Sports

Brazil pull turnaround win over China, bag third goalball world title

The men’s team finished their campaign in Portugal undefeated

Lincoln Chaves

Published on 16/12/2022 - 15:32

São Paulo

seleção brasileira é tri campeã mundial de goalball em 16/12/2022 — © Renan Cacioli/CBDV/Direitos Reservados

The Brazilian men’s goalball team won an unprecedented third world title in the world championships of the sport, played by athletes with visual impairment. The final was held Friday (Dec. 16) in Matosinhos, Portugal. The 6–5 come-from-behind victory over China makes Brazil the biggest winner of the competition, leaving behind Lithuania and Germany, both with two titles.

Present in the 2014 and 2018 victories—in Espoo, Finland, and Malmö, Sweden, respectively—Leomon Moreno and Romário Marques clinched their third world title for Brazil. The green and yellow squad in Matosinhos also featured two remnants of the second-title campaign: Josemarcio Sousa—a.k.a. Parazinho—and André Dantas.

The Brazilian campaign in Portugal was flawless, boasting ten wins in ten games, 112 goals scored and 50 conceded. As a bonus, the team secured a spot in the Paralympics in Paris in 2024, where they fight for their second Paralympic title.