Tottenham Hotspur goalkeeper Heurelho Gomes has his sights set on the World Cup, reflecting on his journey from a rural backwater in Brazil to the pinnacle of football. The 28-year-old, who made his name with Cruzeiro, spoke on a Brazilian TV programme about his childhood idols, naming Dida, a predecessor in Cruzeiro's goal. Gomes, who grew up 200 miles from Belo Horizonte without access to television, credits his talent, dedication, and character for his rise.
Gomes' career trajectory highlights the universal appeal of football in Brazil, a country where many cultural expressions are regional. The 1950 World Cup, which Brazil hosted and lost to Uruguay in the final, played a key role in spreading the game nationwide. Despite the disappointment, the tournament was a success, taking matches to cities like Recife, Porto Alegre, Curitiba, and Belo Horizonte, beyond the traditional Rio-Sao Paulo axis.
This decentralisation paved the way for the Brazilian Championship, launched in 1971, with early winners like Atletico Mineiro and Internacional de Porto Alegre. In contrast, other South American countries have struggled to spread the game beyond their main centres. As Brazil prepares to host the World Cup again in 2014, Gomes hopes to be part of the squad, embodying the national reach of the sport.
