From screens to the pitch: Melk brings anime to Vozão celebrations | OneFootball

Photo: Gabriel Silva/Ceará SC

One of Ceará’s top scorers this year and one of the biggest breakout talents in Brazilian football in 2026, Melk has already racked up 17 direct goal contributions this season, leading that category in the black-and-white squad. In addition to his dribbles and left-footed goals, the youngster has been gaining attention for his celebrations, in which he pays tribute to anime characters—animated productions he has been a fan of since childhood.

It all began during the Campeonato Cearense, when Melk made an individual play down the right side of the attack, beat his marker, and struck the ball with class. The shot, however, took a deflection off Wendel Silva before going in, which meant the play was recorded as the first assist for the number 40 shirt.

The deflection did not stop the midfielder from celebrating the moment with a tribute to Monkey D. Luffy, the protagonist of the anime One Piece. After a post featuring a photo of the celebration was well received, references to characters he is a fan of became a trademark of the young athlete.

Melk’s passion for anime began long before that, when he had not even dreamed of becoming a professional player. His first experience was with Dragon Ball Z, a production that became hugely popular in Brazil during the 1990s and 2000s.

“I always liked watching cartoons. When I was a kid, I started watching Dragon Ball Z—it was the first anime I ever saw in my life. Every Saturday, I would wake up early so I could watch it on TV. That’s how it all started,” Melk recalled.

From the screen to the pitch

Although he had been an anime fan since his earliest years, it was only after becoming a professional that Melk combined his passion for Japanese productions with football. The inspiration came from a player in English football.

“The celebrations came after I saw Solanke, a Premier League player, celebrating a goal like that on social media. I thought it was really cool and figured that when I scored a goal, I’d do one too,” he said.

Among the athlete’s favorites are productions such as One Piece and Dragon Ball Z, as well as other anime he has already paid tribute to in his celebrations, such as Attack on Titan, referenced in the goal he scored against Sport in the Brazilian Championship.

“My favorites are One Piece, Dragon Ball, Naruto, Attack on Titan, Death Note, and I’ve already done celebrations for almost all of them. There are others I intend to pay tribute to in the future,” he said.

Beyond the goal celebration itself, for Melk, the anime tributes are also a way of connecting with a specific portion of the Nação Alvinegra. According to the player, the topic comes up in interactions with fans on social media and also in everyday life, when he meets them in the street.

“I also think it’s a way for me to connect with some fans. A lot of people like anime and message me on social media suggesting some celebrations to do, or when they see me on the street, they do the same,” he concluded.

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