Henrique Matsumora Dias

Henrique Matsumora Diasエンヒッキ・松茂良・ジアス was born on June 16, 1989, in São Paulo, Brazil. 
He is a Brazilian amputee soccer player currently playing for FC Avoarada. He plays as a midfielder/right winger.
He has represented both the Brazilian amputee football team and the Japanese national team, wearing the number 10. He has contributed to six World Cup appearances and is considered a pioneer in promoting amputee football in Japan.
==Career==
===Early Life===
Henrique was born on June 16, 1989, in São Paulo, Brazil, as the eldest son of a Brazilian father of Spanish and Italian descent and a Brazilian mother of Japanese descent.
At the age of five, while waiting at a traffic intersection in front of his home, Henrique was involved in a serious accident when a truck crashed into him. He sustained life-threatening injuries and underwent major surgery, narrowly escaping death. However, as a result of the accident, he lost his right leg from the thigh down.
After concluding an extended period of hospitalization, Henrique engaged in rehabilitation using a wheelchair and a prosthetic leg. However, due to discomfort, particularly during his growth phase, he transitioned to walking with the aid of one leg and a crutch as an integrated part of his body.
About two years after his discharge from the hospital, it became "normal" for him to live with only one leg, without relying on a prosthetic.
===Encounter with Soccer===
During his hospitalization, Henrique gradually developed an interest in soccer. This interest was sparked by playing soccer video games on his bed and listening to soccer stories from his visiting uncle.
Around the age of 8, Henrique began kicking the ball and started playing soccer using one leg and a crutch. He would join his cousins, and on weekends, they would continue to play soccer on the futsal court in the backyard.
After his discharge from the hospital, Henrique struggled to walk using crutches at first. However, starting to play soccer enabled him to run using crutches.
===Encounter with Amputee Football===
At that time, alongside attending school, Henrique also frequented a disability sports center. One day, while enjoying activities such as swimming and table tennis, he came across an article in the newspaper that introduced the existence of "Amputee Football."
＊At that time, the Brazilian national team was the strongest in Amputee Football and had won championships.
At that time, it was said that there were no people playing the sport in São Paulo, so Henrique had given up on participating in the competition.
Two years after reaching the age of 13, Henrique received news that the national tournament for Amputee Football was going to be held in Brazil. Upon hearing this, he decided to form a team and participate in the competition.
From scratch, Henrique formed an Amputee Football team based in São Paulo. The team was initially named "AACD," representing the initials of the Association for Assistance to Disabled Children. While the team consisted of players ranging from their 20s to 30s, they were all amateurs. Unfortunately, the team's performance was dismal, resulting in losses in every match they played. They finished at the bottom of the standings among all participating teams.
During this tournament, Henrique received the "Rookie of the Year" award. Moreover, meeting Mario Melo, the star player of the Brazilian Amputee Football team who inspired his interest in the sport, became a significant turning point in his athletic career.
===Brazil National Team===
At the national tournament when he was 13 years old, Henrique met Mario Melo, the star player of the Brazilian Amputee Soccer team. Mario encouraged him by saying, "If you keep playing soccer, someday you'll become a national team player." This became the catalyst for Henrique to dedicate himself to training diligently.
Driven by the desire not to be pitied, Henrique devoted himself tirelessly to training. In November 2007, at the age of 18, he received his first call-up to the Brazilian national team for the World Cup.
Until the 6th edition of the tournament in 2005, the Brazilian national team had an impressive record, with three championships, two runner-up finishes, and one third-place finish. They had demonstrated their strength by defeating powerhouse nations like Russia and Uzbekistan, establishing themselves as the number one team in the world.
In the 7th edition of the World Cup held in Turkey, three teenagers, including Henrique, were called up for the Brazilian national team. Despite their inclusion, Brazil narrowly lost to the host country Turkey, which had experienced rapid growth, and finished in 4th place.
===Life in Japan===
Having stayed with relatives in Japan since childhood and attended school there, Henrique longed for the safe and convenient life in Japan.
After graduating from high school, Henrique immediately went to study abroad under his uncle in Okinawa, Japan. However, he struggled to overcome the language barrier and returned to Brazil in despair.
Shortly thereafter, Henrique was called up to represent the Brazilian Amputee Soccer team and made his debut as a player.
After returning to Brazil, Henrique had plans to attend university locally. However, around the same time, he received a proposal from his cousin, whom he had admired and looked up to like a brother since childhood. This opportunity led him to resume his life in Japan with the prospect of employment.
===As a Pioneer of Amputee Football in Japan ===
At the time when Henrique came to Japan for employment, amputee football did not yet exist as a recognized sport in the country.
Henrique learned about Mr. Sugino, who was coaching intellectual disability soccer within the company and also served as the coach of the Japanese Amputee Soccer national team. Intrigued by this, he visited Sugino's coaching school. From that day on, for a while, Henrique actively participated in Sugino's school, mingling with the children using crutches and enjoying playing soccer in the style of Amputee Soccer that Sugino taught.
With the guidance of Mr. Sugino, Henrique began gathering members for an Amputee Soccer team in Japan. This initiative gradually led to an increase in the number of participants in the sport, thanks to Mr. Sugino's advice and support.
==Honours==
===2014===
The 4th Japan Amputee Soccer Championship: ”Top Scorer
===2015===
The 2nd Leopin Cup Copa Amputee: ”MVP” and ”Top Scorer”
===2016===
The 6th Japan Amputee Soccer Championship: ”MVP”
===2017===
The 4nd Leopin Cup Copa Amputee: ”Top Scorer”
===2019===
East Japan Amputee Soccer League: "MVP"
The 9th Japan Amputee Soccer Championship: "Toshiyuki Ishiwata Award"
===2022===
The 7nd Leopin Cup Copa Amputee: ”MVP” and ”Top Scorer”
The 11th Japan Amputee Soccer Championship: ”MVP”
Category:1989 births
Category:People from São Paulo
Category:Brazilian people
Category:Soccer players