Bournemouth striker on seeing snow in Slovakia, being helped by Pepe and how he gets his Brazilian food “What is Portuguese for shithousery?” The interpreter laughs as he unpacks the question and then relays it to Evanilson, though judging by the broad grin on the Bournemouth striker’s face he has got the gist. The reason for the line of inquiry is because conversation has stuck on the perception of Kepler Laveran de Lima Ferreira, best known as Pepe. The defender, who retired last August aged 41, perfected the role of pantomime villain during a distinguished playing career but proved a mentor to Evanilson, who became Bournemouth’s £40m record signing last summer. “There is a side to him where he is really kind and helpful, but on the pitch it is a different story,” Evanilson says, smiling, punching his knuckles into his palm and pointing to his ankles as if alluding to battle scars, before explaining how the three-times Champions League winner helped him adapt after joining Porto from Fluminense. “Pepe was the best person in terms of guiding me where I wanted to go. He really embraced me and where I had come from because he was from Brazil as well. It worked out because the following year [in 2021-22] we were the Portuguese champions.” Continue reading...

On 19 November 1969, the Brazil legend sparked wild celebrations with the 1,000th goal of his career – but it may have been scored five days earlier It was 14 November 1969. For the world’s greatest player, it wasn’t the best penalty. More an untidy scuff into the bottom corner. But it was enough for Pelé and his Santos team to open the scoring in a 3-0 friendly win over lowly Botafogo da Paraiba. More importantly, it marked the great man’s 999th senior goal. Or did it? Five days later, Santos travelled to Rio de Janeiro to face Vasco da Gama in a cup game and it seemed as if the entire nation was jammed into the cavernous Maracanã to witness a piece of football history. Despite a tropical rainstorm, every TV station, radio network and newspaper elbowed their way along the touchline waiting for the magic moment to happen. Continue reading...

Brazil call up teenage forward Endrick to replace Neymar for this month's World Cup qualifiers after the Santos attacker picks up a muscle injury.