The Bola de Ouro is to Brazil what the FWA Footballer of the Year is to England, an award which recognises a player’s class, consistency and durability.
When you look back at a list of the past winners since its inception in 1973, fittingly it has been given to some of the game’s greatest talents, men whose names will stand the test of time.
Zico was a dual winner, as was Falcao, while others to be named the top performer in Brazil’s National Championship include luminaries such as Romario, Careca and Kaka.
And more recently, Carlos Tevez and Robinho can add their names to the roll of honour.
Clearly, those who choose the award at the Brazilian magazine Placar know what makes a special footballer, so it may surprise some to learn the 2006 recipient was a player who has spent much of the past two years fending off criticism.
The man in question is, of course, Lucas.
No matter that he was the youngest, aged just 19, to win the Bola de Ouro or how several of Europe’s biggest clubs wanted to sign him, some will always have a myopic view of him.
In recent weeks, however, it seems a wider audience have started to warm to the talents that thrust him into limelight four years ago – spot the irony in that Lucas’ performances have been red hot in temperatures as far removed from the Copacabana as possible.
Pick of the bunch, undoubtedly, was his effort at Villa Park 10 days ago, when he relished the responsibility of being Liverpool’s midfield gremlin, constantly breaking up Aston Villa moves with confidence and composure.
For Rafa Benitez, though, there is nothing startling about what Lucas has been doing for much of this campaign; when signing him from Gremio in 2007, the Reds’ manager knew he had brought someone to the club who, with time, would blossom.
Had the elements not intervened, Lucas would have had a key role to fill against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow but while Benitez is frustrated that contest has fallen foul of the elements, he actually feels a weekend off may do the young man some good.
Lucas has played in each of Liverpool’s 20 Premier League game so far, as well as the vast majority of Champions League and cup games, and Benitez is anxious he catches breath before the business end of the campaign.
Should he do that, Benitez is adamant the man from Dourados will be even more effective and take his form up to a level that will have any remaining terrace detractors hastily re-evaluating their opinions of Lucas, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today.
“Lucas is improving all the time,” said Benitez. “It is obvious that if he has play every single game, it will be really difficult because our idea is to play him sometimes but also give him a break, as he we have Mascherano, Aquilani and Gerrard.
“But circumstances have meant that he has played almost every game; if we can manage the situation and we have some more players back, it will do him good if we can give him a break; it is hard to play so many games.
“If he gets that break, he will come back even better. I know he can improve so much more. When I was talking about him before he signed, I was telling people that we were signing the captain of Gremio – and he was only 19.
“That means something. You do not captain teams in Brazil at such a level at that age if you are not a strong character or someone with a very good mentality. Hopefully he will continue to grow with us.
“He is going to be a very important player for us in the future. The lads love him because he trains really well, he is always chatting, always working hard. They know he is a very good professional and a very good lad.”
Not to mention a very good player. Consistent and committed, it would not be wrong to say that energetic, redoubtable performance at Villa was his best since arriving at Anfield yet, much to Benitez’s bewilderment, some observers were scornful in print.
“Everybody with some idea about football can see that in the last three games, he has been the one controlling midfield and trying to hold the team together,” said Benitez, who has always given Lucas his unconditional support.
“We have a lot of players with an offensive mentality, but still Lucas was there in the middle, doing a fantastic job for the team. I was really surprised, then, to hear some people still give him criticism. Our fans have been choosing him as the man of the match, though, and that says everything.”
They have also shown their appreciation vocally, something that has registered with the player; Lucas has the foundations to really blossom in 2010 yet, typically, his sole priority is ensuring the team’s fortunes improve and nothing else.
“It is special when the Kop sings your name. Now I have a good relationship with them, but the most important thing is about what is best for Liverpool, not for me.”
When you look back at a list of the past winners since its inception in 1973, fittingly it has been given to some of the game’s greatest talents, men whose names will stand the test of time.
Zico was a dual winner, as was Falcao, while others to be named the top performer in Brazil’s National Championship include luminaries such as Romario, Careca and Kaka.
And more recently, Carlos Tevez and Robinho can add their names to the roll of honour.
Clearly, those who choose the award at the Brazilian magazine Placar know what makes a special footballer, so it may surprise some to learn the 2006 recipient was a player who has spent much of the past two years fending off criticism.
The man in question is, of course, Lucas.
No matter that he was the youngest, aged just 19, to win the Bola de Ouro or how several of Europe’s biggest clubs wanted to sign him, some will always have a myopic view of him.
In recent weeks, however, it seems a wider audience have started to warm to the talents that thrust him into limelight four years ago – spot the irony in that Lucas’ performances have been red hot in temperatures as far removed from the Copacabana as possible.
Pick of the bunch, undoubtedly, was his effort at Villa Park 10 days ago, when he relished the responsibility of being Liverpool’s midfield gremlin, constantly breaking up Aston Villa moves with confidence and composure.
For Rafa Benitez, though, there is nothing startling about what Lucas has been doing for much of this campaign; when signing him from Gremio in 2007, the Reds’ manager knew he had brought someone to the club who, with time, would blossom.
Had the elements not intervened, Lucas would have had a key role to fill against Tottenham Hotspur tomorrow but while Benitez is frustrated that contest has fallen foul of the elements, he actually feels a weekend off may do the young man some good.
Lucas has played in each of Liverpool’s 20 Premier League game so far, as well as the vast majority of Champions League and cup games, and Benitez is anxious he catches breath before the business end of the campaign.
Should he do that, Benitez is adamant the man from Dourados will be even more effective and take his form up to a level that will have any remaining terrace detractors hastily re-evaluating their opinions of Lucas, who celebrates his 23rd birthday today.
“Lucas is improving all the time,” said Benitez. “It is obvious that if he has play every single game, it will be really difficult because our idea is to play him sometimes but also give him a break, as he we have Mascherano, Aquilani and Gerrard.
“But circumstances have meant that he has played almost every game; if we can manage the situation and we have some more players back, it will do him good if we can give him a break; it is hard to play so many games.
“If he gets that break, he will come back even better. I know he can improve so much more. When I was talking about him before he signed, I was telling people that we were signing the captain of Gremio – and he was only 19.
“That means something. You do not captain teams in Brazil at such a level at that age if you are not a strong character or someone with a very good mentality. Hopefully he will continue to grow with us.
“He is going to be a very important player for us in the future. The lads love him because he trains really well, he is always chatting, always working hard. They know he is a very good professional and a very good lad.”
Not to mention a very good player. Consistent and committed, it would not be wrong to say that energetic, redoubtable performance at Villa was his best since arriving at Anfield yet, much to Benitez’s bewilderment, some observers were scornful in print.
“Everybody with some idea about football can see that in the last three games, he has been the one controlling midfield and trying to hold the team together,” said Benitez, who has always given Lucas his unconditional support.
“We have a lot of players with an offensive mentality, but still Lucas was there in the middle, doing a fantastic job for the team. I was really surprised, then, to hear some people still give him criticism. Our fans have been choosing him as the man of the match, though, and that says everything.”
They have also shown their appreciation vocally, something that has registered with the player; Lucas has the foundations to really blossom in 2010 yet, typically, his sole priority is ensuring the team’s fortunes improve and nothing else.
“It is special when the Kop sings your name. Now I have a good relationship with them, but the most important thing is about what is best for Liverpool, not for me.”
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