This article takes you through the journey of Emerson Royal, a tale of resilience, ambition, and the quest for football greatness, from his roots in São Paulo to the prestigious ranks of Tottenham Hotspur.
Born to Tania Ferreira and Leite de Souza, Emerson’s rise to success is a compelling story of overcoming challenges, driven by family support and an unwavering determination to reach his goals. Discover the layers behind this Spurs right-back star, from his early years to becoming a pivotal player for both the Brazilian national team and in the Premier League.
In a nutshell, this article provides the full history of Emerson Royal, a footballer who earned his nickname due to his frequent crying as a child. Tania Ferreira, Emerson Royal’s mother, admits that her son’s tendency to cry as a child had a significant impact on his future. Interestingly, Emerson’s nickname “Royal” was given by his aunt. She chose the name because of how wide his mouth would open when he cried.
He transformed that nickname into a source of motivation, using it to drive himself towards success despite facing two rejections. We cover the Brazilian professional footballer’s journey from his early childhood to his rise to fame in the world of football.
Preamble:
To stimulate your autobiography to taste on the engaging nature of Emerson Royal’s Bio, we’ve found it necessary to portray his early life and Rise Gallery. Behold the gallery of his life trajectory.
The Biography of Emerson Royal – From his Early Life to the Moment of Fame.
Nothing in life frightens him these days. Emerson is just like Raphinha – both of whom have seen rejections in their careers.
Before arriving in Europe, Emerson had overcome two layoffs from major clubs in Brazil. Also, he once had an injury that nearly ended his career.
Despite the accolades attributed to his gameplay, only a few fans have read a concise version of Emerson Royal’s Biography. We’ve taken a bold step to prepare it for you. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.
Emerson Royal Childhood Story:
For Biography starters, Royal is not his real name – but a nickname. The Baller bears the real name – Emerson Aparecido Leite de Souza Junior.
The Brazilian star was born on the 14th day of January 1999 to his mother, Tania Ferreira and father, Leite de Souza – in São Paulo, Brazil’s most populous city.
Based on facts and findings, Emerson Royal came to the world as the first son and child – born of the blissful marital union between his parents.
To date, there are no words to capture the gratitude he has for his Dad and Mum – two of his pillars.
Indeed, the Brazilian is forever indebted to them for their sacrifices. Pictured here are Tania Ferreira and her husband – Leite de Souza.
Meet Emerson Royal’s parents – his look-alike Dad (Leite de Souza) and his beautiful Mum (Tania Ferreira).
Growing Up:
There is always a garden in the childhood of kids from affluent families.
A place where their parents prepare an enchanted place that has bright colours, where the air gets softer, and mornings appear more fragrant.
This was the complete opposite for Emerson Royal, a boy so adored by his parents and who got his nickname simply because he was a “Cry Baby”.
By simply shedding tears, Emerson gave his Dad and Mum the inspiration to get their job done quickly.
Behold the crybaby – Emerson Royal – in his childhood.
The Origin of Royal – the Nickname:
Tania Ferreira (Emerson Royal’s Mum) admits that her boy’s ability to cry – as a child – changed his destiny.
The truth is that Emerson’s nickname ‘Royal’ originated from his aunt. She gave him that name in reference to how big his mouth was when he cried.
In an interview with Goal, Emerson Royal explained the origin of his nickname. In his words,
My nickname came from a mascot of the Royal-branded gelatin dessert sold in Brazil.
I usually cry a lot when I was a child, and an aunt called me Royal.
Funny enough, that nickname stuck in the lips of everyone. Since his childhood, members of Emerson Royal’s family have called him that.
As he grew up, the name kept its cool, and it soon became Emerson’s intention to be recognized as “Royal” even in the world of football.
Royal as a name denotes having the status of a king. More so, it is a common fact that a king should be courageous and brave, especially in the face of difficulties.
Hence, the meaning of his nickname defined Emerson’s personality.
While doing further research, we noticed the Brazilian footballer has a logo of Royal as part of his Instagram Biography.
Pictured here, this is a symbol of a crown and it has his nickname written below it.
The Barca Childhood Fan:
The Defender admits he had dreams of playing for the Spanish giants. Emerson’s love for Barcelona dates back to the age of 9 – when he was kicking the ball in his Ermelino Matarazzo neighbourhood. Here is a piece of evidence – at a time, Barca had this shirt.
As a boy, Emerson fell in love with FC Barcelona. Little was he aware his dreams would come to pass.
Emerson Royal Family Background:
The Tottenham Hotspur footballer hails from a Brazilian middle-class household. Similar to the family of Neymar, Emerson Royal’s family comprises cheerful people whose lives they built on love for one another. Pictured here are the smiling faces of his Mum and siblings.
Emerson Royal Family Background – humble beginnings.
