Brazilian football is full of inspiring stories of players who, despite adversity, emerged from the favelas to become icons of the world sport.
Adriano Imperador is one such example, but he is not alone. Let’s meet other Brazilian soccer stars who had humble beginnings and conquered the world with their talent.
READ MORE
++ Adriano Imperador’s last second goal against Argentina in 2004
++ Adriano reveals controversial tactic in legendary 2004 Copa América final against Argentina
++ Adriano remembers his first goal on his debut for Inter Milan against Real Madrid
Adriano Imperador is known and still loved in the favela
- Adriano Leite Ribeiro, known as Adriano Imperador, was born and raised in Vila Cruzeiro, one of the most dangerous favelas in Rio de Janeiro;
- He began his career at Flamengo and, with his impressive talent, soon caught the attention of European clubs. He played for Inter Milan, Parma and Roma, among others. His physical strength and skill made him one of the most feared strikers of his generation;
- Romário de Souza Faria, one of the greatest strikers in the history of football, was born in the Jacarezinho favela in Rio de Janeiro. He began his career at Vasco da Gama and went on to shine at clubs such as PSV Eindhoven, Barcelona and Flamengo;
- Known for his precision finishing and intelligence on the field, Romário won the 1994 World Cup with the Brazilian national team and was awarded the FIFA Ballon d’Or as the tournament’s best player.
Other names
Rivaldo Vítor Borba Ferreira was born in Paulista, Pernambuco, into a very poor family. His childhood was marked by malnutrition and financial difficulties, but his talent for football took him to Santa Cruz, Palmeiras and, later, Deportivo La Coruña and Barcelona.
Rivaldo was named FIFA World Player of the Year in 1999 and played a key role in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph.
Ronaldinho Gaucho
Ronaldo de Assis Moreira, better known as Ronaldinho Gaúcho, was born in Porto Alegre, into a humble family. He began his career at Grêmio and soon stood out for his extraordinary skill with the ball.
Ronaldinho played for clubs such as Paris Saint-Germain, Barcelona and AC Milan, winning the Ballon d’Or in 2005. His creativity and joy on the pitch captivated fans around the world.
Gabriel Jesus
Gabriel Fernando de Jesus, currently at Arsenal, had a difficult childhood in the outskirts of São Paulo, in Jardim Peri. He began his career at Palmeiras and quickly made a name for himself, leading him to Manchester City. Gabriel is known for his versatility in attack and has won several titles with City.
“Na Vila Cruzeiro, não sou o Imperador. Aqui me sinto ser humano. Ninguém fala de dinheiro, de status. Na favela, estão as pessoas que eu amo, que me viram batalhar desde pequeno."
– Adriano Imperador pic.twitter.com/UDAWDyT9VU
— Futmais | Menino Fut (@futtmais) February 18, 2021
More names
Vini Jr, Real Madrid star and likely to be considered the best in the world this year, is a product of São Gonçalo, a metropolitan region of Rio. He took his first steps in the sport at the Flamengo academy when he was ten years old.
At 14, he moved to Piedade, in the North Zone of Rio, where he lived with his uncle Ulisses. Vinícius’ goal was to be closer to Flamengo’s training center, Ninho do Urubu, where the young man was a standout in the under-15 team of Rubro-Negro da Gávea. The rest is history.
Defender Marquinhos, a key player for PSG and the Brazilian national team, is from the outskirts of Imirim, in the northern part of São Paulo. He has played for Corinthians and Roma and remains one of the best defenders in world football.
Fred Rodrigues, who played for the national team in two World Cups, spent his childhood in a housing complex in the Venda Nova region of Belo Horizonte. He has played for Internacional and Manchester United and is now a defensive midfielder for Fernerbahçe.
