Brazil’s national team jersey was born out of utter devastation and its teenaged designer ended up disgusted with the players who wore it. But when you’re talking about what is possibly the most recognizable piece of sports apparel in the world, strong feelings just go with the territory.
Brazil was still in search of its first World Cup title when it hosted the fourth gathering of soccer’s elite in 1950, reaching the final as heavy favourites but losing 2–1 to neighbouring Uruguay. The crushing defeat left Brazilians re-evaluating all aspects of their footbal team, including its colours. A national competition to replace the club’s bland white-and-blue kit was held in 1953. Out of 301 entries, it was 19-year-old Aldyr Garcia Schlee’s concept of yellow shirts with green trim and blue shorts that became the pitch-perfect symbol of Brazilian soccer.
By 1958, with a 17-year-old Pele leading the way, Brazil’s vibrant look and trademark “samba” style earned the squad its first world title. Brazil went on to win two of the next three World Cups, establishing itself as football’s gold standard. That third victory, in 1970 in Mexico, was the first World Cup televised in colour, allowing the “Little Canary” to flutter into the world’s living rooms, highlighting Brazil’s triumphs with its flamboyant look. Yellow became Brazil’s colour; any team that takes the pitch in yellow these days faces the same backlash as a young hotshot hockey player who shows up to training camp and asks for No. 99.
As Brazil was conquering the world, however, the man behind their look was growing disillusioned with the team and his country. After sketching the victorious design, Aldyr took an internship with Correio da Manha, the Rio de Janeiro newspaper that ran the contest. He moved to Rio from near the Uruguayan border and actually stayed with the national team. What seemed like a dream ended up souring Aldyr—put off by the fast-paced lifestyle of Brazil’s sporting heroes, he moved back home. Aldyr flourished as a journalist and academic until the Brazilian military seized power in a 1964 coup and his political views landed him in prison.
Today, he is a successful author in Brazil, though his football allegiances lie with Uruguay. That means when Brazil hosts the 2014 World Cup, the man behind the team’s famous look won’t be behind the team itself. But millions of people around the world will be, seduced by the sun-soaked jerseys that accentuate Brazil’s dazzling style.