Iron Man was the lead character in an earth-shaking 2019 movie. Avengers: Endgame, indeed, smashed multiple box-office records and eclipsed Titanic to become the highest-grossing film in history.

Five years on and another ‘Iron Man’ is aiming to rock the planet by toppling another titan. This time, though, the Junior is not Robert Downey but Douglas; the setting is not Pinewood Atlanta Studios but Andijan Universal Sports Complex; the rival is not a film starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet but an all-conquering Portuguese ensemble; the prize is not theatrical box-office earnings but a FIFA Futsal World Cup™ quarter-final against Argentina or Croatia.

Douglas Jr speaks to FIFA about the forthcoming showdown, the quality of Erick and Zicky, his nickname and stamina, why Higuita is one of the top few players in history, the best fixos and pivots he has ever seen, and leaving a legacy in Kazakhstan.

Have you decided if this will be your last World Cup?
Douglas Jr: No, I haven’t made a final decision. But my thinking is that this will be my last World Cup. At the next World Cup I’ll be 40 years old (laughs). I’m taking it one year at a time. I’m not confirming that this will be my last World Cup, but my thinking right now is to end my [international] career after the EURO in 2026, if Kazakhstan manage to qualify. There’s no doubt that physically I’m not the same as I was. It will depend on my body, how I feel physically.

Higuita, at the age of 38, has been in outstanding form here. What do you think of him as a player?
I’ve been with him on a day-to-day basis for eight years. For me he’s the greatest in history. Not just the greatest goalkeeper, but among the greatest few players in futsal history. He’s astonishing, he works so hard. He deserves everything he’s achieved and continues achieving. And given the way he’s playing, he won’t stop at 38.

Higuita told us he is 95 per cent sure this will be his last World Cup…
I won’t let him! I will definitely be on his case. Especially if I continue, he will have no chance of retiring! (laughs) Being on the court, looking back and not seeing Higuita would be horrible. I couldn’t take that. Given the professional that he is, the motivation that he has, I’m sure he’ll continue for several more years. But only he knows how he feels physically, what’s best for his family. I’m sure he’ll make the right decision.

What do you think of the player Birzhan Orazov has become over the last few years?
Orazov has grown greatly. A lot of Kazakh players have grown a lot, are playing excellent futsal. Orazov has become the go-to Kazakh player, along with [Dauren] Tursagulov. He was the top goalscorer at the last EURO. Orazov is Kazakhstan’s motor. He’s strong physically, never stops running. He scores a lot of goals – decisive goals. It’s wonderful having him in our team. He dedicates himself greatly to the team. He’s very, very important to Kazakhstan.

What did you think of the dramatic semi-final against Portugal at Lithuania 2021?
Three years have gone by, a lot has changed. We put in an almost perfect performance in that semi-final. Tactically, physically, technically we were spot on. I think both teams played a great game. We were so close to winning, but ultimately we lost on penalties. The team to beat at this World Cup is Portugal. They’re the reigning European and world champions. We will have to be at our very best to beat them.

What do you think you must do to beat them?
We need to do exactly what we did in the last game against them in 2021. I know three years have gone by, but our team is practically the same, we have the same coach. I hope that tactically, we can do exactly what we did in Lithuania. If we can manage to do that, I think we have a big chance to emerge with a positive result.

As a complete player, what do you think of another, Erick?
He’s an exceptional player. He does everything, he’s complete. He marks, defends, scores goals. He’s even playing as a pivot right now! I think he’s contributed greatly to Portugal’s success. Personally, I really like the type of player he is. It doesn’t happen much but I hope he has an off day against us.

You’re going to be marking Zicky. What do you think of him?
I think Zicky is an excellent player. He’s easily, easily, easily one of the top three players in the world. From the last World Cup to now, he’s grown a lot. He’s in really good form. He’s still young. I believe he will improve a lot more.

