Deco's Art

le milieu de terrain de Lens Abdoulaye Faye (D) est à la lutte avec le milieu de terrain du FC Porto, Deco, le 28 novembre 2002 au stade Das Antas à Porto, lors de la rencontre opposant le FC Porto au RC Lens, comptant pour les 16es de finale aller de la coupe UEFA. Porto l'a emporté 3 à 0.

The 2002-2003 season was an exceptionally good one for Porto's Brazil-born midfielder Anderson Luis de Souza.

Portuguese player Deco dribles a ball during the team's training carefully watched by coach Luis Felipe Scolari 13 November 2003 at Lisbon National Stadium. Portugal will play Greece in a private match 15 November in Aveiro. AFP PHOTO LUSA/TIAGO PETINGA (PORTUGAL OUT)

Deco, as he is known, created two goals in his club's 3-2 UEFA Cup final win over Celtic, was a wellspring of creative genius in their romp toward the Portuguese Cup and championship, which they won by a mile, and scored a free-kick winner on his international debut for Portugal against, no less, Brazil.

Deco became a naturalised Portuguese on the advice of national coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who had led Brazil to World Cup victory in 2002 before joining Portugal in their run up to Euro 2004, where the midfielder looks set to play a leading role.

He arrived at Benfica in Portugal as a 19-year-old in 1997 after stints with two minor Brazilian sides Nacional de Sao Paulo and Corinthians Alagoano.

In the Maradona tradition

FC Porto forward Deco (L) vies with Olympique Marseille defender Stephan Vachousek (R) during their Champions League match, 22 October 2003 at velodrome stadium in Marseille. AFP PHOTO BORIS HORVAT

The Lisbon outfit loaned him out to an affiliated second division club before selling him on to Porto in 1999.

In the northern port city Deco's playmaking talents were brought to the fore and he is now firmly established as a fans favourite.

Portuguese Deco (R) vies with Paraguayan Paulo da Silva in a friendly match 06 June 2003 at Braga Stadium.

Stangely for a Brazilian his idol was the great Argentine Diego Maradona, and Deco too is a classic number 10, his sence of creativity and magic touch allowing him to orchestrate the flowing Porto forward line.

"He works hard for the team, never hestitates to put in that extra defensive effort while also shining in his offensive role," says Porto coach Jose Mourinhoz. "He's amongst the very best."

And he was at his very best again during the 2003-04 campaign when Porto not only successfully defended their league title, but stunned Europe by winning the Champions League, overcoming Manchester United and Deportivo in the quarters and semis before thrashing Monaco 3-0 in the final.

He will be approaching 27 when Euro 2004 kicks off and while Real Madrid's Luis Figo is against Portugal fielding naturalised Brazilians, Scolari has unearthed a diamond in Deco.