(AP)

Fun fact:

For nearly 40 years in the land of the jogo bonito– the Beautiful Game, as Brazilian legend Pele once called the sport he graced– participation in the sport was legally restricted to… wait for it… men.

Yup. Women were NOT allowed to play football for 38 years by government decree. The reason? Football was considered incompatible with “female nature.” That decree was lifted in 1979, but as the online magazine Good reports, not much has changed in Brazil:

Now, girls are permitted to participate, but are hardly encouraged, despite being just as dedicated to the sport, if not more so than men—in 2010, the majority of Brazilians watching the World Cup Games were women. The committed few who pursue football face more challenges and far less rewards than their male counterparts.

To be sure, Brazil isn’t alone in its chauvinism in football.  What’s remarkable, however, is how in a country where the sport is so revered, the culture surrounding it can be so discriminatory, directly and indirectly. It’s even more remarkable when compared with places like the United States, where football is still relatively small compared to other sports, yet its women’s teams are consistently among the best teams in the world.

Things may be changing in Brazil, though, and the woman who is arguably Brazil’s greatest female footballer, Marta Vieira da Silva, is leading the charge.

Read more here from Good magazine.

 

 

 

As Germany and Argentina prepare for their World Cup final match on Sunday, they might want to work on their lifting and kissing as well as their passing and shooting.

In the past 40 years, 10 teams from six different countries have won the World Cup. But they all have one thing in common: lifting the Cup triumphantly above their heads, and kissing the Cup in celebration of their achievement. Scroll below to see 40 years of players lifting and loving the World Cup:

2010: Spain

Spain defeated the Netherlands 1-0, earning the country’s first World Cup.

2006: Italy

Despite a head-butt from France’s Zinedine Zidane, Italy prevailed 5-3 on penalty kicks to win.

2002: Brazil

Brazil bested Germany 2-0 and took home their fifth World Cup, held in the air in this photo by Brazil’s Rivaldo.

1998: France

France beat powerhouse Brazil 3-0 for their first (and to date only) World Cup. Pictured here are Zinedine Zidane, Marcel Desailly and Laurent Blanc.

1994: Brazil

Brazil forward Romario can barely contain his emotions as he kisses the Cup following his team’s close win over Italy on penalties 3-2.

1990: West Germany

In a rematch of the 1986 World Cup, Germany would get revenge on Argentina with a 1-0 victory.

1986: Argentina

Diego Maradona holds the trophy aloft as he and his teammates celebrate a 3-2 win over West Germany.

1982: Italy

Italy beat West Germany 3-1 to take home the Cup.

1978: Argentina

Despite a 1-1 tie after 90 minutes, after scoring two goals in extra time, Argentina would win 3-1 against the Netherlands.

1974: West Germany

Franz Beckenbauer hoists the Cup after West Germany beat the Netherlands 2-1 at the Olympic Stadium in Munich.