While many Brazilian parents dream of raising their children in the big city of Sao Paulo, others opt to keep their family in a less-bustling environment.
Tania Ferreira (Emerson Royal’s Mum) and her husband raised their kids in the suburbs of Sao Paulo.
From suburban Sao Paulo to the world stage, Emerson Royal’s beaming smile is a testament to the love and support of his parents, Tania Ferreira and her husband.
Emerson Royal Family Origin:
The Baller hails from Americana, is a municipality in the Brazilian State of Sao Paulo.
He was raised in Favela and is very proud of my origins and Ermelino Matarazzo – a neighbourhood where he grew up. Emerson’s birthplace is 1 hr 36 min (129.6 km) from Sao Paulo.
Emerson Royal Family Origin – Explained.
Although he identifies himself with a Brazilian nationality, there is actually more to the footballer’s roots. From an ethnic perspective, both of Emerson Royal’s parents classify themselves as Afro-Brazilian people.
In addition, it is likely that his Afro-Brazilian ethnicity has predominantly or partial African ancestry. Hence, Brazilians who have their origin in Africa make up around 15 million or 7.6% of the country’s population.
Further research made did trace the history of Emerson Royal’s ancestry from African slaves who became Brazilian settlers.
These are mostly Bantu and West African populations -such as the Yoruba, Ewe, and Fanti-Ashanti.
Emerson Royal Education and Career Buildup:
Spending his boyhood days in Americana, all the boy ever wanted was to attend a football programme – that suited his personality.
Emerson began educating himself right in his family backyard – a residence that belonged to his grandmother.
The reason for pushing himself to become better at football was simply because his cousin often dribbles him, and that made poor Emerson look like a fool. Speaking about that moment, the Baller said this;
I started playing soccer because my cousin, who was older than me.
He used to dribble me in my grandmother’s backyard. He made me look like a fool (laughs).
Because of the humiliation caused by his cousin’s dribbles, Emerson decided he would dedicate his entire might to soccer – so he could also dribble like his big cousin.
From that moment, the nine-year-old began pushing for the manifestation of his destiny.
Emerson Royal Football Story:
At the time his cousin’s brother dribbled his life, the youngster never knew how to handle a ball. Pledging total commitment to the beautiful game, young Emerson got a lucky call from a team in his neighbourhood.
He started out by enrolling in a football project named Candor – located in the interior of Sao Paulo. From there, Emerson Royal moved on to Unidos da Cordenonsi. This is also a local team in Americana – where he grew up.
By joining the above academies, Emerson showed improvements in his dribbling technique. Moving to higher ground, he joined Guanabara before earning a trial with Palmeiras to join their under-11 side.
Emerson Royal Struggles – The Poor Career Start:
Joining Palmeiras academy – the third-best in the city means upping his game. Sadly, that wasn’t the case for Emerson as he struggled.
The youngster played badly in the area of competing and dominating his teammates. In an interview with UOL Esporte, Royal said;
I wasn’t playing properly, and the following year, they wanted me to go back to where I came from.
but then there was a team from Americana that called me to play.
The last thing for Royal was to move backwards. So in order to meet the demands of his academy, he decided to give his best – which, unfortunately, still wasn’t good enough.
Palmeiras managed Emerson Royal’s performance until he got to their Under-15 – before sending him away.
Getting released from a football academy – especially on the grounds of non-performance – is the worst thing any young footballer can face.
For poor Emerson Royal, there came this deep emotional pain that eased down through consolation from his parents and family members. Thanks to that, the poor boy (pictured below) rose up and moved on.
Family members consoled Emerson Royal after he faced rejection from his academy- Palmeiras.
The Road to Fame Story:
The disappointment with Palmeiras happened halfway through his under-15. In the middle of that year, a lucky Emerson got a call from Grêmio to attend their trials.
With great hope, the youngster left friends and family behind for a nearly 14-hour journey.
To pursue his destiny, Emerson travelled for approximately 14 hours from Sao Paulo to Porto Alegre – where Grêmio is located.
After meeting the expectations of the Porto Alegre based academy, Royal got accepted there. However, little did the boy know another rejection was coming his way.
For the second time, an academy accused Emerson of not knowing how to play football to their taste.
Unlike Palmeiras, Grêmio did not waste time with the under-performing Emerson. The academy kicked him out – despite being with them in less than a year.
More Troubles after a Second Rejection:
Knowing vividly well – on similar fate he suffered earlier with Palmeiras, Emerson Royal’s parents and family members ensured their boy didn’t get swallowed with frustration. Sadly at this time, he almost made up his mind to stop football.
Somehow, the youngster managed to move on and that action came when another club (Ponte Preta) gave him approval following a two weeks test. Even so, a young Emerson still had to go through another frustration (not another rejection thou).
Getting injured was the ordeal Royal had to go through before establishing himself in the youth categories.
