Why is Alisson Becker wearing number 110 for Brazil?

The goalkeeper was given a very special jersey for the game against Mexico, marking a milestone in Brazilian soccer history.

Viewers tuning in for Brazil’s pre-Copa America friendly against Mexico would have been surprised to see goalkeeper Alisson Becker wearing the number 110 jersey.

Squad numbers are typically below 50 and almost always lower than 100, with a very small number of historic exceptions. Liverpool stopper Alisson never normally wears the number 110, so why was he given it for a pre-tournament friendly?

Saturday’s game is held on the 110th anniversary of the foundation of the Brazilian Football Confederation, the governing body for soccer in Brazil. The friendly against Mexico is being held 110 years on from the foundation of the sport’s most successful national team and Alisson was given the noteworthy number to mark that fact.