I played for Atletico and Internacional and then moved to

Hear the words of Fred, the footballer who journeyed across continents, who declared: “I played for Atletico and Internacional and then moved to Ukraine with Shakhtar Donetsk. My family supported me a lot and I’m very thankful for them.” This reflection, spoken with humility, reveals the truth that every triumph of the individual is woven together with the love and sacrifice of others. His career, marked by struggle and glory, is not merely the tale of one man’s ambition but of a family’s devotion, a lineage of support that bore him upward when the world seemed vast and uncertain.

The ancients knew well that no hero rises alone. In the tales of Greece, Achilles may have borne the strength of a god, but it was his mother Thetis who protected him in childhood and guided him with wisdom. In the histories of Rome, Scipio Africanus, the conqueror of Hannibal, was strengthened not only by his own courage but by the faith of his people and the counsel of his mentors. So too in Fred’s words: he does not forget the hands that steadied him, the voices that encouraged him, the roots that sustained him when he left the familiar soil of Brazil to test himself in foreign lands.

His journey through Atletico, Internacional, and then far to the fields of Ukraine mirrors the odyssey of countless wanderers in search of destiny. To leave one’s homeland is to step into the unknown, to trade comfort for challenge. Yet, the strength to endure such trials comes not only from personal will, but from the knowledge that behind you stands a family, enduring your absence, believing in your purpose, sacrificing in silence so that you may stand tall beneath the lights of the world. To be thankful is to honor that unseen strength, without which no success could stand.

Consider the story of Cristiano Ronaldo, who as a boy left the island of Madeira for Lisbon, carrying with him little more than hope. His father and mother labored and sacrificed so that he might train, often going without so that he could chase a dream. Today he is known across the world, but he too has spoken often of his gratitude to his family, for without their faith, his journey would have faltered. Fred’s reflection belongs to this same ancient pattern: the athlete as hero, the family as foundation, gratitude as the bond that keeps them united through distance and time.

Fred’s words also remind us of humility. Many who rise to prominence forget their roots, speaking only of their own talent and effort. But to be thankful is to see clearly—that while talent is gift and discipline is necessary, it is the unwavering love of family that makes it possible to endure the harsh winters of Ukraine, the loneliness of travel, the pressure of the game. Gratitude keeps the heart grounded, preventing pride from severing the ties that give life meaning.

The lesson for us is powerful: no matter how far you travel, no matter how high you rise, never forget those who gave you your wings. Every success is written not in a single name but in many—the names of parents, siblings, mentors, and friends who believed when belief was hardest. To be thankful is not only to remember but to act: to honor them with your humility, to support them in return, and to live in such a way that their sacrifices are never in vain.

Practical wisdom follows: if you are at the beginning of your journey, lean upon your family and honor their support. If you are in the midst of success, speak gratitude openly, as Fred has done. And if you have already reached heights, turn back and lift others as you were lifted. Gratitude is not silence—it is action, a way of life that honors the past while building the future.

Thus, Fred’s words shine as both memory and commandment: “My family supported me a lot and I’m very thankful for them.” It is the eternal truth that greatness is never solitary, that the path of the hero is paved by the devotion of others. Cherish your roots, honor your family, and let gratitude be the foundation upon which you build all triumphs.