BUY UZBEKISTAN 2024 TICKETS

They come from the same city. They began playing futsal together when they were nine. They’ve been friends ever since. They’ve shared glorious moments together for Barcelona and Brazil.

That does not mean, however, stop Ferrao and Pito being fierce rivals. They are currently at the CBF headquarters in Granja Comary, preparing for the FIFA Futsal World Cup Uzbekistan 2024™. Outside of training sessions, the uber-competitive superstars have been squaring off at other sports.

First up was pool. Ferrao and Marcenio led the best-of-five match 2-0, only for Pito and Marlon to rally and win 3-2. The victorious pair then beat the same opponents two sets to zero at foot-volley.

Ferrao and Marcenio exacted revenge on the futsal court, the likes of Roncaglio, William, Arthur and Dyego helping their team triumph 3-1. Ferrao reacted by mocking Pito in a celebration photo!

Pito immediately offered a bet on a seven-a-side football game. If his and Marlon’s team won, Ferrao and Marcenio would act as their waiters at dinner. If they lost, the roles would be reversed. Ferrao accepted.

It was a decision the FC Semey pivot would soon regret. Marcel scored twice and Pito got the other as their team won 3-1.

Pito had worked as a waiter after quitting futsal in his late teens. Now it was his turn to watch his buddy putting together a plate of meat, rice and beans and salad and delivering it to his table.

“It’s always good to beat those two,” Pito, laughing, told FIFA. “It’s rivalry. When you lose, you have to put up with it! Now that we’ve won we have to take advantage!”

“We’ve got a really cool friendship,” Marlon said to FIFA. “When we get time to relax, we play cards, pool, foot-volley and always put some type of bet on to lift the atmosphere.

“It’s funny because those two are super competitive. When they lose, they are a bit angry (laughs). We like to have fun and do well.”

Playing other sports to relax off the court has long been a Brazilian tradition. “Falcao was one of the greatest futsal players in history, but at table tennis I dominated!” Ferrao told FIFA before Lithuania 2021. “Sorry Falcao, but you were my whipping boy!”

Brazil will kick off their Uzbekistan 2024 campaign against Cuba in Bukhara on 14 September. Marquinhos Xavier’s side will then take on Croatia and Thailand in Group B in the same city.

The Seleção conquered five of the first seven FIFA Futsal World Cups, but fell in the quarter- and semi-finals at the last two editions.