What do you think of the impassioned support for Kazakhstan at this tournament?
It’s amazing for us. It shows how much Kazakh futsal has grown in recent years. It’s down to the success Kazakhstan had in the World Cup, the EURO, Kairat had in the Champions League. The number of supporters we have here may be a surprise for others, but it’s not for us. The Kazakh people are crazy about futsal and, ever since we qualified, so many of them were telling us they’re coming to Uzbekistan. It’s wonderful for us. I hope the arena is packed out against Portugal and we hear the noise of the Kazakhs. This would give us a really important push.

You’re known as ‘Iron Man’. What do you think of the nickname?
(laughs) Higuita gave me this nickname and it caught on. I think it’s because of all the minutes I play, my dedication, my strength. I really like the nickname, I feel good about it. It created a character (laughs). It’s cool.

Speaking about minutes, at the last World Cup some of the top players were averaging about 20 minutes’ playing time, and you barely got a break. How on earth do you do it?
(laughs) I don’t even know how to explain it! I think it’s down to my will to win. Physically I’m not the same as I was, but I always manage to find that extra energy from within. I always want to be on the court. I never want to give in, I always want to fight for my team. I know it’s rare for a player to play so many minutes, but I’m used to it, I can take it, I feel good about it. I enjoy having this responsibility. I’m absolutely exhausted at the end of games, but I have two, three days to recover before the next one and this is certainly enough time for me.

Does Kaka try to take you off at times?
Kaka knows that I like to stay on, but he always asks me, ‘Douglas, do you want a break?’ I insist to him, ‘Leave me on, I feel good, I can take it’.

Can you tell us about your decision to leave Kairat after 10 years and move to Saudi Arabia?
I’d been in Kazakhstan, at Kairat for 10 years. I was a little bit tired of the routine. Kairat are a huge club in Europe, the world. I had a wonderful time there, but for me it was a source of motivation to go to a new championship in a new country.

Excluding yourself, you do you regard as the best fixos in the world?
Marlon of Brazil and Andre Coelho of Portugal. I think Neguinho of Brazil is an outstanding player. His position is fixo, but I consider him more of a winger. Marlon and Andre Coelho are in great phases.

And the best you’ve ever seen?
Leo Jaragua, who plays with us for Kazakhstan, and Neto, who was named the best player in the world.

Who is the best pivot you’ve ever played against?
I’ve played against a lot of great pivots, but for me it’s Ferrao. He scores a lot of goals, is really strong, has good movement. Ferrao has given me a lot of problems in games.

Ferrao was named the sport’s Best Men’s Player three times. Do you think that, for all your incredible individual performances and the success you’ve had with Kairat and Kazakhstan, you have deserved it at least once?
I don’t know if I’ve deserved it. I’ve worked really hard and had results because of this. Maybe I didn’t get this award because I didn’t play in Spain or Portugal. I don’t know. I think all the recipients of this award were very worthy winners. I’m not sure if they always got it in the right year, but I think they were very worthy winners. What I would say is that, in 2021, I reached the Champions League semi-finals with Kairat, the World Cup semi-finals with Kazakhstan, I was named the third-best player at the World Cup, and I wasn’t among Futsal Planet’s best 10 players in the world. I don’t understand the criteria, but for me it was very strange. But I continue working as hard as I possibly can without thinking about winning individual awards.

Finally, you’ve reached three major semi-finals with Kazakhstan, lost on penalties in two of them. Do you think you’d walk away sad if you never won a major title with Kazakhstan?
Never. My biggest desire was to leave a legacy in the country. I think we’ve done that. Where were Kazakhstan in the futsal scene 10 years ago? For the last eight years we’ve been one of the strongest teams in Europe, the world, fighting for medals, for titles. Kazakh players like Orazov, Tursagulov and standing out at the top level. Kazakhs have this intense passion for futsal. We’ve grown futsal a lot in Kazakhstan. We’ve left a legacy. All of this is my biggest title with the Kazakhstan national team. If we can win a title at the World Cup or the EURO, it would be wonderful, and we’ll fight with everything we have for it, but if we don’t, no worries. The growth of Kazakh futsal is a title to me.