In a revealing moment during a press conference at the Brazilian Embassy in Washington, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva shared an intriguing piece of football history with U.S. President Donald Trump. The Brazilian leader recounted a conversation about a photograph from the 1980s that captured Trump alongside Vicente Matheus, who was then serving as the president of the iconic Brazilian club Corinthians, along with Matheus's wife, Marlene.
The meeting depicted in the photograph took place during a futsal tournament organized by the legendary Brazilian footballer Rivelino in Atlantic City. According to the story, the event was held at a casino owned by Trump at the time. The Matheus couple attended the tournament and had the opportunity to meet the future U.S. president in this sporting context.
President Lula mentioned that he had intended to bring the photograph to show Trump during their meeting but unfortunately forgot to do so. However, the image was later recovered and broadcast by GloboNews, bringing this historical connection back into the public eye. The photo serves as a fascinating link between Brazilian football culture and American business and political circles from decades past.
Adding another layer to the story, Marlene Matheus shared details about the encounter in a 2017 blog post. She recalled that the couple was warmly received by Trump during their visit to his casino. Most notably, she claimed that Trump actually put on a Corinthians shirt that they had presented to him as a gift during their meeting.
Despite Marlene's account of Trump wearing the famous black and white jersey of Corinthians, there appears to be no photographic evidence or other documentation to support this specific detail. The absence of such records leaves this particular aspect of the story as an anecdotal recollection rather than a verified historical fact.
The conversation between the two presidents highlights how sports can create unexpected connections across borders and decades. Corinthians, one of Brazil's most popular and successful football clubs, has evidently left its mark in various corners of the world, including in the personal history of a man who would eventually become the President of the United States.
This anecdote also underscores President Lula's well-known passion for Corinthians, a team he has publicly supported throughout his life. The fact that he would bring up this historical connection during diplomatic discussions demonstrates how deeply football is woven into Brazilian cultural identity and personal relationships.
Based on reporting from g1.