Tip:
Highlight text to annotate it
X
Well, when Iwas a child, when we were growing up
we would always spend our vacations in some beach town. And I have always liked boards...
body boards, surfing boards, this sort of thing. In the end, I have failed to learn how to surf
but I really enjoyed body board anyway. My brother and I would alwaysgo
to the beach in the morning, and spend the whole day catching waves, playing...
and that brought megreat joy. I really enjoyed watching body board competitionson TV
I liked that kind of things, I liked to see the surfers' maneuvers.
We used to go to the beach and try the same thing... evidently, as children do
Many times we would not manage to do it, we would just wipeout...
But it was a lot of fun; these are unforgettable moments of my life.
Later, though, I chose to follow another vocation, a different profession - soccer.
My first memory that I have of soccer
is theone when I was seven years old and I still lived in Cuiaba.
My mother took me to a university where they held practices,
and I entered to play with children much older than me at the time,
but I ended up standing out among them, and the coach became really excited...
After that, I took a break. That was theonly game I had back then, the only memory I have.
Ionly went back to playing after we moved to Sao Paulo.
I started playing soccer during the physical education classes at school
I started playing soccer during the physical education classes at school
and the teacher saw that I had..., I mean, that I stoodout among the other kids.
So he called my mom, and told her, "Look, I suggest you enroll your son
in some soccer school, because he has a special talent."
My mom followed my teacher's advice, sent me to a soccer school
near our home, so after that I started playing actively, having weekly classes of soccer.
The coach of this school was also a coach at a club
and he used to take the players that stood out at the school to play there
which was the Alphaville Tennis Club, in São Paulo.
I played for a whole year with Alphaville. The next year, we moved to ahouse
closer to the MorumbiSoccer Stadium, the headquarters of Sao Paulo Soccer Club.
My dad became a member at the club, I mean, the Sao Paulo Soccer Club,
andfrom then on, I started playing with São Paulo, evidently, initially just for fun,
I mean..., for the simple pleasure of playing a sport.
So that was when I started playing for Sao Paulo, where I built my whole career
and with time, things became more serious. When I reached the age of fifteen, I said,
"This is it, this is really what I want for my life.
I will devote myself to become a soccer player."
And at that moment, lengaged in my walk
until I had my senior side debut with Sao Paulo, when I was 18.
God is important in every single stage of our lives.
I believe that He is specially important during our youth years,
that's when you have the power of youth to communicate this kindof experience
and tell the world what God has really been doing in your life.
...I had a serious physical problem when I was a kid...
when I was a teenager. I had a two-year delay in my skeletal age
that is, when Iwasfourteen, I had the skeletal structure of a twelve-year-old
but I played with 14-year-old kids who had normal skeletal age.
So, that was a serious challenge. That often embarrassed me
and caused coaches not to let me play...
All this brought about a seriesof great difficulties in that stage of my teenage years.
I would often go back home sad and upset.
One day, however, I had a great experience with God
I had just returned from practice, and Iwas very upset, because the coach had told me
"Listen, you need to try to understand the situation, you have a physical limitation
you are small..., sometimes I just cannot put you in the game"
And that caused me to be a little upset, because it simply wasn't...
it didn't depend on me, it had to do with my genetics.
So, upon arriving home, I was talking to my mom, and so forth,
and telling her that I was frustrated, sad...
she then turned on the radio, and at that very moment, the pastor
preaching the messageon the radio said something like this:
"You, there, who thinks you are so small, you think you have no strength
and that you cannot accomplish anything... you must know that David was a little shepherd
but God enabled him to defeat huge giants.
So relax, because just as God enabled David
so will God enable you to defeat giants."
That moment was a shock to me, and I thought,
"He is saying that to me... I am the one listening here. So he is saying that directly to me."
That day I had this tremendousexperience of finding out that Godcares for us in great detail.
I was just a teenager, and I already knew that God had this care for me
and that He spoke to me in any and every situation.
When I left Brazil in 2003, when Iwas sold to Milan
that was my first life experience in regards to moving to another country.
So it was something that meant a lot to me, because Iwas leaving behind relatives
I was leaving my family, I was leaving friends, I was leaving Caroline, who at the time
who at the time was my girlfriend... So it was a very drastic transition.
