The season for Sanjoanense came to an end with a Brazilian touch. In the final match of the Liga 3 de Portugal, 28-year-old striker Marcelo Santos staged one of the most remarkable plays in the country. The player scored the famous “wingless pigeon” shot from midfield, covering the goalkeeper and scoring a spectacular goal, worthy of a plaque.
The elegance of the goal was such that, internally, the club and fans are discussing the possibility of the Brazilian competing for the Puskas Award, the famous prize given by FIFA for the most beautiful goal in world football.
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The player, who has played for Corinthians, Cruzeiro, Ipatinga and Remo, said he noticed that the goalkeeper was too far off his line. With great happiness, he took the shot and scored a beautiful goal to close out the season.
“I think I scored a beautiful goal, certainly one of the best in the league. I even commented with some of my teammates that I noticed the goalkeeper was playing very far forward. I warned that I would shoot from midfield and try to catch him off guard. I was very fortunate with the finish, it was the most beautiful goal I’ve scored in my career, for sure. Now, about the Puskas, it’s a dream. I hope I get nominated, it would be a great honor, even more so to represent my country in the biggest award in world football, but I don’t want to create any expectations,” the player said.
The beautiful goal was the crowning achievement of one of Marcelo’s best seasons in his career. During the campaign that culminated in the team’s unlikely survival, the Brazilian scored 11 goals in 27 games and also contributed 3 assists.
“I worked hard this year and, because of that effort, I was rewarded with my best season so far. I was able to score goals, provide assists, but above all, we achieved our main objective, which was to stay up. I see this goal as the ‘cherry on top’, to end the season in a very positive way for me,” Marcelo said.
Born in Ananindeua (PA), Marcelo has played for Corinthians (between 2014 and 2015), Cruzeiro, Ipatinga and Remo. At Cruzeiro, he stayed for 4 years (from 2010 to 2014) and won the Campeonato Mineiro U-20 title in 2013.
In addition to his successful stint at Cruzeiro, the player has also been a Pará state champion with Remo in 2018, and won the second division of the Campeonato Mineiro with Ipatinga in 2017. Marcelo has also played for Fafe, Berço, Merelinense, Oriental Dragon, before arriving at Sanjoanense this season, all in Europe.
Remembering Zagallo
Sambafoot Series launched a new documentary about the football legend Zagallo. Known as ‘Velho Lobo‘ and as superstitious as it gets, Zagallo helped shape what Brazilian football is nowadays — as a player and as a coach.
Binge the first five episodes available on Sambafoot’s Youtube channel. Stay tuned for upcoming releases as we keep telling this legend’s life story.
