Tomaz Braga discusses his amazing transformation, shock Spain call-up, belief they can win the FIFA Futsal World Cup and the best pivot he’s ever faced.
The Nearly Man was the fifth track on The Lightning Seeds first album, Cloudcuckooland. Someone born in the year of its release felt like the title embodied him for ages. Tomaz Braga had spent almost a decade in Mallorca. He’d won nuthin’ at all. No league titles, no cups, not even an individual award.
Like the subject of Ian Broudie’s lyrics, something had haunted him, kicked the stars from his skies. Palma had been on the cusp of conquering the Copa del Rey, only for a strike by Miguelin – ironically the only Balearic player on the court – 26 seconds from the end of extra-time to snatch ElPozo Murcia victory. They finished runners-up to Barcelona in the Primera Division and the Supercopa in 2022.
And Tomaz made the three-man shortlist for the Spanish top tier’s Best Fixo award three times in succession, but lost out to Sergio Lozano twice and Maxi Rescia once. Then, suddenly, Tomaz began shedding his nearly-man reputation like wall geckos – a Mallorca symbol supposed to deliver good luck – shed their skin. First, the man from Fortaleza, Brazil was immovable as Palma stunned perpetual finalists Sporting to conquer their first UEFA Futsal Champions League in May 2023.
The following month he was finally crowned the Best Fixo in Spain. Tomaz joined Jimbee Cartagena that same month and didn’t have to wait too long for his first title, scoring the winner as they beat Barcelona in the Supercopa decider in January. His monstrous performances then helped the Cartageneros become Spanish champions for the first time in their 31-year history in June. A second successive Best Fixo gong followed.
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Tomaz’s Indian summer gets even more implausible. In his 30s and having never been called up by Brazil, he’d given up on the dream of playing at a FIFA Futsal World Cup™. When he gained Spanish citizenship in June 2023, having spent 10 years living in Iberia, he still felt it impossible. La Roja had, after all, multiple magnificent players in his position. Yet next month, the former nearly man will add a new chapter to his cloud-cuckoo-land story by appearing in red at the global finals.
FIFA: How did it feel to make your Spain debut last September?
Tomaz Braga: I felt very honoured and pleased. It was a big step for me, especially for my family. My entire professional career was here in Spain. This huge opportunity presented itself to me thanks to Fede Vidal. I was very honoured and motivated to make history with the Spanish national team.
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When you leave Brazil very young, you practically give up the chance of representing the Seleção. Did you think your chance of playing in the FIFA Futsal World Cup was over?
Yes, yes, I didn’t think it was a possibility. The World Cup was something I really didn’t expect. Once you’ve hit 30, it’s really difficult to break into a national team, especially one as great as Spain’s, with so many great players in every position. I think I was lucky. I adapted really quickly to life in Spain, Spanish customs. I’m very grateful to the country and Palma Futsal, who welcomed me, helped me a lot. I think my adaptation was key to me getting this opportunity. But yes, I had reached the conclusion that I would never play in the World Cup.
You hit the post three years in a row. How did you feel to be named the Best Fixo in the Primera Division two seasons running?
Great happiness, a feeling of a job well done. It’s really difficult to win the award once, and even more difficult to do it two years running. I think I had a little bit of luck. I was among the nominees three years in succession, close to the peak, but I just couldn’t reach it. Winning the award the last two seasons makes me feel that I’m on the right path and gives me more desire to keep pushing.
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Many regard you as the best fixo in the world. Do you agree?
I appreciate the opinions, but I just want to work hard to help my national team in this World Cup. I want to help Spain become champions. If an individual award comes, it’s a bonus, but my focus is on helping the team.
You scored a lot of goals last season. Have you imagined rippling the net in the World Cup?
Yes, yes! It would be something amazing. I’ve been getting lucky in recent years. Scoring goals isn’t really a characteristic of mine, but I’m always fishing for opportunities, looking to react to rebounds, to be an opportunist. Lately I’ve been finding the target. Hopefully it continues in the World Cup.
You will come up against another superb fixo in the group stage. What do you think of Douglas Junior?
Douglas is an outstanding player. He’s a little older than me. He’s been a role model for a lot of players. He left Brazil early, built a successful career, and has long been considered one of the best fixos in the world. He’s a player you learn a lot from watching, playing against. He’s very complete. He’s an absurd player.
What do you think of this Spain side?
Really, really good. I think we’re doing really good work. We’re very good together as a team, we have a really strong mentality. We’re going into this World Cup as a very strong team. I’m really confident. I think we have a good chance.
You play alongside Miguel Mellado at Jimbee Cartagena. What do you think of him as a player?
He’s magnificent. He’s on a different level. He has quality that you don’t see much these days. Futsal has changed a lot. It’s now much more physical, tactical. He has great talent, he’s so difficult to get the ball off. He doesn’t stop running all over the court. For our club, when we have a player sent off – it happened twice last season – our coach tells us to leave him against two and get on with it. He’s young, he has so much quality and enormous potential.
What do you think of Adolfito and Catela?
Those two are very creative. They think and play really speedily. They have a great rapport. Adolfo has a really big eye for goal. This is very important weapon for the team. Catela has a magical left foot.
Who do you think are Spain’s biggest rival for the title?
There’s no way to overlook Brazil given their history and quality. I think other national teams have become really strong over the last few years, especially Portugal, Argentina and Iran. I think these teams are our biggest rivals for the title. But I feel that if we’re at our best, it will be very difficult to beat us.
Who is the toughest pivot to mark you’ve ever faced?
Ferrao. I can’t say anyone else. I faced him in so many important finals when he was at his peak. For me he was the most difficult pivot to come up against. At the beginning of my career I played against Fernandao, Wilde. They were also on a different level. I learned a lot playing against them. The hits they gave me taught me a lot! (laughs)
Your dad is a really passionate follower, right?
(laughs) My father is crazy about futsal. Even though he’s older, he’s always on the internet, Twitter, Instagram, commenting on everything (laughs). Before I’d begun thinking about it, he was the one who told me, ‘Don’t think about coming back to Brazil. Get naturalised because it will open up doors for you to live, to have a good career after you stop playing.’ His dream is to finish up his things in Brazil and come and live with us here.
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Your second daughter has just been born. How tough is it being away?
It’s tough. I miss her, I miss my other daughter, who’s four, and my wife, and I really wish I was there to help my wife. But I can’t complain. Everything in life has pros and cons. I’m living possibly the greatest moment in my career. Playing in the World Cup is the dream of every player and I honestly thought it would never happen. I’m very grateful.
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Finally, do you think Spain will lift the trophy?
Yes. I think we have a big chance. I have a lot of belief. Futsal, however, is very evenly balanced these days. I think there are some national teams that are really close to our level. Physically and technically, we’re there. If we’re strong mentally in the decisive knockout games, I believe we will become world champions.
