NEYMAR’s former team-mate Fred is most commonly associated with Brazil’s disastrous 2014 World Cup campaign.
The striker, not to be confused with the former Manchester United midfielder, led the line for the Samba Boys at the 2014 World Cup in front of their home fans.
However, the humiliating 7-1 defeat to Germany in the semi-final left a lingering bitter taste for many Brazilians, with Fred one of the scapegoats for Brazil failing to win the tournament.
Though nowhere near as many know the story of how the 39-year-old completed a stunning 370 mile (600km) charity bike ride ahead of a transfer to Fluminense.
Back in 2020, the former Brazil ace announced he would be completing a remarkable trip from Belo Horizonte to Rio de Janeiro.
The move came with Fred in line for a transfer back to Fluminense, where he had previously netted 172 goals across eight seasons at the club, after a four-year stint playing for other sides.
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Ahead of the challenge, Fred told his then 2.6million Instagram followers: “The objective is to receive hampers of basic foodstuffs for 4,000 families on this trip to the Fluminense training centre that I am starting today.
“I am counting on you during this solidarity trip. I’m cycling and you are donating from your homes and we’re all in this together for a bigger cause.”
Leaving his house on Monday 1st June, Fred eventually completed his trip five days later on Friday 5th June when he arrived at Fluminense’s Laranjeiras Stadium to begin his second spell at the club.
With the goal of raising money for charity, companies who sponsored Fred’s ride gave out food kits for each kilometre he rode.
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The end result saw around 4,000 food baskets handed out.
Fred’s return unfortunately coincided with the Covid-19 pandemic, and the 39-cap Brazil star was greeted by empty streets for his morning arrival as he wore a mask and waved a Fluminense shirt.
His second stint at the club would cement his spot in the club’s history books as he became their second all-time top goalscorer with 199 goals in all competitions and winning two titles.
He also has religious routes with the club, becoming a converted Protestant Christian by being baptised after scoring for Fluminense in 2015.
Fred eventually retired in 2022 with 18 goals to his name in a Brazil shirt – including five in Brazil’s winning 2013 Confederations Cup campaign – and 395 goals to his name in club football.
But he soon found himself back in work after becoming a director of sports planning at Fluminense, where he remains.
Source: Soccer - thesun.co.uk