I was fulfilling a dream, because I had always wanted to play in abig European club
which in that case wasMilan. But I was leaving my home country, Brazil
inorder to fulfill a dream. That was a very special moment in my life,
because I really miss Brazil, I mean..., I miss the country
I miss the people, I miss being in touch with several of my childhood friends
with whom Igrew up, and that are part of my life and my history...
I am here, today I live in Europe, evidently, fulfilling a dream, and learning a lot of things.
I think moving here was very important to me, as well...,
I havegrown so much on apersonal level, in the professional aspect, of course,
and in the senseof really opening my mind, my head to other things
I think it was very important.
But I am still very affected by the distance from Brazil, because lfeel...
I so miss my country.
MYGAME
I have played soccer from the time I was eight yearsold
and what motivated me to play the most
when I was that young was my love for the sport, that is,
the fun I had playing soccer with my friends
and the fact that I could be really doing something that I liked
and there was also the dream that one day Icould become a soccer player.
Thank God, this motivation still remains to this day...
I mean, my greatest joy is to enter the field
to be doing something that I really have fun in doing
something I really love to be doing
and something that leads me to fulfill my dreams.
I believe this is a great secret of success,
it is the reason why things havegone well in my career.
So, this is more or less the way I think
I have started my career with São Paulo in 2001
my first game as a professional was in January
in a game against Botafogo, in the Rio-São Paulo Tournament
in a game against Botafogo, in the Rio-São Paulo Tournament
not the famous Final game when I ended up scoring two goals
but agame before that, which took place in the middleof the week
1 x 1, at the Morumbi stadium
agame that was not very good
and in August of 2003, I was sold bySão Paulo to Milan,
where my story in Italy began with one of the greatest clubs in the world.
And that was an experienceof six years in Italy, with Milan, a wonderful experience,
an excellent club, with family atmosphere, with wonderful people
who have worked at the club to this day; the players with whom I interacted
along those years have taught me a lot... I have learned a lot,
and I believe that I have also left a lot of good things at Milan.
...and I can only begrateful for all the love, for all of that Milan has done in my career...
outstanding games, excellent achievements. Then came the year of 2009
when my story with Milan came to an end. I was sold by Milan to RealMadrid
for a really high value; I think this is honor given by God
because it is a reward that comes from God...
and it turned out that I became the third biggest negotiation in the history of soccer.
I have seen, wherever Real Madrid goes, what Real Madrid moves...
how it moves people, how it moves everything around the club...
it is an excellent team, with a wonderful structure.
Now I expect to obtain several good results with the club
and I believe that during my stay here
there will be many opportunities to achieve.
And, evidently, there is the Brazilian national team,
When I was a kid, I had a dream
of wearing the Brazilian Team jersey one and only time in my life
And I believe that the Bible says that Godgives far beyond that which we ask for, or think of
He gave me the opportunity to become World Champion in 2002
of playing another Cup in 2006, who knows, maybe of playing other World Cups
and many other games with the BrazilianTeam.
Thus, this isone more Biblical truth that isfulfilled in my life
another oneof God's promises that hascome true in my life.
Being part of the Brazilian Team is something special
because when you wear the jersey of theTeam of your home country
you tend to feel like you are a defender of your country.
And that is a very good thing... to be able to defend your country...
defend the people you like, the people you love
and to fight for a purpose, for your people.
So, to wear the NationalTeam jersey is really a great privilege.
Well, the most special moments in my career have been, evidently, those of my achievements,
from the Cup of 2002, when I was twenty
and became a world champion with the Brazilian Team in Korea and Japan.
It was really something supernatural, a gift...
a gift from Godfor my life and for my career.
And along my career I have had several other achievements, including the year of 2007
which was the year when I got my most important achievements
both individually and collectively
when we were champions with Milan at the Champions League,
Club World Champion, champion of the EuropeanSuper Cup,
Iwas awarded the Golden Ball, a very prestigious prize in soccer
and at the end the crowning of everything was the award for best player of the year by FIFA.
However, there are special moments in one's career that are not necessarily victories.
I have had some special moments that were some losses
which made me learn a lot, and which have taught me to fight for many things
but in the end it works towards our growth, towardsour development.
Well, in the career of an athlete, of a player, defeat is part of the game.
