This is a record of life.
In my teens, I tightly clenched my trembling hands in my pockets and jumped into an unfamiliar city.
To seize the rolling future, dream chasers have continued to challenge themselves.
What I saw beyond the possibilities is my current self――.
The ace of the city that never sleeps keeps running.
If you don't give up, dreams come true.
Because the rolling ball taught me that.
The boy who admired the RO-RO duo
Diego OLIVEIRA was under pressure.
While wishing to become a professional soccer player, I reached my mid-teens without even making it to the reserves, let alone standing at the starting line, and found myself in a desperate situation.
Make a name for yourself in street soccer, get scouted by club personnel who have heard the rumors, or be approached by an agent and join the club through their introduction—this is the typical way to rise up in the soccer kingdom.
However, in Diego's case, it was different.
"I was waiting for a chance while playing at a local soccer school, but the opportunity never came, and I ended up becoming a high school student. I started to think that turning professional might be difficult because of my age. But I absolutely didn't want to give up..."
Curitiba, the largest city in southern Brazil, is said to be the most livable city in the country. Diego was born in this city as the youngest of four siblings.
"I have an older brother Vinicius who is 7 years older, an older sister Natalia who is 3 years older, and another sister Camila. Camila and I are twins. I was born 2 minutes later than Camila, so I'm the younger brother and she's the older sister."
His older brother Vinicius was a promising player belonging to the youth team of the local soccer club, Parana Club. The first birthday present a boy receives from his parents is a soccer ball――. That is the kind of country Brazil is. When Diego became aware of his surroundings, he was already chasing after his brother’s back while kicking a ball.
"The idols back then were the RO-RO duo. Romario and Ronaldo. Of course, I also admired my older brother Vinicius."
While playing at a local soccer school and feeling somewhat overshadowed by teammates who were seizing their opportunities, he continued to kick the ball guided by the light of his own dream. Such a turning point came to Diego when he was 16 years old.
Diego, who started playing futsal in high school, participated in a famous futsal tournament in Curitiba and won. Two of his teammates were invited to the Paraná Club selection, and fortunately, Diego was also able to take the tryout together with them.
"Then, I was the only one who got accepted. So, I started playing for the Parana Club youth team from the age of 17. It was a chance I finally grabbed. I was happy. I thought, I'll become a professional with this team."
The Dream Chaser's Decision
Diego played as a forward in the soccer school, but at Parana Club, he played as a defensive midfielder. It's hard to imagine from his current appearance, but Diego laughs, "I used to mark the opposing team's number 10 and just chased the ball relentlessly."
However, people eventually find their rightful place. In one match, Diego, who was brought in upfront to replace an injured player, scored two goals there.
"I felt good about it, so I switched to FW."
At the age of 18, he also participated in the São Paulo Cup, the largest youth tournament in Brazil. He had more opportunities to practice alongside professional players. It seemed he was steadily getting closer to his dream. However—.
"When I was turning 18 to 19, I couldn't be promoted to the top team and couldn't become a professional at Parana Club."
It is realistically difficult for a player who missed promotion to the top team at the not-so-large Parana Club to sign a contract with other clubs within Brazil.
However, Diego did not give up. He clung to his dream. He decided to become a professional not in Brazil, but in a foreign country.
"It's Qatar. An agent who was supporting me introduced me. He said if I'm okay with the Qatari second division, there's a chance. Of course, I was surprised. I didn't know what kind of place Qatar was, so I was anxious. But if I didn't go to Qatar, I couldn't become a professional. I told myself this was a chance."
Thus, in 2009, 19-year-old Diego packed his daily necessities, dreams, and hopes into a suitcase and headed to the desert country.
Now, as the host country of the 2022 World Cup, with continuous efforts in strengthening and improving the environment, the national team has become the Asian champion, and many clubs, led by Al Sadd, have advanced to the top ranks in the AFC Champions League.
However, Diego crossed the sea to join Al-Mesaimeer, which had just been officially professionalized in September of the previous year and belonged to the second division league.
"The level of football wasn't high, and the environment wasn't good either. I had imagined it, but honestly, I was surprised. Also, language, religion, food, climate—there were difficulties everywhere. But I wanted to make the most of this opportunity. It was a path I chose myself. Although it was tough, I learned a lot. I believe I grew significantly as a person in Qatar."
Late-blooming Talent
Diego, who spent two years in Qatar, returned to Brazil as a professional football player as he had long wished, joining Noroeste. After a while, when an offer arrived from Suwon Samsung in South Korea, Diego once again jumped into an unknown world.
"I had already lived abroad before, so I wasn't worried. Besides, it was a very attractive offer. The treatment I received was good, and Noroeste also got some money. So, with a six-month loan period, I headed back to Asia."
However, he was unable to make an impact as a foreign player in the K League. In fact, he was rarely seen on the pitch. This was because he got injured.
Sports hernia――. This was the diagnosis that troubled Diego at the time. He played in only three matches before the six-month transfer period ended, forcing him to return home. After returning, he received treatment at a clinic in his hometown of Curitiba, and it took another four months for the pain to subside.
After moving through Noroeste, Bahia, Audax, Novorizontino, Boa, and Linense, Diego finally came into the spotlight at Ponte Preta in the Brazilian first division league, where he played in 2015.
Diego, who once won the J2 top scorer title at Vegalta Sendai and was selected for the Brazil national team in 2011, showed remarkable performance as an attacking midfielder and winger, winning the position battle against Borges.
"Taking the position from Borges gave me confidence. At that time, I was 25 years old. It was the prime of my career as a football player. Thanks to this performance, I received a contract extension offer from Ponte Preta, as well as several other offers."
One of them was from J.League's Kashiwa Reysol.
"My agent also had experience playing in Japan, and I heard a lot about the good aspects of Japanese football from Borges and my teammates. Besides, I was used to stepping out of Brazil to take on new challenges, so without hesitation, I wanted to try playing in Japan."
Never give up!!
Two years later, Diego gets the opportunity to wear the red and blue uniform.
"I was very happy. Actually, I had offers from other teams as well. Among them, I chose FC Tokyo because I felt it was a good team to compete against, and it was a club based in the capital. When I actually came here, my teammates and club staff were warm, and the fans and supporters are passionate, so I feel very motivated. Since coming to Tokyo, I have been given the role of a striker, and I can feel myself growing."
There is no need to mention his subsequent achievements. The FC Tokyo frontline without Diego is now almost unimaginable.
Reflecting once again on his career, Diego said, "I think I was also fortunate with luck."
"I often feel like God has helped me. The reason I am who I am now is thanks to God."
But you know――Diego continued.
"I also have pride in the effort I've put in. After school, I practiced every day, and whether in my teens, in Qatar, or in Korea, no matter how tough it was, I used that as motivation to keep going. I believe that because I never gave up at any time, I am where I am now."
Diego currently has two dreams.
"One goal is to definitely win the title in Tokyo. The players, team staff, fans, and supporters have been eagerly waiting for the first league championship, and the chance to achieve it is right in front of us. It would be wonderful if I could contribute to that. Another goal is to continue playing in Japan for as long as possible. Of course, I like living in Japan, and so does my family. If I can keep playing in Tokyo, that would be the best."
After once falling from the top position, they fought back and rose to the top again after Sec. 31. No matter how tough the match situation, they have battled tenaciously and steadily accumulated points. Never give up――. This season's FC Tokyo fight is exactly Diego's football life.
◇Diego OLIVEIRA Profile
Kazunori Iino : interpreter
text by Atsushi Iio
photo by Kenichi Arai, Masahito Sasaki
