At Just One Years-Old, He Had A Terrible Accident At Home. His Mother Warmed Up A Kettle To Warm Up His Bath, But She Quickly Left The Room To Clean Up, And He Went To The Kitchen And Accidentally Pulled The Kettle With Boiling Water All Over His Face And Body.
Many Doctors Thought He Would Die From The Severe Burns, But After 7 Months Of Surgeries, Skin Grafts And Time In Hospital He Was Able To Continue His Story.
Ever Since, He’s Loved Playing Football. Started Out Just Playing Locally By His Uncle’s House. He Then Joined A Local Academy, And Recently Played In A Tournament In Front Of Scouts… Where He Got Picked Up By Botafogo. After A Successful Trial, He Is Now Part Of The Academy & Just Played His First Game.
A Story Of Never Giving Up. He Is So Brave To Go And Play With Confidence, And Is Not Afraid Or Embarrassed About His Scars… Instead He Shows Them To Tell His Story.
At Just 11, Bernardo Lopes Has Turned A Harrowing Childhood Tragedy Into A Triumphant Tale, Earning A Spot In Botafogo’s Sub-11 Academy And Donning The Iconic Black-And-White Jersey For His Debut On September 28, 2025.
Hailing From São Gonçalo’s Santa Isabel Neighborhood, The Young Brazilian Survived A Near-Fatal Accident At Age One, When He Spilled Boiling Water On Himself, Suffering Severe Burns That Required Seven Months Of Hospitalization And Multiple Surgeries.
Defying Doctors’ Grim Predictions, Bernardo’s Unyielding Spirit Led Him To The Pitch, Where His Dazzling Skills At The CT Menino De Ouro Football School And A Standout Performance At Nilton Santos Stadium Secured His Place With The Rio Giants.
Ootball Was Bernardo’s Salvation, Nurtured On São Gonçalo’s Gritty Streets With The Support Of His Uncle Rodrigo, Who Runs A Social Project For Underprivileged Kids.
His Flair And Fearlessness Shone At A Youth Tournament At Botafogo’s Home Ground, Catching Scouts’ Eyes And Earning Him A Coveted Academy Spot.
Now, As Clips Of Bernardo’s First Fogão Minutes Rack Up Millions Of Views On Social Media, Fans Are Hailing The Scarred-But-Unbroken 11-Year-Old As A Symbol Of Resilience.
For Botafogo, A Club That Gave The World Garrincha, Bernardo Is More Than A Prospect He’s A Beacon Of Hope.
👉 SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS IN THE COMMENTS!