I believe that not only in the career
but in life, in many moments, we all have situationsof losses, of defeats.
But the most important thing is for us to know that we are winners at the end of it all.
I lost a Champions League, after winning the first half 3x0,
in the second half Liverpool tied the game 3x3, and we ended up losing in the penalty kicks.
It was an unbelievable defeat, andfew people can understand
how Milan managed to lose afinal like that.
But it was a incredible experience.
I learned a lot through that loss... I sought strength and the motivation
so that one day I would be again playing the finalof a tournament
as important as that, and then..., two years later, I came to accomplish it.
Thus, the defeats are something about which, at first, we cannot figure the reason,
but in the end, they are what leads us to learn andgrow in various ways
However, one should not regard himself as defeated
but consider it all an opportunity for experience, for learning, and for maturity.
At the end of the day, I believe that the most important thing is to come to be recognized as a winner.
I believe that mistakes, and often even the feeling of having failed in some situation
in some play, many times a penalty, in a competition, this always remains. You think:
"What have I done wrong, why has it not worked?"
However, I often times take this with me outside the field
and take it to my spiritual side, where I find out that indeed there is a way of victories
God really has a way, He has a purpose.
The Bible says that all things work together for the goodof those who love the Lord.
So, at the end of the day, this is a great truth. I may go through moments of defeats
moments that may cause me to think, to have the feeling of failure
but which have really contributedfor the will of God to be done in my life
and for that will to be good, perfect and pleasant.
I have competed in two world cups in my career, in 2002 and in 2006.
But thegreat moment in the World Cup I believe was that in the 2002
when Icould lift the cupof world Champion for the first time...
At that cup... Ronaldo, Ronaldinho, Rivaldo, Roberto Carlos..., I mean,
they were people I had never been in contact with... I only saw them on TV
and all of a sudden, I was playing with them, being part of the same team.
It is a great privilege to be part of such a good team as the Brazilian NationalTeam
and it is also amotivation, because one has to be always fit
as in the Brazilian NationalTeam new players arise each year...
new players, young, great talents, so, if you stagnate in time
these new playerscome and really run you over
and that means that you have to always be active
always improving, in order to ensure your participation
in such a strong team, as important as the Brazilian NationalTeam
I have hadexcellent experiences with the Brazilian NationalTeam, I mean,
I andother Christian players that are part of the team
especially at times when we achieve something... there is the final prayer.
The people that surround us recognize this need to thank God for what has taken place.
And from all moments of great achievementsof the BrazilianTeam
there remains that image of a circle, not of oneor two players only,
but the whole team, all the coaching staff, everyone got together for a moment of prayer,
inorder to thank Godfor the victory
and for everything that took place during the competition...
these are some visible manifestations, but at moments when theTeam does not win
there are also times of prayer of gratitude
for what has taken place in the competition and in each one's life
I believe these images remain, I mean, manifestationsof gratitude
are a great image of humility, of appreciation,
of thanksgiving to God for the opportunity that He hasgiven us.
Among the individual prizes I have been given in my career, the most important ones were
the Golden BallAward, which is an awardgiven by France Football magazine
as the best player in Europe, and the FIFA's award given to the best world player.
I believe that also these awards are agreat present of God
as He has given me the opportunity of being a part of winning teams.
Only after achieving something important with your team, or with the national squad
can you obtain individual recognition
And it is very good to have your name remembered in history for such achievements.
And it is very good to have your name remembered in history for such achievements.
In soccer, we have many colleagues...
sometimesfor years, and that creates a great connectionof friendship
which is something very good and positive.
Thus, along my career, having been with São Paulo, Milan, Real Madrid,
and the Brazilian NationalTeam, I can say that I have truly great friends in soccer
but I believe that my greatest friend in soccer is really my brother
because with him I have a...
I am able to express and share many things that I often do not manage to share with other people.
So, this intimacy that I have with him, thisfriendship, this tenderness,
this love is really special, and all this causes him to be, of course,
oneof my best friends in my life, and in soccer, my very best friend.
I have learned along my career and along my life that preparation is fundamental
for anything we engage in doing.
Nowadays, as a player
I have to prepare myself physically, mentally, psychologically, and evidently,
in my spiritual life, where it is fundamental to have preparation. I prepare myself daily
by training, by envisioning things, studying, thinking...
and all of this is part of the preparation one has to have for a game,
for an important game, or for a less important game
preparation makes all the difference for each person.
