​Nenê will turn 45 next Sunday (the 19th), the very day the FIFA World Cup will be concluding, and the enduring midfielder once again demonstrated that he can still make a meaningful impact on the pitch. After a brief stint as a reporter for CazéTV in the United States, he returned to Botafogo da Paraíba with style on Sunday (the 12th): he was involved in the first goal and helped set up the second in a 2-0 victory over Confiança. He started in Belo’s lineup and, even in the 32nd minute of the second half, sprinted past an opponent to provide the assist for Kayon. The Red Star Black-and-Whites currently sit sixth in Série C and are on track to advance to the second phase. With six goals, Nenê ranks among Série C’s top scorers, and he also leads in another metric: goal involvements, with four assists to his name.
Nenê had already made a difference earlier this year by helping Belo clinch the Paraíba State Championship. That performance against Confiança—earning him the man-of-the-match honor—came just four days after he drew attention during a France training session in the United States. Nenê appeared there hoping to meet his former PSG teammate Adrien Rabiot and Maignan, who had come through the club’s academy. He spoke with both players and became a talking point as he chatted with Kylian Mbappé and Didier Deschamps. Both were surprised to learn that Nenê is still playing at a high level. Olise, for instance, waited his turn to greet the “boy grandpa,” a light-hearted nod to Nenê’s longevity. Nenê played for PSG from 2010 to 2012 and remains the last Brazilian to finish as Ligue 1’s top scorer in the 2011/12 season; he was also part of the squad that won the 2012/13 title.
Nenê had already been a standout during coverage of a Brazil national team training session and was even “invited” by Carlo Ancelotti to join in and complete the session. His participation in CazéTV’s World Cup coverage had already been arranged before he signed with Botafogo. Initially, the attacking midfielder contributed as a studio commentator, meaning he could continue playing for the club without interruption. His microphone debut came on June 13, and two days later he traveled to Erechim, Rio Grande do Sul, to face Ypiranga. The run then continued with matches against Volta Redonda (June 20) and Brusque (June 30) — both in João Pessoa. He did not play against Anápolis (which Botafogo won on the 5th) due to a suspension stemming from yellow-card accumulation. He returned for the aforementioned clash with Confiança and again made a decisive impact.
To date, Nenê has appeared in 11 of Botafogo’s 14 Série C matches. The club’s ongoing campaign and Nenê’s enduring presence highlight a remarkable longevity story in Brazilian football, with a veteran midfielder continuing to influence results and captivate fans despite the passing years. This article has been translated into English by AI. The original version in Portuguese can be read here for better SEO.