On the surface, it looked like the perfect start to his North Texas SC career for Brazilian midfielder Pedrinho: scoring the game-winning goal from a penalty he earned himself, handing the club a crucial away victory in the process. “I’m excited to be here for this opportunity, to come here, to play for North Texas, and God willing, FC Dallas.”
But his start to life in North Texas wasn’t as picture-perfect as his debut. Although he made a quick impression on the coaching staff as he was selected to play in FC Dallas’ preseason, Pedrinho missed the start of the MLS NEXT Pro campaign due to an injury. It’s also been a difficult transition off the field, having moved from his native Brazil at the start of the year. “The weather was a bit cold when I got here in December. Other than that, the language barrier has been difficult.”
Pedrinho was born on April 18, 2003, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. His dad, Beto, was a professional Brazilian midfielder who also played at Flamengo in 2001. He played in Brazil’s Serie A, Italy’s Serie A, and Japan’s J1 League, as well as many more throughout his career. From 1995-1999, he made 13 appearances for the national team.
At 9 years old, Pedrinho joined Flamengo’s youth system. Growing up, he played with the U-15, U-17, U-20, and first team. Pedrinho professionally debuted while on loan with Azuriz in a 3-0 loss against Operario Ferrovario on March 6, 2022. Just two months later, he scored his first goal in a 2-0 win against FC Cascavel on May 29, 2022.
Upon return to Flamengo, he made his first-team debut with the club on September 28, 2022, in a 3-2 loss against Fortaleza. A year later, he won the Campeonato Brasileiro Sub-20 with Flamengo and scored two goals throughout the playoffs. On December 14, 2023, Pedrinho signed a contract with North Texas SC, leaving behind his family and friends.
Head Coach John Gall says he’s adjusted incredibly well. “You could probably say that he’s been here for a long time. You couldn’t tell that he’s new to the group. He’s a great kid, and he’s got a great bunch of teammates. You could say he’s been here for many years. That’s how we feel. He’s settling in really well.”
On the pitch, Pedrinho also had to get acclimated to the differences in the playing style. “In Brazil, players do more dribbling. I mean, it’s called the ‘Jogo Bonito’. Here, it is a bit more organized and a bit more physical.” But he says that the best part of this whole experience has been his team.
Gall was eager for Pedrinho’s return from injury. “He’s gonna be a huge impact. When we knew he was coming in, we were certainly excited about getting him here. And now that we’ve seen him, we’ve seen his qualities and what he can bring to the team. I think that he’s gonna be a big impact not only for us, but I think he’s gonna be a big impact for the league.”
This is just the beginning of what will surely be a great career in America for Pedrinho: “I want to score a lot of goals, create a lot of assists, and, in the future, play for the first team.”
