Glory Doesn't Always Lie In Victory. And Brazil's Saddest Fan Is Here To Show You Why
Chances are you've probably not heard of him. But he is the Brazil's 12th player, who has followed the Seleção wherever they go since 1990. This is his story.
By Sadho Ram — 10 Jul 2014, 11:11 AM — Updated over 10 years ago
This is Clovis Acosta Fernandes, a die-hard Brazil fan, who was all set to own Germany on Tuesday's match
A Brazil's supporter poses with a World Cup trophy replica prior to the quarter-final football match between Brazil and Colombia at the Castelao Stadium in Fortaleza during the 2014 FIFA World Cup on July 4, 2014
Image via Getty ImagesClovis was on top of the world. No one had ever loved a trophy so much, and this photo of him hugging the replica proves it.
But then came that first goal. And then the second. And the rest was well described by this BRA Vs GER commentator.
As Germany scored goal after goal (after goal after goal), Clovis, woefully clutching the replica to his chest, went viral. He looked so heartsick that the Internet dubbed him the "saddest man in Brazil."
The defeat suggested that Clovis, at his wit's end, would trudge back to his house and burn everything yellow and green, shaking a fist at his gilded portrait of Brazil boss Luiz Felipe Scolari.
But Clovis, whose defeated face was plastered across newspapers and tv screens, knew when it was time to fold. Redditors captured this touching moment of him giving his trophy to Germany's fans.
As Clovis handed the trophy over, he said (roughly translated), "Take it to the final! As you can see, it is not easy, but you deserve it. Congratulations."
While Brazilians may not have the best defense, you can't deny they've got heart. And don't let yours break for the saddest man in Brazil. This wasn't Clovis's first rodeo.
Clovis Acosta Fernandes has been to seven of these things — so many that he calls himself Brazil's 12th player. Clovis has traveled to more than 60 countries to watch his team play 150 games.
"I'm their 12th player," he says in this video profile by FIFA TV. "You can be certain of that. I'm the guy that cheers, I'm the guy that shouts, I’m the guy that makes promises." WATCH:
It all started in 1990, the first time he followed the Seleção. Here, he was in Italy in 1990.
"I remember the 1970 World Cup in Mexico," he says. That's where his love of the game began. "I was able to watch it all on television and my passion for the game started to grow."
"Experiencing that emotion, I promised myself that one day I would be at a World Cup. That one day I’d follow Brazil in the finals. That dream came true in Italy in 1990. That was my first World Cup. Everything I’d bottled up — that crazy passion for the Brazilian national team — was released with incredible strength. So that was my first World Cup experience and I carry my passion with me to this day," he said.
deadspin.com
"You can be sure that I’ll end the tournament as the player with the most appearances for Brazil," he said of 2014.
mashable.com
Clovis, Brazil's 2014 World Cup dreams may be dashed. But there's always 2018. Better luck next time, Clovis.
