Youth player travels solo to Copa do Brasil final, inspires Corinthians

In partnership with

Central do Timão

·23. Dezember 2025

Youth player travels solo to Copa do Brasil final, inspires Corinthians

By Henrique Pereira / Central do Timão Editorial Team

Corinthians’ victorious campaign in the Copa do Brasil was marked not only by their performance on the field, but also by episodes that highlighted the team’s unity off it. After clinching the title over Vasco at Maracanã, goalkeeper Hugo Souza and midfielder Raniele shared a story involving João Vitor “Jacaré”, a right-back developed in the club’s youth system, who became a symbol of the group’s collective spirit.

Throughout the season, Jacaré had been training with the main squad, but he went down to play in the Copinha. Even so, on the eve of the final, the youngster took an initiative that surprised his teammates. Speaking on Podpah, Hugo Souza revealed that the player decided to travel on his own to watch the final in Rio de Janeiro, without any official invitation.

OneFootball Videos

Photo: Rodrigo Coca/Ag. Corinthians

“He trained with us the whole year. And he went down to train for the Copinha. That’s crazy. There are some things that happen that make this all worthwhile. He paid out of his own pocket for a bus ticket to go to Rio, without anyone knowing,” the goalkeeper recounted.

The situation was only discovered after Jacaré got in touch with players from the squad. According to Hugo, the right-back reached out to Romero looking for a ticket to watch the match among the Corinthians fans, which astonished the players.

“He messaged Romero asking for a ticket in the stands. And he’s a player, a kid who trains with us every day. He messaged Romero: ‘Can you get me a ticket, is there a ticket so I can go in the stands?’ That’s when we found out he was taking the bus to Rio, trying to get a ticket to watch us,” he said.

Faced with this show of support, the players wouldn’t accept the youngster being left out of the squad. At first, permission was denied, since Jacaré hadn’t brought the right clothes to join the group. The solution, however, came from the squad itself, who organized to lend him clothes and ensure the right-back’s presence with the team.

“We insisted: ‘No, are you crazy? He has to be with us.’ The kid trained with us all year, he’s making the effort. I even said this before the game. I said: ‘That’s the will to see history being made.’ And it was awesome, you know?” said Hugo, in a comment complemented by Raniele.

“But he couldn’t, because he didn’t have clothes. So the guys messaged in the group: ‘We tried to get Jacaré cleared to go with us.’ Then someone said: ‘No, it’s just that he doesn’t have clothes.’ Then one said: ‘I have a shirt.’ Then another: ‘I have an extra pair of pants here.’ Simple things, but we made a point of it,” explained the midfielder.

In September, João Vitor “Jacaré” had his contract renewed with Corinthians until 2030, with a salary increase and a higher release clause. Closely monitored by coach Dorival Júnior, the right-back already has two appearances for the professional team and is emerging as an immediate alternative in the squad, especially with Matheuzinho being the only other player for the position in the main group.

With the achievement of their fourth Copa do Brasil title, Corinthians secured a direct spot in the Libertadores group stage and also guaranteed a place in the 2026 Supercopa do Brasil, where they will face Flamengo, the Brazilian champions. After the final, the squad entered their vacation period, with their return scheduled for January.

See More: