It’s fair to say that birthdays in a professional footballer’s family are slightly different from normal.
When your dad is making millions a year, it’s no surprise to see jewelry, vacations, and cars given away as gifts. However, two sons of Atletico Mineiro striker Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, nicknamed Hulk for his impressive physique, wanted something different this year: nothing material; only a memory.
And the 36-year-old former Brazil international pulled off something spectacular: a special video message from three of the greatest footballers to ever play: Neymar, Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo.
“My children Ian and Tiago had their birthdays on 07/20, Ian 14 and Tiago 12,” said the Brazilian wrote on his Instagram. “And they didn’t ask me for anything material as a gift, they wanted something unusual and surprising. Since they are passionate about football, nothing better than being congratulated by the best in the world… Gratitude to the great idols and friends.”
Hulk started his career in Brazil before moving to Japan, but made a name for himself in Portugal with Porto in 2008 before a €60million move to Zenit St Petersburg in 2012. Another huge move to the side Chinese Shanghai SIPG followed in 2016 where he reportedly earned over €400,000 a week, but left the club in 2021 to return to Brazil with Atletico Mineiro.
With 11 goals in 49 games for his national side, Hulk reportedly found compatriot Neymar quite easy to persuade, but it’s less clear how he managed to make Argentina international Messi and Portugal’s Ronaldo waste time in their matches. busy schedules.
Maybe the fear of a “Hulk Smash” was enough? But dad is going to have a hard time doing better than this for his two other children!
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