Bruno Malias

Bruno Malias Mendes (born 29 March 1980), commonly known as Bruno Malias or simply Bruno, is a Brazilian former beach soccer player who played as a forward. He is widely regarded as one of the most prolific scorers in the history of the sport, particularly for his contributions to the Brazil national beach soccer team, with which he won four consecutive FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup titles. He has since retired from playing and currently serves as a Vereador (city councilor) in Vitória, Espírito Santo, having been elected in 2024 for the 2025–2028 term with the PSB.

Early life Born in Rio de Janeiro, Malias moved to Vitória at age 12. He debuted for the Brazil national team in 2003 and became a mainstay in the forward line during Brazil's golden era in the 2000s.

Club career Malias played for several club sides in international beach soccer circuits, including stints in Europe and South America. In 2013, he joined Corinthians alongside teammate Bruno Xavier.

International career Malias was a key member of Brazil's national team during their unprecedented run of four straight FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup victories from 2006 to 2009. He earned individual accolades, including the Bronze Ball (third-best player) and Bronze Shoe (third-top scorer) at the 2006 tournament, and the Bronze Shoe again in 2007.

He is noted as having participated in every edition of the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup up to at least the early 2010s, and he scored the competition's 1,600th goal in one edition.

For the Brazil national team overall, as of the latest available records, Malias had scored 214 goals, ranking him seventh on the all-time list for the Seleção. He retired from international play in the mid-2010s, with no further caps or goals recorded in subsequent tournaments.

Managerial career Post-retirement, Malias served as head coach of the Seychelles national beach soccer team in 2015 where the team placed 5th at the inaugural COSAFA tournament in April 2015 and prepared them for the 2015 CAF Beach Soccer Championship. He also collaborated on beach soccer infrastructure projects in Vitória (2018),

Politics Malias entered politics, being elected as a vereador (councilor) in Vitória in 2024 for the 2025–2028 term.

Honours International Brazil FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup: Winner: 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup qualification (CONMEBOL): Winner: 2005, 2006, 2008, 2009, 2011 Mundialito: Winner: 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2011 Copa Latina: Winner: 2005, 2006, 2009

Individual FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Top Scorer Bronze Ball (third place): 2006 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup Top Scorer Bronze Shoe: 2006, 2007