Roger the theatrical
The São Paulo goalkeeper could have chosen a nicer uniform for the game in which he scored his 100th goal. But he and other great goalkeepers have never been known for good taste on the field. Check out our gallery with the most unstylish goalkeepers.
Rogério Ceni is an elegant man. In his first seasons as São Paulo's starting goalkeeper, the goalscoring striker was already seen around São Paulo in impeccable Hugo Boss suits, one of his sponsors at the time. When he steps onto the field, however, things change dramatically, literally. Instead of opting for the "basic black" suits that made the Russian Lev Yashin and other old-school goalkeepers famous, or the Azzurra-style blue of his Palmeiras teammate Marcos, Ceni likes to combine colors in his own creations. The results, to say the least, contrast with his superb performances.
The outfit he wore last Sunday in his historic match against Corinthians proves it. The goalkeeper, who scored the 100th goal of his career in the derby, made headlines around the world wearing, over a long-sleeved black shirt, a short-sleeved jacket in shades of yellow and black, with a red "V"-shaped stripe at chest level. On such a special day, he deserved better, much better.
The oddity of the uniforms is far from being a privilege exclusive to Ceni. There are much worse cases, as the reader will see below. To compensate for the effort, tomorrow we will publish a list of the most stylish goalkeepers of all time. Enjoy.
zetti
His record in that position can only be compared to that of the great Gilmar dos Santos Neves, the greatest Brazilian goalkeeper of all time. Discovered by Palmeiras, Armelino Donizetti Quagliato won every possible title with São Paulo: Paulista champion (1991-92), Brazilian champion (1991), South American champion, and world champion (1992-93). As a bonus, he participated in the 1994 World Cup victory as Taffarel's backup. Already famous, the goalkeeper decided to trade his shorts for a hideous long tracksuit. You know that guy who jumps out of bed early on the weekend and, with utter carelessness, puts on a sweatshirt over his pajamas to go to the bakery? Well, Zetti looked like him.
Ronaldo
Which was the golden age of tackiness: the 70s, with its bell-bottom trousers, or the 80s, with the mullet, that haircut where the hair curved upwards at the nape of the neck? Goalkeeper Ronaldo, who shone at Corinthians for ten years, was a prime example of the 80s aesthetic, which extended into the beginning of the following decade. The brave goalkeeper's uniforms, it must be said, perfectly complemented his hairstyle.
Taffarel
Without him on the field, it's quite likely that Brazil would have lost the 1994 World Cup to Italy, decided on penalties, and missed out on the following final in France, whose semi-final also ended in a penalty shootout. Taffarel, however, didn't have the look or build of a top goalkeeper. To make matters worse, he made poor choices in his clothing. In this snapshot from 1994, for example, he seems to be sporting a recent purchase from a knitwear shop in Monte Sião.
Jorge Campos
A versatile goalkeeper and striker, the colorful Jorge Campos defended Mexico's goal in two World Cups – in the USA in 1994 and in France in 98 – and won the Confederations Cup in 1999, the most important title ever won by the Aztecs. There's no denying he had style, but some argue that with more discreet outfits, he might have been less visible, and vulnerable, to attackers. Others, however, believe his tropical butterfly look was a trick to blind his opponents.