CLOVIS ACOSTA FERNANDES watched Brazil in World Cup action for the first time in 1970 and vowed he would some day follow the Selecao at the world’s biggest football tournament.
Fernandes, or Gaúcho da Copa as he is better known, realised that ambition in 1990 as he witnessed his country’s journey to the quarter finals. Since then, he has attended every World Cup that Brazil have reached.
In total, Fernandes has attended more than 150 matches in 60 countries with the national team. “I am their 12th player,” he declared. “you can be certain of that. I’m the guy that cheers, I’m the guy that shouts, that makes promises.”
Last night, in Belo Horizonte, a crestfallen Fernandes handed over the replica World Cup trophy, which he has carried with him for the past 24 years, to German supporters. It was a noble gesture from Brazil’s ‘super fan’ after he sat through his team’s 7-1 humiliation.
Parting ways with the World Cup replica was far from easy. As the clip below demonstrates, Gaúcho gave the trophy one last hug before handing it away to the would-be champions.
