Deep blue, white and blue again. Cruzeiro’s shirt carries a shade of blue unlike anything else in Brazilian football — and a story that runs from Italian immigrants in Belo Horizonte all the way to a 16-year-old prodigy who would become the greatest striker on earth.
From Palestra Itália to the Southern Cross
Cruzeiro was founded on 2 January 1921 by Italian immigrants in Belo Horizonte, under the name Società Sportiva Palestra Itália. Like Palmeiras in São Paulo, the club was forced to change its name during World War II when Brazil joined the Allied forces. An alternative name proposed was Ypiranga. Instead, the club chose Cruzeiro — in honour of the Crux constellation, the Southern Cross, which appears on both the Brazilian flag and the club’s crest. The deep blue colour remained untouched through the entire transformation.
The Raposa — a fox born of intelligence
Cruzeiro’s mascot is the Raposa (fox), adopted because the club earned a reputation for winning through intelligence and tactical cunning rather than brute force. The fox is painted in enormous scale on the stands of the Mineiro Stadium. Opponents who underestimate the Raposa, history shows, tend to regret it.
Ronaldo Fenômeno: where it all began
In 1993, Cruzeiro gave a 16-year-old striker from Rio de Janeiro his professional debut. His name was Ronaldo Luís Nazário de Lima. In his first season with the blue shirt, Ronaldo scored 56 goals in 58 matches, won the Minas Gerais State Championship as top scorer with 21 goals, and caught the eye of PSV Eindhoven, who bought him in 1994. He went on to win two World Cups and two Ballon d’Ors. It started in Cruzeiro blue.
The 1976 Libertadores — beating the mighty River Plate
Cruzeiro’s greatest season came in 1976. A squad featuring Tostão, Nelinho, Dirceu Lopes and Palhinha won the Copa Libertadores by defeating River Plate of Argentina in the final — considered one of the strongest sides in South American history at the time. The deep-blue jersey from that campaign is one of the most collectible in all of Minas Gerais football.
Tostão: 248 goals and a record that still stands
Before Ronaldo, there was Tostão. The striker-midfielder played for Cruzeiro from 1963 to 1972, scoring a club-record 248 goals — a figure that remains unmatched. In 1966, he led Cruzeiro to the Taça Brasil title over Santos, Pelé’s team. He was also the top scorer in the Minas Gerais Championship every single season from 1965 to 1968.
Authentic Cruzeiro jerseys: a collecting priority
Cruzeiro’s recent Serie B exile (2019–2022) paradoxically increased demand for vintage blue shirts as supporters clung to the club’s golden eras. Original Cruzeiro kits — especially Libertadores editions and early Adidas collaborations — are among the most sought-after in Minas Gerais football collecting. At Garrincha Shirts, every piece is authentic and traceable. The fox never fakes it.