Campeonato Brasileiro Série A (the full name is the Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A) is the top tier of Brazil football pyramid. The title of the tournament is contested by twenty clubs. The season starts in May, finishing in December, each team plays the other clubs twice, totaling 38 games in a season. The top four teams on the standings take part in the Copa Libertadores, the four lowest clubs are classed down to Série B.
The large territorial size of Brazil and historical aspects for decades hindered the establishment of the national league. The first annual championship in the country was held in 1959, while the current league with its structure was created in 1971 with the support of the military regime that ruled the country at that time. Before the foundation of the current tournament each state in Brazil organized its own championship (the most famous Campeonato Carioca and Campeonato Paulista state championships - the leagues of Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo states).
Throughout its history the tournament changed several names, including Taça Brasil, Campeonato Nacional de Clubes, Torneio Roberto Gomes Pedrosa, Taça de Ouro and Copa Brasil.
Overall since 1959 seventeen clubs have become Brazil football champions.
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