Words and images by Cheril Sanchez

The first time I recall a connection to Brazil, I was eleven years old. It was 2002 and I was watching O Clone, a Brazilian novela that aired in Spanish on Telemundo in the evenings. I watched it religiously. Two years later, during the FIFA World Cup, I discovered Ronaldinho. He was my first huge crush. It is only recently that I realized what I was really drawn to was the energy he carried on the field. He moved differently, fluid and playful, breaking into samba when celebrating. The phrase joga bonito, initially popularized by Pelé, described a way of playing that valued beauty and expression over winning.