Piłka nożna, mulatyzm i tożsamość narodowa w Brazylii

The article is devoted to the social functions of soccer in Brazilian society. The first section analyses the elitist and working class origin of soccer in Brazil. Next, the author attempts to describe the role of soccer in advancing social mobility of people from the working class. In the third, most important section the role of soccer in creation of the Brazilian national identity is considered. Here, the concept of a “tropical hybrid” as well as the ideology of mulattism is presented together with a detailed analysis of the Brazilian soccer style as an expression of the Afro-Brazilian, genetically determined talent.