In recording a thrilling 8-4 win over Japan, Brazil chalked up their 400th goal at the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup™. A legend of the sport, Bruno Malias scored almost 10 per cent of these goals – ۳۹ of them to be exact – making him the Seleção’s leading marksman in the competition.

In an interview with FIFA, the four-time champions was both surprised and proud when that statistic was revealed to him.

“Wow, that’s amazing,” he said. “It does make me feel proud and it brings back memories of all the big moments, the great teams I played in and the World Cups we contested and won. It’s all very nostalgic and there are some lovely and very positive memories there too. I gave my all to the game and I’m delighted that I made that contribution to my country.”

Turning his attention to Brazil’s class of 2024, one packed with individual talent and goalscoring potential, Bruno expressed belief in the collective strength of a side containing several friends of his and which is vying for the country’s sixth FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup win.

Citing Edson Hulk, Rodrigo, Alisson, Catarino, Filipe, Mauricinho and Bruno Xavier as Brazil’s main goal threats, he said: “We have some excellent forwards. You have to remember also that beach soccer has a dynamic all of its own and that defenders can pop up in attack and score goals too.

“We’ve got Bobo and Teleco as well, two goalkeepers who are good with the ball at their feet. We’re bringing all the latest developments into our game, and I think the fact we’re a team and we’re united is where Brazil’s strength lies. At the end of the day, though, it’s the forwards who are responsible for getting the goals, and they’re doing their bit in that respect.”

While he is no clairvoyant, Bruno is thrilled to see the Seleção on song and believes they are edging closer to a coveted sixth crown, which would go some way to making up for the failure of their footballing counterparts to win a sixth FIFA World Cup™ in Qatar.

“It would be great and I believe they can do it,” he said. “I’m a big believer in this generation. I think the time has come to make it six and to push for even more development of the sport in Brazil. That would allow us to continue with the process and have more beach soccer being played and more players. If we did that, we’d have greater diversity in the squad, with players from all over country featuring in it. That’s my dream.”

Sending a message full of pride to Brazil’s current crop, Bruno said: “Believe it, guys! Keep showing the winning spirit we’ve seen at this World Cup. Keep showing the same intent in defence and attack.

“Keep believing and fighting to the end, because there’s glory in that, in fighting hard. You don’t know if you’re going to win or lose, but the things you can control are how much you fight and your commitment and attitude.”

If Brazil are to continue their trophy bid, they must overcome IR Iran in the semi-finals. The task will not be easy against a side that has just knocked out hosts United Arab Emirates.

“It’s going to be a very difficult game, very tight,” Bruno said. “Iran are a really strong team with a couple of excellent goalkeepers, and that gives them an edge in terms of numbers.”

In advancing to the semis, Brazil have improved on their last two World Cup campaigns, in 2019 and 2021, when they went out in the quarter-finals. Though a born winner, Bruno knows that sometimes the best lessons in life are learned in defeat.

“It’s a generation that has learned a lot in losing,” he explained. “They’re winners but the Seleção has been on a losing streak in the last few years and that’s made them better able to deal with adversity. When you look at how the sport has developed outside Brazil in the last few years, it’s something we need to recognise.

“You win and lose in both sport and life, right? The same goes for beach soccer. You win or you lose (laughs). What matters is knowing what to do when you lose and to learn from it. It’s easier to learn when you win, of course, but when you lose it teaches you a lot too. And we’ve managed to learn and are now back among the contenders again.”

The sport has changed greatly since Brazil won their first Beach Soccer World Cup, in 2006, and while that has created problems for them, Bruno believes it has only added to the appeal of the game: “Matches are more closely contested now. There’s more intensity, and it’s a better spectacle and more acrobatic.”

While the defeat to IR Iran brought frowns to the faces of United Arab Emirates fans, Bruno, who was their assistant coach in 2019, had nothing but praise for a side that reached the knockout phase for the first time and is staging the tournament for the second time, 15 years after the first.

“They’re continuing to support beach soccer,” he said. “I experienced what those boys have and I believe Dubai and the UAE have more to give to the game, like setting up a league, which is the next step.

“But I have to congratulate them all the same, and I’m very happy for them. Congratulations to the head coach, Victor [Vasques]. And congratulations also to the captain, Walid [Mohammad], who’s an ambassador for beach soccer.

“I have some great memories of the time I spent in Dubai. I built up a wonderful family there and being able to see the world in a different way was really important for my personal growth. I worked hard to make sure things were a bit quieter behind the scenes so that the boys could go about their work and play in a calmer environment. I hope their performance here provides a boost for the sport across the Arab world.”

In his capacity as an assistant coach, Bruno played a part in the impressive development of Emirati beach soccer. “I’m glad they’ve grasped it and they’re keeping the faith to the end, fighting, giving their all and doing it with self-belief,” he said with pride in his voice. “I think we drummed that mindset into them and they’ve put it into practice. We left a legacy there.”