Feb 21

Feb 21 ‘The Next Ronaldinho’: What happened to Kerlon?

Crippy Cooke

Stories

The True Story of Kerlon: What Happened to ‘The Next Ronaldinho’?

There have been many Brazilian players dubbed ‘the next Ronaldinho’ by the media who never came close to achieving such greatness in football.

However, there were high hopes for Kerlon, when he starred at the U17 South American Championship and broke into Cruzeiro’s first team a year later.

Crippy Cooke answers the question, What happened to Kerlon?

After impressing in Brazil, a European giant came calling- which was expected to propel Kerlon Moura Souza into greatness.

But the attacking midfielder endured an injury-laden career.

This resulted in eight different surgeries, little playing time over the years and consistent club-hopping, culminating in Kerlon retiring before the age of 30 as a free agent.

So, what happened?

Kerlon in 2005

This was the year that put Kerlon on the map.

He represented Brazil at the U17 South American Championship in Venezuela, scoring eight goals with a host of assists as Seleção won the tournament.

Despite the Brazil side boasting Marcelo, Denílson and Anderson, it was Kerlon who was named Best Player and won the Golden Boot.

Kerlon ripped defences to pieces and seemed to embrace their humiliation.

He excelled at beating players one-on-one, with the excessive pace to get in behind the backline and a real calmness in front of the goal.

The teenager was also an expert free-kick taker and he scored twice from dead-ball situations at the tournament.

South American football expert Tim Vickery waxed lyrical about Kerlon after seeing him up close in Venezuela, writing for BBC Sport:

‘It would be wonderful if the current star of Brazil's Under-17 side could go on to make a similar impact (as Ronaldo, Ronaldinho and Adriano).’

Winning the U17 Championship meant Brazil qualified for the U17 World Cup months later, but Kerlon was ruled out due to injury.

This would be a common theme for Kerlon, and it postponed his Cruzeiro debut for a year.

It also killed his international prospects, as he would make just one appearance for Brazil U20s and never be called up again.

Kerlon’s Rise and fall in Italy

Despite agent Mina Raiola predicting Kerlon would become a greater player than Lionel Messi, claiming the biggest clubs in Spain and Italy were courting him in 2006, Kerlon would end up joining Chievo (2008) after two years of first-team football at boyhood club Cruzeiro (2001 – 2008).

“All of the world knows that Kerlon is the rising star of Brazilian football. All the main Italian and Spanish clubs are on him. Kerlon is a player of the level and class of (Lionel) Messi.

In my opinion, he will become better than Barcelona's Argentine,” Raiola said of Kerlon, but he couldn’t have been more wrong.

The move to Chievo was considered a coup, as Kerlon’s talent was undeniable.

It was just the number of injuries he sustained early into his career that put off bigger sides from making a move.

Kerlon’s stint at the Marcantonio Bentegodi Stadium was hampered by knee problems, resulting in him making just four appearances before leaving.

As per the terms of his original deal with Chievo, the Brazilian joined Inter Milan after a year, but they immediately loaned him out to Ajax (2009/10), giving them the option to sign him permanently.

Kerlon would tell Contra-Ataque.it via Tribal Football:

“When I came back to Inter, I was ready to go for (pre-season). But (Jose) Mourinho on his arrival decided that me and 8-9 other players were not part of his plan. We were free to leave and find another place.”

Ajax didn’t feature Kerlon in their first team either, instead keeping him in their reserves for the entire campaign, so neither club wanted the injury-prone forward in 2010.

His move to Inter was meant to herald greatness but he never had the chance to prove himself.

Homesickness may have factored into Kerlon joining Brazilian side Parana (2010/11) and Nacional Esporte Clube (2011/12) on loan.

However, he had four league appearances for the former and one for the latter, so it didn’t work being closer to his family.

Upon his return to Inter, he was released in 2012.

Cruyff dribbling for Ajax, helping promote our greatest football quotes.

Kerlon’s famous ‘seal dribble’

The best moment of Kerlon’s career was arguably at the beginning, with a sensational showing at the U17 Championships.

However, he will be best remembered for debuting a trick to the masses known as “drible da foquinha”.

Kerlon trademarked his own skill, the seal dribble.

In this move, he runs with the ball bouncing on his head to beat his opponent.

This was more than showboating too, as it would be difficult to defend against without giving away a foul.

Kerlon practised this skill in his younger years, and he had excellent balance. He could run at speed without losing control of the ball.

Opponents didn’t take kindly to his trickery, however, and resorted to fouling him whenever he’d try.

Kerlon would be elbowed, kicked, bundled over, grabbed and often headbutted as players tried to take the ball off him.

The skill would court bad tackles out of frustration for perceived disrespect, and subsequent injuries would dog the Brazilian’s career.

Nomadic end to Kerlon’s career

After leaving Inter, Kerlon joined Fujieda MYFC (August 2012 – January 2014) of the Japanese third tier and played in eight of their last nine league games of the season, scoring three goals with seven assists.

He even played in Fujieda’s first nine league games of the new campaign, scoring four goals, but luck was not Kerlon’s friend.

He picked up another knee injury in May 2013 and underwent surgery in Brazil, resulting in him playing just five times in six months, before being released at the end of his second season.

Kerlon trained with the Atlanta Silverbacks in the summer of 2014 before joining Miami Dade FC (March 2015 – August 2015).

He scored three goals in five league games before switching to the Sliema Wanderers (August 2015 – January 2016) of the Maltese Premier League.

Reports suggest he went to Malta for a trial with Birkirkara…

The Brazilian scored two goals with one assist in nine games for the Wanderers but returned to Brazil months later to join Villa Nova AC (January 2016).

However, he managed only three league appearances before being released over the summer.

Kerlon would be a free agent for a number of months before going to Spartak Trnava (January 2017) of the Slovakian top-flight.

He played only four times in the league over six months before retiring for good, admitting he lost his love for the game.

Kerlon’s injuries

Injuries played a large part in Kerlon not fulfilling his potential as ‘the next Ronaldinho’, with six knee surgeries over the course of his career.

He couldn’t last an entire campaign without a setback and eventually couldn’t shake the pain for long enough to make it worth still playing.

After hanging up his boots, Kerlan said in an interview with VICE:

“I've been injured too many times and for too long. Especially at my last club in Slovakia I was no longer happy. With every three sprints I did, I felt my hamstring. That pain again and again.
When I came home after a training or competition, I always immediately looked to my wife for support. I only had pain in my legs.
“I was on a lot of meds for it, but my body said to me, 'Kerlon, I don't want to play anymore.' I was no longer happy. Now I have found happiness again.”

He lost all motivation because his body couldn’t handle the strain, so few could blame him for retiring early.

Kerlon spent the majority of his career on the treatment table, and that can really affect a player’s mental health.

He'll be remembered for the seal dribble, but also for being a Brazilian wonder-kid that fell short of expectations.