Dunga - real name Carlos Caetano Bledorn Verri - was forty-two when he played against Exeter City. Starting his career with Internacional in 1980, he had remained in Brazil with Corinthians, Santos and Vasco da Gama before moving to Italy in 1987 where he played for Pisa, Fiorentina and Pescara. He then had two seasons with VfB Stuttgart and three in Japan with Júbilo Iwata before finishing his career back at Internacional in 2000. Making his Brazil debut in 1987 he won ninety-one caps over the following eleven years and captained the side that won the 1994 World Cup. He later managed the national team in 2006-10 and 2014-16.

Other significant players who came to St James' Park in 2004 included Careca (Sao Paulo, Napoli and 64 caps for Brazil), 1994 World Cup winner Jorginho (Flamingo, Bayern Leverkusen, Bayern Munich and 64 caps for Brazil) and fellow World Cup winner Mazinho (Vasco da Gama, Palmeiras and several clubs in Spain and Italy; 35 games for Brazil).