You see, this mental aspect, or the psychological aspect in regards to a game
is what often leads you to assurance, or to feel safe enough to venture a game play
and to be bold and dare to do something different.
All of this results from a mental initiative, and that comes through preparation
if you prepare yourself well, you are fit to try new things in the most crucial moment
which is during agame, at a very decisive time.
Thus, preparation in all of the areas of my life is fundamental.
In my spiritual life, of course, I prepare myself by praying,
reading the Bible constantly, and being in fellowship with God
all of the time, so that I will not get rusty
but will always be prepared and spiritually well, also.
Well, there is something that is very important in my career, along my profession
and that has been, and are my coaches, because they are people who have to lead a group...
I think all of us have this need for leadership over us
for direction, for some guidance; for knowing which direction to go.
Many have made me play; others, not always.
But I have always had great teachings from great men and great leaders
who have trained me along my career.
In my career, I have always been moved by goals andobjectives.
And when we move from one team to a new one
or to a new town, or a new country, and start all over
this is often important in our lives, because we are leaving a placeof comfort
we are leaving a place to which we are already used to, and
start from the beginning. So there will be new motivations, new dreams,
new objectives, and these are in themselves a great new motivation.
This is the experience I lived after my departure from Milan and...
my arrival in Madrid, being with a new club, an excellent project
and all of that caused me to establish new plans, new goals
and have new motivation, in order to go back to achieving several things
that are worth achieving in my career, and in my personal life.
Fans are very important people in my life, and I believe also in the life
of my family, my wife's life, and now in my son's life
because Ican see that they have real appreciation and love towards us.
Thus, everything they do, their love, the messages they send us
the sites they create, the letters, pictures, everything they do for us
is really a demonstration of love and kindness...
I know we are special to them, and the reciprocal is true
because we have a special love towards them
who do not depend on the moment, or on circumstances
and who have no second intentions. Theonly thing that moves them is a feeling of love...
So, I have some very good experiences with cheerers
and fansoutsideof the field, in a close contact.
But I think that thegreatest of them took place during my transition
from being an anonymous to a famous player, and this was when I still played with Sao Paulo
in 2001... Sao Paulo was losing 1x0
I got in in the second half and scored the two goalsof victory
And the next day, Iwent to the supermarket with my mother...
And the next day, Iwent to the supermarket with my mother...
everyone seemed to already know me... there were people requesting autographs
wanting to take pictures, it was a real uproar
and this resulted in anew situation for me, in my life.
But it was a good experience, very funny one
because it ended upcausing a great uproar in the supermarket
and that was the first time something like that happened to me...
It'sgood to know I am recognized for my talent, for thegift I have...
this isgratifying to me.
My Soul
My Soul
I had the privilegeof growing up in a Christian home.
So, from when I was little, I have grown with these biblical values
Igrew up learning what the Bible was, and how to have experiences with God
and to live a life ruled by spiritual values.
But there came a time in my life when I longed to live for myself the things that my parents told
and imparted to me.
I knew a God from hearing about Him from my parents.
But starting with the time of my baptism, I started to really walk with God
I started to liveout experiences with God. This was really tremendous in my life
I started to have these powerful experiences, which I have to this day, each day...
experiences with God, and it has made all the difference in my spiritual life.
Growing up in a Christian environment, in an environment where Jesus Christ really reigned
was instrumental to me in my childhood, my teenage years, and as I became an adult
because my brother and I were able to grow up while receiving really good values
This is agreat concern I have nowadays, as a father
theoneof imparting good values to my own children.
These values made a real difference in our lives
because they enabled us to give a good testimony in and out of the home.
Well, in my spiritual walk I have decided to really follow Jesus.
By faith and the certainty that He is really the only Lord andSavior of our lives.
Andfrom the moment I started walking with Him
I started to go through deep experiences with God, and I know that Jesus lives...
that He is no longer a Jesus still hanging on the cross
He is no longer a Jesus that people around tell me exists
but He is a Jesus that lives with me, that lives through me
that imparts His values within me, in my life.
And this has been my choice
my choice is to live with Christ all the daysof my life.
Oneof my favorite verses is John 14:6, which reads:
"Jesus answered,
I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me."
