“Moleque da Seleção” (2 of 2)

After Richarlison scored a hat trick in under a half hour in the Olympics opener for the Brazilian national men’s team, he was given the chance to ask for a song on the hit Sunday evening show “O Fantástico.” His request: the official song of the men’s Olympic team, “Moleque da Seleção.” “Moleque” means “kid” but it also has a sense of a punk, a scamp, an urchin, a kid with a rough edge and street smarts. The “Seleção” (literally “Selection”) is the name for the Brazilian national soccer teams (men and women).

Listen to the song and watch the video.

“National Team Kid”
by Gabi Fernandes and Xande de Pilares
[Spoken intro and first verse]

Life has shown that sometimes the best path is the hardest
And that it requires effort and sacrifice from you
In order to get where you’ve always dreamed
You’re a good boy who understood
That your talent is part of a group
And here only those who play together are gonna win
You’re ready to win
Nobody prepared more than you

And only the ones who deserve it got here
Go ahead, make the most of what is yours
A dream of being a player
Just look how far you’ve come

Yeah, and since you’ve arrived you’re here to shine
Don’t let the dream end
Remember who’s waiting for you at home
Your family and all of Brazil
Watching you play with spirit

The cry of goal echoed there in the community
And today your name is an example of someone who has overcome so much hardship
Your dream is true
It’s not random that you got this far
If you conquered you have to smile
You came to make our flag rise, rise, rise