Who I Am
I’m Rafael Souza, 41, from Belo Horizonte, and football has always been part of everyday life here. My team is Atlético Mineiro, so I grew up in a city that lives and breathes the game.
With Brazil, it’s different though. Supporting the Seleção is not just about football, it’s part of who you are.
Why I’m Here with Bet9ja
Bet9ja reached out ahead of the tournament because they wanted real fans to speak about their teams properly.
Brazil isn’t a country you can analyse from a distance. There’s history, expectation, pressure, and emotion that comes with every tournament. I’ve lived through all of that, from the highs to moments you don’t ever forget, even if you wish you could.
That’s the perspective I’ll be bringing.
Why I’m Worth Listening To
I’ve been betting on football for years, but Brazilian football taught me early that momentum and emotion matter just as much as form. I watch a huge amount of South American football during the season, so I naturally lean towards tournaments like the World Cup, Copa Libertadores, and major international nights where pressure changes everything.
Growing Up with Brazil
My first real memories are from 1994. I was nine years old when Brazil won it in the USA, and I was completely obsessed with Romario. After games, I’d run straight out into the street with my friends trying to recreate what we’d just watched.
I still remember going crazy when we beat the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. At that age, it just felt like Brazil always found a way.
Then came 1998, and Ronaldo Nazario was unstoppable. We don’t really talk about the final, but as a kid, he was everything.
2002 was something else. I was 17 and it felt like the whole country was living on a different schedule. Because of the time difference, bars stayed open all night, and me and my friends would be out until 5am watching the Seleção. Then the final… Ronaldo, that haircut, those goals. After everything in 1998, that was his redemption, and it felt like ours too. With Rivaldo and Ronaldinho around him, it was one of those teams you knew you’d never forget.
After that, though, things changed. Not terrible, but not what we expect. And then 2014 happened.
I’m from Belo Horizonte. I support Atlético Mineiro. That semi-final against Germany was played in our stadium, the Mineirão. I was there.
There’s no way to properly describe what it felt like. At 1-0, you think it’s just a bad start. At 2-0, you start to worry. By the time it gets to 4, 5, 6… it doesn’t feel real anymore. The stadium just went quiet in a way I’ve never experienced before. Not anger, not even frustration, just shock.
It felt like a funeral. Not just in the stadium, but across the whole country. People weren’t even reacting to the goals anymore, just staring, trying to understand what was happening.
I’ve watched football my whole life, but I’ve never felt anything like that day. And honestly, I don’t think I ever will again.
2018 and 2022 didn’t bring much back in terms of belief. Good players, moments here and there, but nothing that felt like a real push to win it.
How I See Brazil Right Now
Now, there’s something different again.
With Carlo Ancelotti in charge, there’s real reason for optimism. He’s someone who has seen everything in football, and for the first time in a long time, Brazil have that level of experience on the bench.
The talent has never been the issue. Players like Vinicius Junior, Rodrygo and Raphinha give Brazil one of the most dangerous attacks in the tournament.
There are still questions, especially around having a consistent goalscorer and how the defence holds up against the very best teams, but the balance feels better than it has in recent years.
It doesn’t feel like blind belief anymore. It feels like something that could actually come together.
What I’ll Be Bringing
I’ll be following Brazil closely from now through the tournament, looking at performances, key decisions, and where the betting angles are as things develop.
I usually look at goalscorers, player shots, Bet Builders, and in-play betting once matches start opening up. Brazil games especially can change quickly once confidence starts flowing.
Quickfire
- Age: 41
- From: Belo Horizonte, Brazil
- Club team: Clube Atlético Mineiro
- Favourite Brazil World Cup moment: 2002 World Cup final
- Favourite Brazil player ever: Ronaldo Nazario
- Most painful memory: Do I even need to say?
- Player to watch: Vinicius Junior
- Brazil World Cup prediction: Semi-finals
Final Word
I’ll be tracking Brazil from the final stages of preparation all the way through the tournament, focusing on how this team handles the pressure and where the real opportunities are from a betting point of view.
