Brazilian football has been hit by an unprecedented exodus of players to foreign clubs, according to the Agencia Estado (AE) news service here on Sunday.

In the past five months, some 52 talented young Brazilians, mostly strikers, have left the country which has won the World Cup a record five times, to ply their trade abroad.

The most recent departures include striker Deivid, the joint top scorer so far this season in the Brazilian first division with Cruziero, who left for top-flight French club Bordeaux.

Other cases were Ricardo Oliveira who joined Spanish side Valencia from Pele's former club Santos, and Liedson who got the go-ahead to sign for Sporting Lisbon from Corinthians.

Cash-strapped Brazilian clubs are being forced to sell their most talented players in order to pay their debts with Cruzeiro receiving 2.45 million dollars for Deivid.