Brazilians win Best in the World award in Spain | OneFootball

At an awards ceremony held in Spain this Thursday (21), three Brazilians won the Best in the World award in beach soccer in 2025. Pivot Rodrigo, of Flamengo and a three-time world champion with the Brazilian National Team, took home the trophy for best player for the second time in three years — he had already won it in 2023. Goalkeepers Bobô, of Sampaio Corrêa, and Lelê Lopes, of São Pedro-ES, were honored for the first time in their careers as the best in their position.

“I thank God for crowning me with this award. It was a complicated year with some injuries, including during the World Cup, where even while playing hurt I managed to become world champion, helping my country win its seventh title with three goals in the final and serving as captain. It was a special year for Brazilian beach soccer with all the support given by the CBF, which culminated in winning the world title. I dedicate this award to my family, my wife, my son, my parents, who support me unconditionally. And also to my teammates and coaching staff at my clubs and with the Brazilian National Team. This award is for all of them,” said Rodrigo, who saw two great friends competing for the trophy: his club and national team teammate Thanger and the Portuguese-Brazilian Bê Martins, who won the award in 2024.

Brazilians win Best in the World award in SpainCredits: Disclosure/BSWW

Emotional over the honor, goalkeeper Bobô remembered everyone who helped him get there.

“This was the third straight year among the top three of the year, and now this award has finally come. It is a very emotional moment that makes me remember everything I went through to build the career I have today. I thank the Government of Maranhão and the Maranhão Beach Soccer Federation for always supporting me, my teammates and coaches from my team, Sampaio Corrêa, and the CBF’s beach soccer department for all the work done with the national teams,” said the number 12, a two-time world champion.

Lelê Lopes used the moment to highlight the important phase of women’s beach soccer and everyone’s desire to see the first Women’s World Cup.

“This award is dedicated to many people. My mother, who supports me unconditionally, and coach Rose Andrade, who is now with the Brazilian National Team, but in 2022, when she was São Pedro’s coach, invited me to the team when I was thinking about quitting. I also thank the CBF for its support, as it has been treating women’s beach soccer with great care and equality in relation to the men’s game. I would also like to take this opportunity to reinforce that it is long past time for us to have the first Women’s World Cup. We have national teams, top athletes, and a huge desire to make this happen,” said the player from Espírito Santo, who was part of the first women’s national team in history, in 2019, and today is one of the sport’s leading figures.

Brazilians win Best in the World award in SpainCredits: Disclosure/BSWW

Other Brazilians also stand out

The ceremony held by Beach Soccer Worldwide (BSWW), the world’s leading promoter of beach soccer competitions, also named the Teams of the Year in both the men’s and women’s categories. And Brazil stood out in both.

Among the men, the team featured Bobô, Thanger, and Rodrigo, as well as naturalized Brazilians Bê Martins (Portuguese) and Josep (Italian).

In the women’s team, there were three players from Espírito Santo: besides Lelê Lopes, defender Bárbara Colodetti and pivot Taii. Spaniards Adriana Manau and Andrea Mirón completed the quintet.

Bárbara Colodetti was also among the three finalists for Best Female Player of the Year, but Spain’s Andrea Mirón was chosen, ending a Brazilian dominance, as Adriele, from Maranhão, had won the award in the last three editions (2022, 2023, and 2024).

CBF congratulates the athletes

CBF beach soccer director Mauro Carmélio praised the Brazilian athletes and reinforced the institution’s commitment to developing the sport.

“Congratulations to our male and female players. This is a special moment for Brazilian beach soccer. Not only because of the titles won as a group or these individual awards, which obviously fill us with pride, but also because of everything that has been happening internally. Today, the CBF has a clear policy of support for the sport, we have strong coaching staffs, satisfied and valued athletes, transparent relationships and great partnership, and a solid calendar for our three national teams. And there is still much more to come, such as national competitions, the creation of another youth national team, among other things. The future of Brazilian beach soccer is bright,” said Mauro.

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