We feature the country of football, Brazil. Brazil, the fifth largest country in the world by both size and population, is most known for their football prowess. Well, actually, Brazilians didn't invent football, but quite possibly perfected it. Football derives from sports created as early as the ancient Greek and Roman empires. The rules and general guidelines we know today weren't established until the mid-19th century and were introduced to Brazil by the Scottish in the late 19th century. In the inaugural FIFA World Cup of 1930, Brazil was even ousted in the opening round. Although an unimpressive performance by the Brazilians, the sport gained national attention and sparked the relentless dedication of young footballers around the country. Why? Football offered an avenue for the youth to escape poverty and the dangers of the third world country. This sport became a great passion for Brazilians who often refer to their country as the country of football. And the outcome for this passion, the Brazilian national football team is the only team to qualify for every FIFA World Cup. This led to their five championships, which are the most of any nation. They are also two-time runner-ups and two-time bronze medalists. It's not surprising that Pele, arguably the best footballer of all time, is also a Brazilian. He led the national team to three of these victories. The first was in 1958 at the age of 17. At the time, he was the youngest player to ever play in the World Cup. Pele has also been the all-time leader in goalscored, both in national matches and club appearances. Today, men and women in all corners of Brazil play football. From the streets to indoor fields, Brazilians dominate the sport with 10,000 professional players worldwide, most of any nation. Football fans of all nationalities love their skillful, creative, free-flowing, fast-paced style. When anyone thinks of Brazil, it is hard not to think of football.