To show how painful it was, the whole thing happened in his first official game with Ponte Preta. While lamenting on the situation, Emerson Royal said this;
I was 16 and was one of the youngest in Ponte Preta under-17 category.
Having performed well in training, I had the chance to start. But in my first game, I broke my arm.
Sadly, at this time, certain members of Emerson Royal’s family doubted if he could succeed in his career. They pondered and lamented severally about his bad luck.
Quitting Football and the Rescue:
No thanks to the injury, Emerson Royal became even more furious with himself. Now more than ever, he began considering the bad idea of ending what he called a failed youth career.
Just as the poor boy was about to do that, a God sent came his way. It was no other than his coach. This man, Elio Sizenando, gave Royal the biggest assurance of his life. In his words,
My coach, Elio Sizenando, called me just after my injury and said when I recover, he would take me to the BH Cup because he trusted in my abilities.
With those words, Emerson Royal found the strength to carry on with his career. He waited patiently, and that helped speed up his recovery process.
Also, with the advice from Elio Sizenando, the boy gained confidence and did manage to travel for the competition.
The Shaky Debut:
After standing out, the cheerful Emerson got his first opportunity to make the top team. All this happened at age 16 – when he began training professionally with Ponte Preta’s senior side. Now, here is another bad luck – from his first game as a professional footballer.
Emerson’s senior debut was unforgettable – again from a negative point of view.
Like the Devil coming back to haunt him, he received a yellow card just after five minutes on the field. He then caused a penalty – that made his team draw an important match.
Contrary to what many imagine, the Brazilian got a second chance from his coach, Felipe Moreira. From his second game (a game against São Bernardo), things went on smoothly.
Emerson Royal Biography – The Success Story:
In his first year as a professional footballer, the never-give-up Boy helped the club win his first senior career trophy – the Campeonato Paulista do Interior.
Emerson Royal and his teammates are celebrating his first career trophy.
Also, in that season, the joy of Emerson Royal’s family knew no bounds – as their illustrious son got a call to represent his country. The Brazilian under-20 team approved his name for the 2017 Toulon Tournament.
The fast-rising football didn’t disappoint. He became the first-choice right-back at the 2019 South American U-20 Championship and the Toulon Tournament.
The Brazil youth side with notable names like Matheus Cunha and Antony dos Santos achieved victory in the latter.
Emerson Royal celebrates his first national honour for his country.
In that tournament, young Emerson Royal played against the likes of Nuno Tavares from Portugal. In fact, a more powerful England team were the favourite to win the Toulon Tournament.
Big names in that English squad include the likes of Trevoh Chalobah (Chelsea), Marc Guéhi (Chelsea), Reece James (Chelsea), Conor Gallagher (Chelsea), Eddie Nketiah (Arsenal), Joe Willock, and Eberechi Eze (Queens Park Rangers).
The European Call:
Before the 2019 Toulon Tournament victory, Emerson Royal was already a Big Boy for his new club – Atlético Mineiro. With a series of dazzling displays, they often selected the superstar boy to attend their press conferences.
See who has just reached superstardom. A boy who once never knew how to play football.
Emerson reached the height of super-stardom in his homeland, a feat he used to send a message to the biggest clubs in Europe.
Among those include FC Barca, a club that could not resist the boy’s brilliance. This video explains why FC Barcelona signed Emerson.
The Loan Success at Real Betis:
On the 31st day of January 2019, the joy of Emerson Royal’s family knew no bounds – as their breadwinner got his much-awaited transfer to Europe.
Not only Barca but another La Liga side, Real Betis, sponsored the deal to purchase Emerson’s services for €12.7 million.
Based on an agreement, Emerson Royal was to play for Real Betis – with Barcelona holding the option of reacquiring him for €6 million in 2021. The Spanish giant – at that time had Nélson Semedo – who was in excellent form.
With the Green-and-Whites, Emerson Royal became a guaranteed starter. He got the opportunity to play alongside William Carvalho (DM), Guido Rodriguez (DM), Nabil Fekir, etc. – the three of Real Betis’ biggest stars.
While there, Emerson performed impressively, as observed in this video.
Proving his Worth to Barcelona:
Following their 2020 (2-8) Champions League humiliation – where Alfonso Davies dealt with FC Barcelona, the club took action by selling Nelson Semedo. After the sale, Barca got Sergino Dest rather than bringing Royal back to the team.
Such a decision didn’t go down well with Royal – as he felt the then Barcelona’s new coach (Ronald Koeman) deprived him of his rightful place with the team. The only way to win the battle was to humiliate Lionel Messi‘s side – which he did in this match.
The Short Barcelona Stay:
On the 2nd day of June 2021, the Catalan club finally exercised its option to bring back Royal. Now, check out his amazing intro to the club – that feeling of embracing his destiny.
Just after three Barca matches, National duty (COPA America) called him to represent his motherland. