Fortune : I wanted to be Brazilian

Every generation of football fans has a Brazilian team they hold dear. Pele himself idolised Zizinho of the 1950 side, while many still consider O Rei’s 1970 FIFA World Cup™-winning team the epitome of footballing excellence. The Socrates and Zico-inspired squads of the 1980s did not lift the fabled Trophy, but they certainly won over many hearts and minds. Despite growing up in Cape Town, almost 4,000 miles from the shores of Brazil, former South Africa and Manchester United player Quinton Fortune had a close affinity with A Seleção from an early age.

“When I came over to the UK in 1991 [aged 14], the first book I ever read was about my favourite player of all time : Pele,” Fortune said in an exclusive interview with FIFA.com. “The 1970 team for me was the best ever: Pele, Jairzinho, Rivellino, Carlos Alberto. You watch Brazil over the years, with Zico, Ronaldo, Ronaldinho – I was very fortunate to have met Socrates at the 2010 World Cup. These are real legends of the game.”

Fate determined that he would face the nation of his idols at the Men’s Olympic Football Tournament at Sydney 2000, his country’s first appearance at an Olympic Football Tournament, and score against them with a free-kick any native Brazilian would have been proud of.

“At United I didn’t get to take free kicks, because you had to stand in line behind …

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