Dubai: He started off as a goalkeeper in beach soccer. A little more than 10 years later, Bruno Xavier is not just the captain of the World Cup-winning Brazilian team, but also the best player in the world.
Born in August 1984 on the tiny Atlantic Ocean island of Vitoria in the state of Espirito Santo, Xavier grew up with an ardent love for the sand and everything else associated with beach life.
“I could think of nothing but playing with the ball on the sand,” Xavier told Gulf News after Brazil had shown their dominance at the 7th Huawei Beach Soccer Intercontinental Cup at the Marasi Business Bay this week.
“At that time, the feeling of the ball and the sand was something that came to me naturally. But today, after all these years it is more deliberate as I know what exactly I am doing. If I thought that the beach and sand along with beach soccer was my future, today I am more than convinced that I was born for this sport.”
Xavier’s debut in beach soccer rightly came up with his local club Vitoria. But he didn’t stay there too long as the then 26-year-old moved across to Italy with Catanzaro, where success was instant with the Brazilian being chosen the ‘Best Player’ at the 2010 Italian Beach Soccer Championship. The following year was even better as Xavier achieved a treble at Terranova Terracina — the Super Cup, league and cup. Individually too, things looked good as Xavier was once again chosen as the best player in the Italian Beach Soccer League.
Called up for a debut with the Brazilian national team, Xavier re-joined his native Espirito Santo team and helped them to clinch the Brazilian Champions Cup scoring two goals and elected as the player of the tournament.
Despite these exploits on either side of the Atlantic, Brazilian coach Alexandre Soares snubbed Xavier by excluding him at the last minute from the squad preparing for the 2011 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup.
“I now realise how much that hurt me,” said Xavier. “But I was bent on looking at the positives as I knew deep within that I was good enough for Brazil. So I set out to work even harder with that snub from the coach and set myself the target of being with the national team for the 2013 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup in Tahiti.”
Hailing from such a tiny unknown island, Xavier could have been lost to beach soccer had it not been for his former teammates Junior Negao and Juninho Pernambucano. “I had a lot of respect for them as they did so much for me, not just on the field, but also off the field to ensure I am where I am at the moment,” Xavier said.
And even though his debut for Brazil came at the age of 29 at the 2013 Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup, Xavier was not one who would allow this opportunity to pass him by. He was crowned the best player of the competition and his 10 goals during the week were only the second highest as the team ended in a disappointing third place in Tahiti. Two years later, the mighty Brazilians had slipped even further as they finished fifth in Portugal.
“For me beach soccer is my life. It means everything to me. I sleep, eat and drink beach soccer. There is no life beyond the ball and the beach for Bruno Xavier,” he said.
“This year has been a great start for us after we won the World Cup in the Bahamas. This is extra special for me as this is my first gold medal. Now I am hungry for more. Winning individual awards is never my priority. I was the best player in Tahiti, but we finished third and there was no joy for me there. The team comes first and that is what I am here for so that Brazil can win many more titles.
“Hopefully, on Saturday we will have one more trophy.”
FACT FILE
Name: Bruno da Silva Xavier
Current Club: Corinthians (Brazil)
Date of Birth: August 15, 1984 (33 years)
Born in: Vitoria (Brazil)
Height: 5.10ft
Position: Defender
Clubs: (2010) Catanzaro BS (Italy); (2011) Terracina (Italy); (2011) Espirito Santo (Brazil); (2011) Sporting Portugal; (2013) Corinthians (Brazil)
National team of Brazil: Since 2011 — played 50 matches and scored 55 goals
Individual Awards:
2011: Top Scorer in Brazil Champions Cup
2010 and 2011: Best Player in Italian Championships
2011: Top Scorer in Italian Cup
2013: Best Player at Fifa Beach Soccer World Cup Tahiti; Top Scorer Conmebol Championships; Best Player Copa das Nacoes; Winner of World Club Cup with Corinthians, Brazil
