6 Futsal Players You Need to Know

Alessandro VieiraKnown as Falcão, Alessandro Vieira has been the Best Futsal Player of the World 4 times; in 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012. A São Paulo native, Vieira started out in futsal in 1991 when he was 15 years old. He now plays for the Brazilian futsal club, ADC Intelli Orlândia . His immense talent on the field has earned him the nickname, “the Pele of futsal”.

Photos sourced from terceirotempo.boldotuol.br and icefboy.blogspot.com

Mostafa NazariMostafa Nazari currently plays for the Iran national futsal team and the local club Tasisat Daryaei. Shedding light on the Asian futsal scene, Nazari has been the ‘Best Futsal Goalkeeper’ three times in his career in separate tournaments. This included the 2012 WAFF Futsal Championship.

Photos sourced from futsalplanet.com and varzesh11.com

Enrique GuillotAffectionately known as Kike, Enrique Guillot is futsal club ElPozo Murcia’s defender. Since he turned 20 years old, he has racked up numerous achievements to his name over the years including 2 FIFA Futsal World Cups and 5 UEFA Futsal Championships. He was also named the 2009 Futsal Player of the Year by Futsal Planet. Till today, he is still recognised as one of the smartest futsal players in the game due to his technical skills and leadership quality.

Photos sourced from kikeboned.com and planetfutsal40x20.blogspot.com

Flávio VianaNamed the World’s Best Futsal Player in 2008, Flávio Viana is a defender playing for the Corinthians club. The Brazilian futsal club was also where he first made his debut on the field back in 1997. Viana is also known as Schumacher, which is in reference to German former football goalkeeper Harald Schumacher.

Photos sourced from adostoquesfutsal.com.ar and blogdopaulinho.wordpress.com

Adriano FogliaAdriano Foglia is a 33-year-old futsal player born in São Paulo, Brazil, but plays forward for the national Italian futsal team. At the age of 18, he represented the team at the Tiger’s Cup in 1999 where they finished in second place. The following year saw his debut in the UEFA Futsal EURO competition. He’s also been playing for various clubs in Italy before moving to Araz, a futsal club in Azerbaijan.

Photos sourced from domenicolacquaniti.it and uefa.com

Ricardo da Silva BragaDubbed ‘the Magician’, Ricardo da Silva Braga made his professional futsal debut with the Portuguese club Miramar in 2001. He later switched to Benfica club but only started winning major championships like the Cup of Portugal after 2006. He then went on to two other clubs, Japanese Nagoya Oceans and Russian CSKA Moscow, where he became the first Portuguese recipient of the 2010 UMBRO Futsal Award for ‘Best Player in the World’. He currently plays for Spanish club, Inter Movistar.

Photos sourced from futsalplanet.com and maisfutebol.iol.pt