Blue, white, and blue. The Cruzeiro Esporte Clube jersey is one of the most beautiful in Brazilian football — and it carries a history of Italian origins, of Ronaldo Fenômeno, and of conquests that put Belo Horizonte on the world football map.
From Italian Name to Blue Jersey
Cruzeiro was founded on January 2, 1921, by Italian immigrants in Belo Horizonte, under the name Società Sportiva Palestra Itália. In 1942, when Brazil declared war on Italy during World War II, the club was forced to change its name — as was Palmeiras in São Paulo. The alternative name was Ypiranga, but the name Cruzeiro eventually prevailed, in homage to the Southern Cross constellation, which is also present on the emblem. The blue color — a deep and unique blue in Brazilian football — has remained since its Italian beginnings.
The Fox and Its Meaning
Cruzeiro's official mascot is the Fox — an animal known for its intelligence and cleverness. The nickname became famous because Cruzeiro, despite being a club from Belo Horizonte, frequently defeated larger rivals with intelligent play. The Mineirão Stadium still has the enormous figure of the Fox painted on its stands.
Ronaldo Fenômeno: The Blue Jersey that Revealed the Greatest
In 1993, Cruzeiro revealed the phenomenon Ronaldo. At just 16 years old, he debuted on May 25 against Caldense in the Campeonato Mineiro. His first goal came only in his fourth game, against Belenenses, in Portugal. In 1994, the player was sold to PSV Eindhoven, in Holland. In those two years, Ronaldo scored 56 goals in 58 matches and also won the 1994 Mineiro, where he was the top scorer with 21 goals.
The Memorable Team of the 70s
Cruzeiro assembled a memorable squad in the 70s. The fantastic team of Raul, Nelinho, Dirceu Lopes, Palhinha, and Joãozinho won five Mineiro championships, reached the finals of the 1974 and 1975 Brasileirões, and won the 1976 Libertadores against the very strong River Plate from Argentina. The blue jersey from that era is today one of the most iconic in Minas Gerais football.
Tostão: The Blue Jersey's Top Scorer
Left midfielder and center forward Tostão played for the club from 1963 to 1972, scoring 248 goals — a record for the Fox. In 1966, he led the Fox to win the Taça Brasil against Pelé's Santos. Five-time Mineiro champion from 1965 to 1969, Tostão was also the state's top scorer from 1965 to 1968.
Cruzeiro's Jersey Today
After a painful period of relegation to Série B (2019-2022), Cruzeiro returned to the elite of Brazilian football with a new management and an ambitious project. The blue jersey, with its history of Libertadores, Ronaldo, and generals of Minas Gerais football, continues to be one of the most desired uniforms by collectors in Brazil. At Garrincha Shirts, you can find historical and recent models of Cruzeiro.