I haven't got the time, money or inclination to delve into the various socio-economic, anthropological and cultural elements of Brazilian society which could foster the tendency in Brazilian stars to gain weight at certain points in their career.
In fact I won't try to justify the fact that I'm going to say some stupid things when trying to explain why. I probably won't even try to explain why... I might just talk about some of my favourite footballers (and Ailton). They happen to be Brazilian and they also happened to get fat.
Case Study 1
Ailton The only player I'll mention who started as he meant to go on. As far as I'm aware Ailton has always been heavy. I remember him best for his prolific days at Werder Bremen but Ailton has actually played for 20 different clubs in his career, 14 since he left Bremen in 2004!
He scored some juicy Champions League goals back when Bremen were decent and enjoyed a successful run on Germany's version of the shamefully popular horror series, 'I'm a celebrity, get me out of here'.
Case Study 2
Adriano
He scored 23 in 37 in 2002/3 and secured a return to Inter where he was as famous for his double fisted punching as he was for his football.
His shooting prowess ensured that Pro Evolution Soccer gave him 99 for shot power and his appearance in Nike's Joga Bonito adverts made loads of football fans think he was better than he was.
His dip in fitness and form made sure he won more Bidone d'Oro (worst player in Italy) awards than anyone else before departing back to Brazil to let his career peter out.
Case Study 3
Ronaldinho
I spent so much of my adolescence practising the flip flap. The round the world flicks, the rabona, the step overs... this guy was my hero. Following a glorious World Cup in 2002 and the goal which all but ended Seaman's England career, a transfer to Manchester United was lined up and my life was complete. This was usurped by Barcelona at the death, when United moved the goalposts on the transfer fee. The reds reportedly reduced an accepted bid of £11million to a mere £9million. Noob move.
Ronaldinho went to Barcelona and became their best player (sorry Edgar Davids) that season. A year later he was recognised as the world's most talented player winning the World Player of the Year two years running and the Ballon D'or in 2005. A year or two later and his love of paella was no longer a laughing matter. As 2007 dawned he started picking up a stream of injuries and sooner rather than later declared he was looking for a "fresh challenge". In other words Pep Guardiola wanted to build a team around Messi and get rid of the dead wood. He went to Milan but never rediscovered his best form, himself acknowledging his best years were spent at the Catalan club. He is currently still lighting up the Brazilian league with his flare and invention despite the samba star's declining athleticism.
Case Study 4
The Phenomenon
This guy was so good they gave him his own video game. His displays for Cruzeiro earned him an early move to Europe. He went to PSV on the advice of a little known Brazilian, Romario. Although, it was his form at Barcelona under Bobby Robson that alerted the world to his talent. His touch was perfect, he was quick, powerful, clinical and he played with no fear. Inter Milan made him the world's most expensive player in 1997 and for two years he was the world's best.
In 1999, he ruptured a tendon in his knee and did the same thing on his return almost a year later. He was never the same. He came back to help Brazil to a World Cup in 2002 where there were constant questions about his fitness, specifically his weight.
I was at Old Trafford on a warm evening in April 2003 when this great man laid to rest United's European aspirations with a stunning hat-trick (assisted by Fabien Barthez). He was given a standing ovation by the United faithful in return. These glimpses of the phenomenon's prior mastery prompted team mates like Gianluigi Buffon to explain, "Ronaldo plays best when he's pregnant" but take a moment to watch the clips of the late 90s Ronaldo on YouTube; he was mercurial then, he was merely excellent at Old Trafford. There's a difference.
It's a testament to his talent that he was clearly unfit throughout the second half of his career and yet still ended his playing days with 350 odd goals in his 520 odd games. No one can match the phenomenon's fat to goals ratio.
I met a Brazilian guy this summer who I spoke to about this. He said that it was because the majority of Brazilian superstars grow up playing with makeshift footballs in Brazil's poverty stricken favellas. He argued that the levels of notoriety, success and wealth achieved by these young men can also lead to a sense of satisfaction with what they've already achieved which can lead to early indulgence. I won't speak on that, it is however uncanny that there are few notable Brazilian footballers whose waist line inflates before actually achieving anything in their careers but then again I guess you wouldn't hear about them, so...
...I hope you enjoyed a little bit of me wasting your time.
