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WHO'S THE NEXT KING? Is there a new Pelé amongst the next generation?

Brasil exports thousands of soccer stars every year. But is there a new Pelé amongst the next generation?

Words: André Barros

The Brasilian Championship Finals 2002, 35 minutes into the first half. The then-18 year old Robinho receives a pass mid-field and takes on SC Corinthians' defense. He goes on to make history: after some fancy foot-work he dribbles the ball and is fouled. He takes the penalty himself and scores the goal that helps Santos win their first Brasilian championship. The television commentator exclaims: "has lightning struck twice in the same spot?" He was asking if a new Pelé had emerged at Santos. Robinho is a top player, but the lightning hasn't been very forthcoming since. Will that lightning ever strike again in Brasilian football?

Ever since Pelé hung his boots up many young Brasilians have tried to fit into his shoes and become the new King of Football. However, the majority of young players have gone on to work abroad. Today, the exportation of footballers generates more income than the sale of fruit to other countries, for example.

In Pelé's day, things were quite different. The 1958 squad, which won the first of Brasil's five World Cup titles in Sweden, was made up of local players. On the 26th, in London, a friendly between the two finalists of the tournament – Brasil and Sweden – will commemorate the 50th anniversary of Brasil's first triumphant win. And the majority of the Brasilian players taking part currently all play for European teams.

Besides Robinho (a major player during the Brasilian squad's victory at the Copa America last year and one of the big names at Real Madrid), Brasilians are hedging their bets on another young star who's just turned 18. Alexandre Pato, a striker for Milan, is being touted as the latest Brasilian phenomenon.

Pato first drew attention at the SC International in late 2006. He made his first outing on the main team aged 17 during the final rounds of the Brasilian Championships. After just one minute as a professional player he scored a goal. He ended up being man of the match, scoring two goals, helping set up another two, showing off some incredible footwork and taking another incredible shot that ended up rebounding against the crossbar. All of this at the opposition's home ground.

Pressure from supporters and the press alike meant that Pato ended up being selected for the Club World Championship. His second match as a professional player was at the opening game against Al-Ahly. Pato was the first to score, breaking Pelé's record and becoming the youngest player to score a goal at an official FIFA competition. He was only 17 years and 102 days old; Pelé scored his first goal against Wales during the Swedish World Cup, when he was 17 years and 239 days old.

His third professional match was a Cup final against Barcelona. Despite not scoring any goals, Pato played well, and the team won the championships. Less than a year later he was transferred to Milan for $20 million (the third most expensive transfer in the history of Brasilian football, only losing out to Denilson and Robinho, who also moved abroad at very young ages). He inherited shirt number 7, which used to belong to Shevchenko. During his first official match, he helped the team beat Naples 5-2, scoring two goals.

Pato was selected to play for the main Brasil squad for the first time at the beginning of the year, during a friendly against Ireland. He ended up sitting out because of a lesion. His debut could well be delayed until the 50-year commemoration of Brasil's first World Cup title. Nothing more fitting for someone who, in such a short space of time, has already beaten some of the records set by the King of Football, who first drew public attention to himself during the historic match against Sweden.