Lelê celebrates trophy with Brazil, hails return after beating depression | OneFootball

Last Saturday night, the Brazilian National Team took the field against Canada in the Fifa Series and came away with a narrow but historic win: a 1-0 scoreline and the country’s first title in the tournament. One of the standout performers in the final was Corinthians goalkeeper Lelê, who played a decisive role in the result.

After the final whistle, the keeper celebrated the special moment and recalled the personal challenges she recently faced, including a period of depression. In an interview with CBF TV, she became emotional while speaking about overcoming adversity and what it means to be back performing at a high level.

Photo: Buda Mendes/FIFA via Getty Images

“It’s very rewarding, I’m extremely happy. Besides the injury, I went through depression, which many people don’t know about. And being here, able to do what I love most, it’s impossible to explain. I’m very emotional. The only thing I think about is stepping onto the field and giving my best for the Brazilian National Team at every moment of my career, for as long as I can and my body holds up,” she said.

On the field, Lelê was crucial especially in the final minutes. The goalkeeper made two important saves on shots from forward Prince in the decisive stretch of the match, ensuring that the goal scored by Aline Gomes was enough to secure Brazil’s victory and the title.

The player also commented on the atmosphere at Arena Pantanal in Cuiabá, highlighting the fans’ support. In addition, she looked ahead to the national team’s near future, with the 2027 World Cup set to be played in Brazil. “Being able to play at home, with our fans, already starting to get a taste of what the World Cup will be like, and ending with the title (of the Fifa Series) is incredibly rewarding,” she added.

It is worth remembering that Lelê went through a difficult period before returning to the national team. After being a starter at the 2023 World Cup, she suffered a serious injury in February 2024, tearing the anterior cruciate ligament in her left knee, which even ruled her out of the Paris Olympic Games.

After about seven months of recovery, the goalkeeper returned to play for Corinthians in September 2024. Even so, her return to the national team took a little longer: she was only called up again in November 2025, already under Arthur Elias. Since then, she has regained her place as the Brazilian team’s starting goalkeeper.

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