Croatia’s Maksimir Stadium Hosts Brazilian Football Match for the First Time

In the qualifiers for Euro 2024, the Croatian national football team faced off against Armenia at Maksimir. As the final match approached, thousands of fans gathered to cheer on their beloved team. But one fan stood out from the rest – Rafael Beserra, a Brazilian who was known for his passion for “fire.”

Beserra had made a dream come true when he met his idol, Luka Modrić, at the end of the League of Nations in Rotterdam. Not long after that experience, he received an invitation from the Croatian Tourist Board and traveled to Croatia as a guest of honor. He was so impressed by Zagreb and its culture that he decided to stay and study Croatian there.

At Maksimir, Beserra was thrilled to be watching his first national team match in Croatia. When asked about his predictions for the game, he confidently stated that he thought it would end in a convincing victory for “fire,” with scorers including Modrić, Ivanušec and Majer. And just how dedicated this Brazilian is to our national team was evidenced by his purchase of tickets for Euro 2024 in Germany – he said he would definitely be attending!

As Beserra spoke with reporters at Maksimir, it was clear that his love for “fire” extended beyond just football. He shared that he often posted on social media about his language studies and spoke passionately about his desire to learn more about Croatian culture. Despite being new to the country, Beserra felt at home in Zagreb and was excited to continue living out his dream of supporting “fire.”