10 fun facts about Richarlison

Richarlison de Andrade, popularly known as Richarlison, is a professional footballer from Brazil. He currently serves as a striker for Tottenham Hotspur in the Premier League and represents the Brazil national team. Richarlison began his football journey in December 2014 when he joined the youth setup of América Mineiro after leaving Real Noroeste.

Despite facing numerous rejections from other teams, he persevered and invested all his money in a one-way ticket to Belo Horizonte for a trial. This determination paid off as he was promoted to the first team by manager Givanildo Oliveira in June 2015. On 4 July 2015, Richarlison made his professional debut in a 3-1 home victory against Mogi Mirim. Later, on 29 December 2015, he signed a five-year contract with Fluminense, a Série A club. His debut for Fluminense took place on 13 May 2016 in the Copa do Brasil.

Just two days later, he made his league debut, starting in a 1-0 away win against his former club, América. Richarlison’s talent caught the attention of English Premier League club Watford, and on 8 August 2017, he completed a transfer to the club for a fee of £11.2 million. He made his debut for Watford as a substitute in a thrilling 3-3 draw against Liverpool on the opening day of the 2017-18 Premier League season.

On 24 July 2018, Richarlison completed a move to Everton for an initial transfer fee of £35 million, which could potentially rise to £50 million. However, on 1 July 2022, Tottenham Hotspur made an announcement regarding the signing of Richarlison, securing him on a contract until 2027, pending a work permit. The transfer fee for this move amounted to £50 million, with an additional £10 million in potential add-ons.

1. Richarlison’s dad believed in his football dream

Richarlison’s journey out of a destitute neighborhood in Brazil, like many other children, was paved by football. However, relying solely on his talent wouldn’t guarantee his rise to superstardom. According to him, his dad’s support made his dream to becoming a footballer a reality.

In his very own words, he said, “Some of my friends said I wouldn’t have a future in football, as did some of my family, but I still believed in the potential I had. My mum would tell me I needed to get a proper job but for me I didn’t want to be anything other than a footballer. That led to some tension and frustration between us. It was something I dreamed of doing and I fought until the very end.”

“My dad was the one who registered me in my first school and believed in me more than anyone. I think my dad is the proudest of anyone that I made my debut for Brazil. He and my uncle called me up before the game and said I would score two goals. It was a dream come true and the first goal I scored for Brazil will live with me forever.”

2. Richarlison survived muggings

Richarlison is from Nova Venecia, a quaint town situated in southeastern Brazil, boasting a population of 50,000. His passion for football led him to relish the joy of playing barefooted under the open sky, both during the day and throughout the night.

He said, “Where I lived, all sorts of things were happening. I saw a lot of money, weapons, and drugs. And this is a moment when you have to choose your path.” At the tender age of 11, he had to take on various jobs to support his parents’ limited earnings.

In addition to assisting his grandfather with farm work, the young lad ventured into selling ice cream and offering car wash services. On a fateful day, while returning from a football match, he encountered a terrifying incident where he was robbed at gunpoint. Miraculously, he managed to escape unharmed.

3. Richarlison played with borrowed boots

Richarlison, being an amateur, had to partake in football matches without any footwear. This was a norm for him. However, when he embarked on his initial trial at América Mineiro, the renowned Brazilian club where he eventually began his professional career, he had to rely on borrowing a pair of football boots.

In an interview with CNN, he said, “I was without any boots so those were the ones I used for the trial. I passed the trial with these boots and I was very happy and I thank my friend.”

4. Richarlison was Tottenham’s most expensive signing

Richarlison began his professional career playing for América Mineiro and Fluminense before making the move to England in 2017. During his time at Watford, he showcased his talent by being the only player in the squad to feature in every match of the Premier League season, netting five goals.

In July 2018, he joined Everton and proved to be a prolific scorer, finishing as the joint-top scorer in the Premier League for two consecutive seasons with 14 and 13 goals respectively. His impressive performances caught the attention of Tottenham, who made him their most expensive signing in July 2022.

The transfer fee of 69.5 million Euros (72.3 million US$) surpassed the previous record of 60 million euros (62 million US$) paid for Tanguy Ndombele in 2019 by the London Club.

5. Richarlison scores first Premier league goal

It took Richarlison 23 appearances before he scored his first goal in the Premier League for Tottenham, which occurred on 30 April 2023 in a 4-3 defeat against Liverpool. Remarkably, this was his sole league goal during the 2022-23 Premier League season.

6. Richarlison makes his international debut

On the international stage, Richarlison made his senior debut for Brazil in 2018. He played a crucial role in Brazil’s triumph at the 2019 Copa América, their runner-up finish at the 2021 Copa América, and their gold medal victory at the 2020 Olympic tournament. Additionally, he represented Brazil in the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

7. Richarlison nearly missed the World Cup

Richarlison is filled with joy and a sense of relief as he takes part in his inaugural World Cup. Having endured a calf injury during Tottenham’s triumph over his previous club, Everton, on the 15th of October, he harbored concerns about his inclusion in the World Cup squad. Overwhelmed with emotions, Richarlison shed tears as he hobbled off the field and shared his injury ordeal with ESPN Brazil. However, his spirits were lifted when he received the news of his selection in Brazil’s final squad for the Qatar tournament, three weeks later.

8. Richarlison was nicknamed ‘Pombo’ for his celebration style

Richarlison made his way to England from Fluminense in 2017, bringing with him the renowned “Pombo Dance” from his homeland. Whenever he scores a goal, he playfully mimics the fluttering wings of a pigeon with his arms. This distinctive celebration has earned him the nickname “Pombo” or “the Pigeon” among his fans.

Although it took some time for the dance to gain traction, it quickly gained popularity on the internet and became one of the iconic moments of the Qatar World Cup when Richarlison performed his signature celebration alongside his Brazilian teammates on the grandest stage. The inspiration behind his celebrations comes from the Brazilian Pop band Os Perseguidores.

Richarlison himself shed light on the origin of the celebration, stating, ““The pigeon dance came from a group from Rio de Janeiro who had a song in around 2012. A trend was started when I did the dance at home. Everyone started copying me. I think I’ve helped the band’s profile grow because of that. I am hoping to score goals and do the dance I promised, the pigeon dance.”

9. Richarlison idolises R9 & Neymar

Richarlison has publicly expressed his deep admiration for two legendary Brazilian footballers: Neymar and Ronaldo Nazario. These remarkable players have significantly impacted Richarlison’s professional journey and continue to inspire him as his ultimate role models.

He said, “Neymar has been an idol of mine since childhood. I’ve always tried to mirror myself in the way he plays and I’ve also tried imitating some of his haircuts. When I was 12 or 13 I had the yellow mohican. I didn’t quite pull it off though because I didn’t have the right hair products.”

10. Richarlison is the first Prem player to score Olympic hat-trick

Richarlison made a remarkable entrance onto the international stage for Brazil during the Tokyo 2020 Olympics, showcasing his talent by netting five goals in six matches and claiming the title of the tournament’s leading scorer in Japan.

In his Olympic football debut, he astounded spectators by scoring three goals within the first thirty minutes, propelling Brazil to a triumphant 4-2 victory over Germany. This extraordinary feat also secured his place in history as the inaugural player in Premier League history to achieve a hat-trick at the Games.