From Neymar to Marcelo, why Brazilian players bear nicknames

From Neymar to Marcelo, why Brazilian players bear nicknames

Neymar of Brazil hard-tackled by the Swiss

From the president to the kid kicking a ball around in the street, everyone has a nickname in Brazil.

It’s part of the culture in the South American country, which stems from the days of Portuguese colonisation.

In Portuguese tradition a person has four names – so nicknames are common to avoid the potential mouthful.

For example, we all know the name Kaka – but he’s actually called Ricardo Izecson dos Santos Leite.

What are all their World Cup players’ real names? Find out below as chronicled by The Sun:

1 Alisson – Alisson Ramses Becker

2 Ederson – Ederson Santana de Moraes

3 Cassio – Cassio Ramos

4 Miranda – Joo Miranda de Souza Filho

5 Marquinhos – Marcos Aoás Corrêa

6 Thiago Silva – Thiago Emiliano da Silva

7 Geromel Gremio – Pedro Tonon Geromel

8 Marcelo РMarcelo Vieira da Silva J̼nior

9 Fagner – Fagner Conserva Lemos

10 Danilo – Danilo Luiz da Silva

11 Filipe Luis – Filipe Luís Kasmirski

12 Casemiro – Carlos Henrique Casimiro

13 Fernandinho – Fernando Luiz Roza

14 Paulinho РJos̩ Paulo Bezerra Maciel J̼nior

15 Renato Augusto – Renato Soares de Oliveira Augusto

16 Philippe Coutinho – Philippe Coutinho Correia

17 Willian – Willian Borges da Silva

18 Fred – Frederico Rodrigues de Paula Santos

19 Neymar РNeymar da Silva Santos J̼nior

20 Douglas Costa – Douglas Costa de Souza

21 Roberto Firmino – Roberto Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira

22 Gabriel Jesus – Gabriel Fernando de Jesus