“I’m a hooper. I would play Basketball if I weren’t playing football. Growing up, there’s always been a hoop next to my house that my brother and I would go play on – It’s not a very popular sport in Brazil, but I’ve grown up playing it and I enjoy it a lot. What position would I play? I’d be a shooting guard. In terms of who my team is, I would consider myself a Warriors fan.
“My piece of advice is I would say to never quit – to always believe in yourself. A lot of people say it, but it’s true. If you’re consistent with your values, if you trust yourself and keep pushing hard, someday you’re gonna make it.
“My favorite football (soccer) club in the world is Sao Paulo. It is where I’m from, so obviously I support them. They are the best team in Brazil; they’ve won the most titles. What I most appreciate about them is that they are a team with no star players, but just humble guys who’ve worked their way to success, sort of like our U19s.
“How many 4-year-olds would it take to tackle me to the ground? Mmmmmm, I’d say 30 probably. If the situation were that they were all coming at once, 30 would be too many for me to fight off, and they would eventually pile onto me.
“Something about Brazil that I like a lot more than in the US is some of the food. Back home, the food is better. Specifically, there is a dish called Feijoada; it’s a typical food that’s like rice, beans, and pork.
“If I were to be an animal, I’d be a pigeon. It sounds weird, but I’d like to fly.”
As told to Gavin Kruger. Photo by Mr. Michael Aldridge.
