This article's objective is to analyze the texts published in the press on the World Cups of 1958 and 1962, and to compare them with the texts published in the World Cup of 2002. We used as sources, the editions of Jornal do Brasil during the World Cups of 1958, 1962 e 2002.The analysis of the journalistic narratives regarding the "national style" of playing soccer presents continuity. The narratives of the Cups of 1958 and 1962 don't have a homogeneous character when treating the Brazilian soccer, changing the focus of the debate in agreement with the overcome of the team's difficulties
National identity; soccer; press; history of the World Cup