Mirassol captain gave up cowboy dream to honour grandfather's wish | OneFootball

Danielzinho is in his third season with Mirassol. As the team's captain, he has been one of the protagonists of a historic campaign in the first year of Leão competing in the Brazilian Championship Serie A. However, those who think that the number 8 has been chasing the ball since childhood to fulfill the dream of becoming a soccer player are mistaken. When he was younger, his focus was different: following the family tradition and becoming a cowboy.

"It was my first dream, rodeo is something I've been surrounded by since I was little, with my uncles, who were all cowboys. I also ventured into it when I was younger, but I decided to fulfill a request from my grandfather, who wanted me to become a soccer player. I ended up losing him. I decided to fulfill his request and leave the rodeo, which was somewhat risky. I pursued a career as a soccer player," said Danielzinho.

"Even considering the experience my grandfather had with his sons... one would get injured, the other would break a leg. It's a risk that comes with rodeo. I decided to fulfill his request, developed a liking for it, and we've been fighting ever since," he added.

Originally from Andradina, a city in the interior of São Paulo near the border with Mato Grosso do Sul, Danielzinho has always had a passion for horses, but he only rode until he was 14, when he decided to focus on becoming a soccer player. Therefore, the dream of participating in a rodeo never came true.

"I rode until I was 14, but I never participated in a rodeo. I rode on the farm, with the boys there, but I didn't continue. I really like it, it's a passion I have," he continued.

Playing for Mirassol, Danielzinho is 111 km away from Barretos, a city known for its highly celebrated rodeo festival. And of course, the team's captain didn't miss the opportunity to experience the great event that takes place annually to reconnect with his roots.

"I've already managed to visit Barretos. Do you think I would miss that?" he joked with laughter. "Not now, I went last year, the year before. I went there to see it. It's a very different experience, it's another level of rodeo," commented Danielzinho.

Away from rodeos, Mirassol's number 8 has become one of coach Rafael Guanaes' trusted men. Danielzinho is the captain of the team that has been making history in 2025, the centenary year of Leão, and could end the season as one of the key figures in leading the team from the interior of São Paulo to the much-dreamed-of spot in the Libertadores, proving that his grandfather was a great visionary.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇧🇷 here.