Official Poster

The official poster for the 1950 FIFA World Cup is one of the most recognizable in football history—and very different from the 1938 design. The design features a single tanned leg and football boot kicking a ball. The sock is decorated with the colorful flags of the competing nations, and the background depicts Rio's famous Guanabara Bay. The use of green, yellow, and blue reflects the colors of the Brazilian national flag, symbolizing "Brazilian-ness" and the host country's confidence.

J. Ney Damasceno

Damasceno, a resident of Rio de Janeiro, won a public competition held in 1948 by the World Cup organizing committee and the Brazilian Society of Arts. He beat out 113 other entries and was awarded 37,000 cruzeiros.

Years later, Damasceno participated in the design competition for the Brazilian national team kit, where he reportedly finished in second place. Interestingly, his proposed kit design was green—a major departure from the eventually iconic yellow "Canarinho" jersey.