This is the greatest truth: No one can get to God
if not through theonly way, which is Jesus Christ.
Walking with God means leading a lifeof miracles.
Walking with Him is a life of breaking down barriers, of overcoming limits
it's a lifeof perseverance, of hope, andespecially, of faith and love.
Love for your neighbor, love for God, love for a series of things that nowadays we lack so much
Jesus tells us of how, in the last days, love wouldgrow cold
and this is what we have seen in the world today.
I don't mean the love between aman and a woman, but love for our neighbor
the love which moves us to want to help, it is the love that makes you wish to seeonly good.
This is what we lack in the world.
We see a very selfish world, a world that only..., I mean, egocentric people
and that is a reflection of people who do not walk with God.
Thus, walking with God means to reflect the love He has for us.
In many moments of my life, andof my career, daily moments
when we are confronted, when we have difficulties
it is just so easyfor any oneof us to just complain and feel hopeless
so thegreat recipe is prayer, prayer is what brings the certainty that God has a purpose
and that God is in control of every and any situation
Even at those moments of trouble, when you may not understand why you aregoing through that
or why you have to go through that desert
with no comprehension of what purpose God may have in that
Thus, know that God has a purpose for any and every situation
Stay firm and do use this spiritual weapon, which is prayer.
Often times in my life, in days of troubles, prayer is what brings me peace
and is what causes me to get up, to work, it is what causes me to do all things
because prayer is the time when I have intimacy with God
it is the time I have to be talking to God
and to know that He is in the full control of the whole situation
and that results in a deep intimacy with God.
Talking about those days of suffering, those days when we...
suffer from diseases, or other issues...
that we have to face in our day-to-day, only God Himself can give us strength
to go through situations like these, situations of illness
situations of embarrassment in the family, because all this brings us such a discouragement,
and a depression, whichcan really take away all our strength and motivation.
But from the moment we pray
and we enter into God's presence, and Hegives us hope
causing us to live like a spiritual man or woman, we find out that there will be a goodfuture
God's dreams and plans are higher than ours
So have this certainty in your heart, and boldly face all your momentsof suffering
I believe God has a purpose for the life of each oneof us
for each one He has the purpose of a victorious life.
I believe His purpose for me is fulfilled through the sport
through soccer, which involves announcing the name of Jesus Christ
I believe this is the purpose of God in my life.
There was a very special time in my life
when I had a very deep experience with God, and this happened inOctober of 2000
when I had a very deep experience with God, and this happened inOctober of 2000
I was... playing with my brother on apool slide
On oneof the times I went down the slides, I made my way down in a very high speed
with my head first, and as Iwent down
I hit my head against the pool floor
My brother came down right after me
saw me as I came out of the water, and asked me what had happened.
I told him, "As I came down, I hit my head on the poolfloor...
...My head is hurting." Then my brother put his handon my head
and saw that my head was bleeding.
Until that point, I was reasonably well. We went to the doctor's office at the club.
The club doctor checked my head, and told me
"Look, here, at the club, we have no means of sewing your head.
You shouldgo to ahospital."
As soon as wegot to this hospital
I had an X-ray done on my neck. The results were normal.
The doctors soon came and sewed my head
I got the stitches, but the pain on my neck persisted, but nobody told me
I mean, everyone told me there was nothing wrong
When I got to Sao Paulo on Sunday night, I had both, a strong pain on my neck and aheadache
On Monday morning I went to soccer practice
Icalled one of the doctors at the Medical Department of the YouthTeam
and I told him:
"Dr., I have a terrible pain on my neck, this and this happened. Iwonder
What can we do?" Then the doctor called me, and said:
"Look, theonly thing we can do is
request another a new X-ray done of your neck and find out what the real problem is.
Once the test was done, I stayed outside in the waiting room
While I waited, oneof the nursescame by and asked me:
"Are you alright? Is everything OK? Can you move your arms and legs?
Is any part of your body numb?" I told him:
"No, I am fine, everything is fine, I am fine, I have no pain now."
Then, another nurse came by, and spoke to me: "Hey, are you OK? Are you dizzy?
Do you feel weird in any way?"
I told him, "No. I am fine, but you guys are making me a little worried.
