Most Brazilian kids dream of becoming soccer players, and it was no different with Ricardo Prasel. And while becoming a professional footballer is not easy, Prasel made it.
Prasel was a talented goalkeeper. He started playing at age five, then went to Atletico Paranaense when he was 14. He was transferred to Joinville, Juventus-SP, and then hit the peak of his soccer career at age 18 when he was signed by Chelsea.
Prasel stayed a few months in England and was later transferred to Belgium to play for Royal Football Club de Liege, but a chronic hip injury forced him to retire from soccer at age 22.