Rodrigo

Rodrigo Soares da Costa (born 16 August 1993), better known simply as Rodrigo, is a Brazilian beach soccer player who plays as a forward. He won the 2017, 2024 and 2025 FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup representing Brazil and claimed the Golden Ball award at the last competition; he has also appeared at three other World Cups (2015, 2019, 2021). Rodrigo now sits inside the top ten of Brazil's all-time top scorers.

Rodrigo is considered one of the world's top players, as recognised at multiple Beach Soccer Stars awards ceremonies.

Early life Rodrigo was born and raised in a favela in Rio de Janeiro. He grew up playing casual beach soccer on the sands of Copacabana.

Career Rodrigo grew up playing casual beach soccer on Copacabana beach. He joined his first competitive club, Botafogo, in 2011, aged 18. Three years later in 2014, aged 21, Rodrgio was called up to the Brazilian national team for the first time and was subsequently picked for the 2015 World Cup squad.

In 2017, Rodrigo also joined top Russian club, Kristall. As of 2023, he has scored 251 goals in 176 games for the club in all competitions. By 2026, his totals with Kristall had increased to 220 matches and 322 goals across all competitions. During his tenure with Kristall, Rodrigo contributed to multiple titles, including the Euro Winners Cup in 2020 and 2021, and Russian Superleague championships in 2018, 2019, 2021, 2022, 2023, and 2024.

He cemented his place as one of the world's best players when he was named as one of the world's top three players and part of the team of the year at the 2019 Beach Soccer Stars ceremony.

In addition to Kristall, Rodrigo has represented other clubs in various tournaments. He played for CR Flamengo in the Americas Winners Cup in 2024, scoring 11 goals in 6 matches and earning MVP honors. In 2024 and 2025, he competed for Falfala Kafr Qassem BSC in the Euro Winners Cup and World Winners Cup, amassing significant goals including 13 in each of the 2024 and 2025 Euro Winners Cups.

In 2024, Rodrigo was crowned the Best Men's Player in the world at the Beach Soccer Stars awards. He was nominated again for the award in 2024 (for 2024 performance).

Statistics

International Competition !! Year !! Apps !! Goals !! Ref.

Russian Cup Winner (7): 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Russian Super Cup Winner (1): 2024 Americas Winners Cup Winner (1): 2024 (with Flamengo) Intercontinental Cup (2): Best player: 2017, 2018 CONMEBOL qualifiers for the FIFA Beach Soccer World Cup (1): Top scorer: 2019 Copa América (1): Best player: 2018

Mundialito (4): Best player: 2017, 2023 Top scorer: 2017, 2023 Euro Winners Cup (1): Best player: 2016 Russian Superleague (3): Best player: 2017 Top scorer: 2017, 2019 Americas Winners Cup (1): MVP: 2024