Lucas Pinheiro Braathen picks Brazil over Norway for World Cup last 16 | OneFootball

Dual-national alpine star Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, the reigning Olympic giant slalom champion and Brazil’s first Winter Games gold medallist, will back Brazil in Sunday’s World Cup last 16 against Norway.

According to L'Équipe, the 26-year-old will watch the tie in Rio de Janeiro with Brazilian actor Isadora Cruz and friends, adding that his heart has been green and yellow since he was born. Kick-off is at 22:00 on Sunday.

Braathen grew up near Oslo with his father, Bjorn, and spent most of his career racing for Norway. He won five World Cup slalom or giant slalom races between 2020 and 2023, then switched allegiance to Brazil in 2024 after a dispute with the Norwegian federation.

His Brazilian roots run through summers in Campinas, near São Paulo, with his mother, Alessandra Pinheiro, where he fell for football playing with cousins. He cites Ronaldo and Ronaldinho Gaúcho as inspirations, saying their individuality shaped his outlook on sport.

Three weeks ago he was at the Maracanã for Brazil’s 6-2 friendly win over Panama, later posting a childhood photo in the yellow shirt. Nicknamed Brazil’s Haaland of skiing, he says he will cheer Brazil even if that disappoints his father’s family, and he plans to be behind Vinicius Junior, Matheus Cunha and Casemiro as the Seleção chase the hexa, a sixth star.

Source: L'Équipe