It wasn’t the result he wanted on the court, but Alessandro Rosa Vieira, better known as Falcao, left his mark on futsal in the UAE during the Nad Al Sheba Ramadan Tournament.
Playing in the month-long event for the first time, Falcao reached the futsal finals with his team Al Joker, who were the overwhelming fan-favourites.
They lost 2-0 to Fohood Zabeel and Falcao spent much of the second half on the sideline, likely due to a leg injury, but the Brazilian’s presence alone had peaked the interest of spectators.
If he participates in the tournament again in the future, however, Falcao is hoping he can make more of a difference with his play.
“I want to come back another time to win,” he said. “I enjoyed Dubai, I enjoyed the tournament, but there’s a better experience than losing the tournament.
“The next time, I want to plan better. This time, this tournament was very close to other games. I come back from Brazil then come to Dubai and it’s very tiring for me.”
While many successful football players transition from futsal to the bigger field outdoors, Falcao preferred a return to the indoor game after a brief stint on grass and for good reason.
He’s dominated the sport during his run, winning the FIFA Futsal World Cup for Brazil in 2008 and 2012, as well as earning the Best Player of the World honours in 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012.
Though he’s 37-years-old now and might not display the same dazzling skills and highlight goals he did earlier in his career, he’s still arguably the most recognizable name in the game.