Datinha

Luiz Alberto do Nascimento Braga (born 12 April 1988), known better as Datinha, is a Brazilian beach soccer player who currently plays as a defender. A versatile player, he has previously been designated as a forward and a midfielder during his career.[1][2]

Datinha
Datinha at the 2019 South American Beach Games.
Personal information
Full name Luiz Alberto do Nascimento Braga
Date of birth (1988-04-12) 12 April 1988
Place of birth Tutóia, Maranhão, Brazil
Height 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)
Position(s) Defender
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2012– Brazil 145 (110)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 12 November 2022

Career

Previously a fisherman, Datinha, described as "shy", began pursuing beach soccer seriously in 2010, playing in his local State Championship in Maranhão, and subsequently the Brazilian National Championship. He was first called up to the Brazil national team in 2012.[3]

He went on to win the 2017 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup representing Brazil and claimed the Bronze Ball (third best player) award at the competition; he has also appeared at four other World Cups (2013, 2015, 2019 and 2021).[4] In addition, he was named as one of the world's best three players at the 2018 Beach Soccer Stars awards.[5]

Datinha is also a longtime member of Russian club Kristall, having scored over 200 goals and played in nearly 300 games for the team across all competitions between 2012 and 2021, during which time he has been a European champion four times and Russian league champion on six occasions.[6] He was persuaded by fellow Brazilian internationals Bruno Xavier and Jorginho to pursue beach soccer in Russia. Fellow Brazilian association footballer Hulk has been an inspiration to Datinha during his career.[7] He also continues to play for Sampaio Corrêa in Brazil.[4]

Statistics
Country
CompetitionYearAppsGoalsRef.
FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup French Polynesia 201361
Portugal 201541
The Bahamas 201763
Paraguay 201941
Russia 202140
Total246—
Club
TournamentYearClubAppsGoalsRef.
Euro Winners Cup
Italy 2014Russia Kristall613
Italy 2015710
Italy 201645
Portugal 201772
Portugal 2018105
Portugal 201986
Portugal 202053
Portugal 202183
Total5547—

Achievements

As of July 2021

The following is a selection, not an exhaustive list, of the major international honours Datinha has achieved:[4]

References
  1. "FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Bahamas 2017 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. 20 April 2017. Archived from the original (PDF) on 24 April 2017. Retrieved 23 April 2017.
  2. "FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Paraguay 2019 – List of Players" (PDF). FIFA.com. 15 November 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 16 November 2019. Retrieved 17 November 2019.
  3. "Datinha: da pesca no Maranhão às areias do mundo - Confederação Brasileira de Futebol". Confederação Brasileira de Futebol (in Portuguese). 27 April 2017. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  4. "Datinha". CBSB (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  5. "Beach Soccer Stars draws the curtain in Dubai". Beach Soccer Worldwide. 10 November 2018. Retrieved 10 November 2018.
  6. "Датинья Брага До Насименто". BSC Kristall (in Russian). Retrieved 17 August 2021.
  7. Датинья (in Russian). Metro Russia. 5 July 2016. Retrieved 17 August 2021.
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