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In this June 17, 2014 photo, Andre Rodrigues de Principe, 14, known as Andrezinho to his neighbors, kicks the ball during his practice session in the Vidigal slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Although hes trained with two of Brazils premier teams, Fluminense and Vasco da Gama, hes currently only playing for his local squad comprised of other kids from his Vidigal favela, as slums here are known. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Soccer_Dreams__5_]()
In this June 17, 2014 photo, Andre Rodrigues de Principe, known as Andrezinho to his neighbors, kicks a soccer ball home after practice in the Vidigal slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Big league soccer, with its fame and wealth, beckons Andrezinho, even though, at 14, it may already be too late. Its a dream as distant as the stars, but one that still grabs scores of poor Brazilian boys in this soccer-obsessed nation and enchants their families into believing it possible. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Soccer_Dreams__3_]()
In this June 17, 2014 photo, Andre Rodrigues de Principe, 14, a young soccer player known as Andrezinho to his neighbors, right, sits with his friends reading a local newspaper's article about him, at his home in the Vidigal slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Andrezinho got a taste of glory thanks to some stellar dribbling, a skill special enough to have won him a spot in a video released ahead of the World Cup by FIFA. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Soccer_Dreams__6_]()
In this June 17, 2014 photo, Andre Rodrigues de Principe, 14, known as Andrezinho to his neighbors, trains with a team in the Vidigal slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Andrezinhos mom, Ana Lucia Rodrigues, quit her job as a clothing store clerk and diverted attention away from her 9-year-old daughter to accompany him to practice, traveling four hours by bus every day. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Soccer_Dreams__4_]()
In this June 17, 2014 photo, Andre Rodrigues de Principe, 14, known as Andrezinho to his neighbors, background facing camera, jokes around with his friend Gustavo hanging on a bar at his home in the Vidigal slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. For the soccer dreamers in Vidigal, the World Cup is driving their ambition for fame, especially when legends like Frances Thierry Henry show up, as he did recently to kick around a ball with them for a promotional event. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Soccer_Dreams__2_]()
In this June 17, 2014 photo, Ana Lucia Rodrigues, right, takes a photo of her son Andre Rodrigues de Principe, known as Andrezinho to his neighbors, left, with his friends in their new soccer uniform, at their home in the Vidigal slum of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The road to soccer glory in Brazil is long and cruel. The humble favelas are breeding grounds for some of the worlds top soccer talent. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)For Soccer Dreamers In Brazil, World Cup Is Driving Their Ambition For Fame
As Brazilians are captivated by the soccer tournament, young boys wishing for distant dreams of fame and wealth fuel an obsession, that carries up entire families as well as an industry of coaches and managers hungry to find the next big name.
Move Forward
- For Soccer Dreamers In Brazil, World Cup Is Driving Their Ambition For Fame
