Sometimes I think if that is really true or people just dont know anything about the history of Brazil. Overall, the history of Latin America tends to be ignored by foreigners. So, of course Brazil didnt have major impacts on Europe (besides being a huge gold mine to Portugal, England and the Catholic Church), but the world is not only Europe and US. Brazil is a power of this continent since the 1600s.
Of course we are not france or rome, so Ill concede and agree with you. As I said, I prefer the ancients civs like summeria, phoenicia, hitites...
But, IF they are choosing one or two modern civs, Brazil is way ahead most of the candidates IMO.