It shook a hardened soldier and the World Wide Web. Lucas Bolo swung back his cannon of a left leg and unleashed a penalty in 2022. The ball smashed into the face of Roncaglio, full pelt, toppling him into the goal, which consequently collapsed into the advertising boards in a scene from a comic-book sketch.
The Blumenau native felt like he’d been hit by a Mike Tyson haymaker. It was, nevertheless, nothing on the punch he felt in July. This one was to the guts.
Roncaglio’s lifelong dream had been to play in the FIFA Futsal World Cup™. He had been close in 2021 but, despite having been a Best Men’s Goalkeeper finalist two years running, was agonisingly cut from Brazil’s provisional squad for Lithuania. By mid-2024, however, he was firmly established in Marquinhos Xavier’s cast. When Roncaglio discovered it would assemble for World Cup training camp on 10 August, he went to advise Anderlecht. To his disbelief, they insisted they would not release him until after a pre-season tournament in Vietnam.
An excruciating saga ensued. Ultimately, the Belgians wouldn’t budge. It left Roncaglio to shake an entire sport once again. The 36-year-old paid 20,000 euros – a staggering sum for a futsal player – to rescind his Anderlecht contract. He knew he’d also have to live without a club salary until 2025, but Roncaglio was going all in becoming a world champion. The pain he endured during an epic, eight-hour inking session last week emphatically underlined that playing casino with his career was worth it.
When did you realise there was a problem that could stop you going to the World Cup?
Roncaglio: It was before the official squad was announced. The Brazilian national team was going to assemble on the 10th of August. It was before the FIFA [international] break began on the 30th of August, just like it was for a lot of other national teams. Because it was for a World Cup, you don’t think there’s going to be an issue, but the club weren’t having it from the start. I tried to reason with them. I explained that Spain were doing so earlier, on the 1st of August, Portugal as well, that innumerable other players were missing pre-season because of the World Cup, but they wouldn’t budge. Even though I wasn’t going to be there for the start of the season, they said I had to be at a pre-season friendly tournament in Vietnam. When the official squad was announced, I tried to convince them again, but it didn’t work. The CBF got in contact with them, so did my agent, but nothing worked. It left me with one option only.
That was something unheard of in futsal: you paid a 20,000-euro sum to rescind your contract. How tough a decision was that?
I have a son, a family to support, but despite that it was an easy decision. Honestly, for me, it was a really easy decision. Obviously before I took the decision, I had to speak to my wife, but she was supportive from the start, she told me we would manage. The World Cup is a childhood dream. It’s something you think about when you start playing futsal, at the start of your career and throughout your career. At the last World Cup, I made the provisional squad but didn’t make the final cut. I’m 36. I knew it would probably be my last chance. I was going to do everything possible to be there. And although it was a lot of money, I was a little lucky. At Benfica, Kairat, the clause to rescind my contract was much bigger.
How did it feel to make your World Cup debut and crown it with an assist for Arthur?
Wonderful, wonderful. Playing in the World Cup was my biggest dream, and it was much better than what I imagined it would be. We built a family. I’m here at home, on top of the world, but I really miss being with the guys – the day-to-day stuff, the jokes, the companionship. Making my World Cup debut, in Brazil’s first game, was indescribable, and to mark it with an assist made it even better. Assists are part of my game – I like to play with the ball at my feet. It made it perfect for me.
You’re a penalty-saving specialist. Had it been arranged that, if a Brazil game went to penalties, you’d be in goal?
No, nothing had been arranged. I think they would have left it to how us goalkeepers felt at that moment. Willian is also really good at penalties. I have an excellent record. For the Seleção, I’ve faced seven penalties and saved five. It could have been me, I would have been ready for it, but it hadn’t been arranged.
Your penalty save against Argentina at the 2022 Copa America made headlines across the world…
It blew up on social media. That was one of the penalties I had studied. I knew Bolo would hit to that side and with power. I went that way, chest open, and it hit me.
What did you think of Guitta’s performance against Ukraine?
Guitta is a monster. He’s one of my idols, I’ve told him that. What he’s overcome in his life has given me so, so much admiration for him. He went on against Ukraine and was sensational. He saved us. He’s absurd. He’s a personal friend. I frequent his home, he frequents mine. We have a really strong friendship. He’s exemplary for me.
What about Willian in the final?
(laughs) What can I say about Willian? He’s another monster. He saved everything he could have saved and some shots he had no right to save. Argentina only scored in the final because the shot took a deflection en route. If not, Willian would have saved it. He was sensational at the World Cup and especially in the final. He’s a really nice guy. I didn’t know Willian personally before the World Cup – we’d only had a few training sessions together – but we spent 60 days together and built a really cool friendship.
How did it feel when the final whistle sounded and you became world champions?
It was a unique feeling, unimaginable. I still don’t think it’s sunk in that I’m a world champion. I’ve spent my first week back in Brazil celebrating, I keep looking at the medal, but I think it will take a little time for it to sink in.
Do you think that, if Brazil hadn’t lifted the trophy, you’d have regretted your decision to pay 20,000 euros to rescind your contract?
No, never. Playing in the World Cup was a huge dream of mine for many years. It’s something I thought about a lot. For me, representing the Brazilian national team is a great honour, and doing so in a World Cup is the pinnacle. The title was indescribable, but if we hadn’t become champions, I would never have regretted paying the money to represent Brazil in the World Cup. But thanks God we became champions. It was meant to be.
Was it extra special beating Argentina in the final?
Without doubt (laughs). Some will try and say it’s just another game, or just another final, but it’s not. I believe Brazil-Argentina is the biggest derby in world futsal. There’s a huge rivalry. We play them a lot. We played them in the semi-finals of the last World Cup, the semi-finals of the Copa America, the final of the Copa America. Argentina’s growth has been exceptional. They have great players, a great team, and it’s always a really tough game. I believe Brazil got back to being the Brazil of old, a team with several stars and an insuperable togetherness. Beating our biggest rivals in the final was extraordinary.
How long did your tattoo take and how pleased are you with it?
Before we’d won anything. I said, ‘If we win the title, I’ll get the trophy, my medal and everyone’s name tattooed on me’. There’s no-one missing – players, coaches, backroom staff. It took eight hours straight. I thought I’d be a bit tougher, but it did hurt a bit (laughs). It was definitely worth the pain though. It’s beautiful, beautiful. It’s different and it means so much.