Has anything serious happened?" So they told me:
"Look, we cannot tell you anything. The doctor will soon be here to talk with you."
After afew minutes, the doctor came to me and told me:
"Unfortunately, I have very serious news to give you... I hope you will understand...
but you have a fracture in your neck."
That moment was a shock for me, it was very heavy news
and I was by myself too, so when I heard that, all I could do then was to call my dad
Icalled him, and I said, "Dad, please come meet me
at the club, because the doctor has just told me I have abroken...
...my neck is broken."
Throughout the process, we went to visit several other doctors, and
the one question I asked each one of them was: "But will I ever be able to play soccer?
Will I be able to do that which is what I like to do the most... which is my passion?"
None of them would ever tell me 'yes' or 'no'.
And all of them also told me that I had been very lucky to be walking, yes, walking.
They told me: "Hey, you need to thank God
whether you will ever play soccer or not, we don't know now
but you really have to thank God that you are walking.
This is because... usually, when an accident like this happens
the victim becomes paralyzed and cannot walk... ever again."
That caused me to have, once again, agreat experience with God.
In those days, Iwas sure, once again, that God was with me,
that God was delivering me from something even more serious
and that He really had a special purpose in my life
Well, then two months went by, I had to wear acervical vest, and only rest
while I took specific drugs to help calcify the vertebra in my neck
and after two months, in January of 2001, thanks to God
I went back to playing soccer with no problem at all
I went back to exercising with no problems either, and by then
I had fully recovered, for the honor and gloryof the Lord.
Right after that, as soon as I went back playing in January
And right at that time, two months after my fracture in the neck
the coach of the senior side of Sao Paulo called us
because he needed some kids to go play in the main team
and this story is also very neat, because the coach said:
"Look, I need a striker and amidfielder."
This he told the youth team coach. Our coach told him:
"Well, I have a very important game tomorrow. Ican send you one of our strikers,
...since I have more than one.
As per the midfielder, Icannot send you the one I have here, because he is our captain
he is a very important player for our team, and we are at a critical moment in the competition
so I will send you another player we have, who is a reserve player,"
and that was me.
Iwent to the team... the senior or professional team of São Paulo
I had theopportunity of joining the team, of playing
and never again did I go back to the youth team.
This is why I believe God has a purpose ineverything.
All things work togetherfor the goodof those who love God
even if they are things we cannot fully understand at the time they happen
be even if they seem to bad... God has a purpose in everything
When it comes to the way I deal with the people who do not believe in Jesus
or that often criticize myfaith, or my way of living
is simply by using respect.
I believe this makes all the difference
aseach one has a different idea, each one has a different thought
each one has their own style of living, of thinking, of going through experiences.
I do not criticize anyone
and in the same manner, lexpect people to respect me, along with my beliefs,
along with my truths, along with the things I go through and live
even because I don't simply tell little tales. I mean..., I am not here just telling you
about something I have not experienced...
These are the experiences God has brought into my life, and I believe that
He can do the same in your life, as well.
Forgiveness is something... is a tremendous thing that God has created for the human being
because from the moment when sin was introduced into the world
we have lived alongside this reality called 'sin'.
We are always sinning, every single day
and becauseof that, God sent Hisonly Son, Jesus Christ
so that He would forgive usof all our sins
And this is the love that God has for us, a love to the point of surrendering His OnlySon
so that He would die and forgive usour sins.
And how many times should we do it? "Seventy times seven." That is,
He meant we are to forgive our brothers and sisters
as well as all people who have done us wrong every single time
Iwould like to impart to people, I mean, Iwish people would see through my life
not only... not only amere player, not simply an athlete; I would like
to impart several values to people, the spiritual values I have
of honesty, of integrity, of courage to face challenges, of knowing how to face a...
a game, of fighting for my objectives, and always within a rule of conduct
respecting the adversary, respecting several things
so that, eventually, people will recognize me as a victorious athlete
as aconquering athlete
and especially, as an athlete that has had integrity and honesty throughout his career
and especially, as an athlete that has had integrity and honesty throughout his career
Paul says in the Bible, "I no longer live, but Christ lives in me"
and this is what I can say nowadays, as well. So,
So this short testimony, in this moment
of sharing this message about my life with you
Ican say this: I no longer live
but Christ lives in my life
and Jesus is the rhythm of my game.