Anderson: The First Coming

He’s coming, and the world isn’t ready.

Already a legend in his native land, the world has seen very little of the man, but they owe themselves to take a hit, and I bet they’ll be hooked.

The lore of this young man began in the Gremio system in Brazil, joining the club at age four as a part of the clubs' self-invented “Infant Squad." Over the years, he made local headlines, winning matches single handily when players were just barely learning how to tie their boots.

With the Children's squad, he was gaining attraction from some of the best clubs in Europe. A knack for the big match and an attacking ability see by many to equal that at his age of former Gremio legend Renato Gaúcho.

Clubs from Arsenal to Zenith St.Petersburg were sending scouts to meet the youngster face-to-face, but only one club had the seriousness to keep tabs on the lad, even when they weren’t first to pick him up.

Skipping the youth level at the club, he made his trade in Junior (or Under-20 level) for nearly five years. Gremios staff was world-renown for their development of top quality youngsters, and the potential of the one they called “snake” seemed unlimited.

Fans and pundits alike praised the work of the coaching staff, but the public were becoming restless in holding him back.

So came 2005, when the legend was born.

A team starving for success after a relegation hindered season, the club had no choice but to throw out all their options and hope for the best. The beauty of the South American game is, most times stuff that makes players legends aren’t on camera or in pictures, but by word.

Set the scene: four red cards, two penalties, seven men on the pitch, and you win 1-0.

How does this work?

They say a man named Anderson Luís de Abreu Oliveira took over that day. A performance only surpassed by those matches on TV, some would say it is the greatest single performance in the history of the game. Some say it’s a myth, and the records of the game are missing justify the proof.

Some supporters say simply, he saved the club.

The new found fame didn't hit him, but Gremio took advantage of the exposure of their starlet, and shopped him to the top sides in Europe.

After this climatic moment of his career, Anderson was ready to move, quickly to Portuguese powerhouse Porto FC on a unique exchange basis. Gremio moved him for free, but would be owed nearly 50 percent of Anderson’s next transfer. (A good piece of business, as the club benefited from the financial boost of re-gaining their top flight status, and picked up between 7-10 million pounds once Anderson moved to his next club.)

You're currently logged into Facebook

Do you want to share your Bleacher Report activity on Facebook?