Playing as an attacking forward, he assisted Vavá's second goal against the USSR before becoming the youngest player to score a hat-trick in the semi-final against France. 

On 29 June 1958, Pelé became the youngest player to play and score in a World Cup final. 

He was 17 years and 249 days old, and the record that still stands. 

Pelé scored two goals in the final as Brazil beat Sweden 5–2 at Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Stockholm.

The South Americans defended their title four years later in Chile in 1962. 

Despite Pelé getting injured in the first game against Mexico, the defending champions went unbeaten throughout the tournament.

Garrincha stepped up, equal top-scoring with teammate Vavá with four goals. Their inspirational performances led Brazil to victory. 

Garrincha became the first player to win the Golden Ball (Player of the Tournament), the Golden Boot (Leading Goal scorer) and the World Cup in the same tournament. 

The right winger was named in the World Cup All-Star Teams of both the 1958 World Cup and 1962 World Cup. 

Brazil qualified for the World Cup final, beating Czechoslovakia 3-1 in Estadio Nacional in Santiago. 

The 1966 tournament in England was a disaster as they failed to get out of the pool stage.

However, four years later, the Seleção reclaimed the World Cup crown at the 1970 World Cup in Mexico.

Pelé (4) and Jairzinho (7) combined to score 11 goals as Brazil cruised to another title.

Brazil thrashed Italy 4-1 in the final at the Estadio Azteca in Mexico City. 

They became the first nation to win the football World Cup three times and were allowed to permanently keep the Jules Rimet Trophy. 

Brazil's Barren Years: Pelé's retirement begins World Cup drought

Pelé retired from international football in 1971, the year after lifting the Jules Rimet Trophy for a third time. 

He bowed out of the game as one the highest-ever goal scorers in football history.

His retirement coincided with a barren spell at World Cups for Brazil.

It would be 24 years before the Canarinha hoisted the most prized possession in football. 

There were two decades of near misses as the European countries began to dominate the tournament. 

Argentina won two titles (1978 & 1986) and lost the 1990 final during Brazil's World Cup drought.

The Sleeping Giant Awakens: Ronaldo puts Brazil back on top of the world

But at USA 1994, they became the first team to four titles when they beat Italy 3-2 in a penalty shootout at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California. 

The dull final ended 0-0, but the game is remembered for Italy striker Roberto Baggio hitting his penalty high over the crossbar to hand Brazil the trophy. 

A young Ronaldo was selected in the squad but did not play a game. 

This experience paved the way for Brazil's newest hero to put the country back on top of the world.

After legendary striker, Romário, was left out of both 1998 and 2002 World Cup squads, Ronaldo stepped up to lead his country. 

Brazil could not, however, defend their title, losing in Paris to hosts France in 1998. 

The World Cup final is infamously remembered for the controversy surrounding the health of Ronaldo.

Ronaldo was left out of the original team sheet but reinstated 72 minutes later.

It has been revealed, many years later, that Ronaldo suffered a convulsive fit on the day of the final.

He had lost consciousness during the fit and spent several hours in hospital. 

This off-field issue unsettled the 'Samba Boys', who fell flat in the final, losing 3-0 to France, their super striker a shadow of himself. 

Despite not playing well in the final and not top scoring, Ronaldo received the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament.

Although they could not defend their USA '94 title, Brazil swept all aside in 2002 to claim a fifth World Cup crown.

The tournament was co-hosted by South Korea and Japan, and it was the first time the competition took place in Asia.

Ronaldo - who scored four times in France '98 - starred, winning the Golden Boot with eight goals. 

The marksman, known as 'O Fenômeno' ('The Phenomenon'), was in his prime and the undisputed best player in the world.

He scored in all but one match at the tournament (the quarter-final). 

Ronaldo scored in all three group games, once each in the round of 16 and semi-final, and twice in the final.

O Fenômeno won the Golden Boot but was bizarrely not awarded the Golden Ball, despite being the favourite for the award and the best player at the tournament. 

Since that night at the International Stadium in Yokohama in 2002, the boys from Brazil have not won another title nor reached a final of the competition they call their own.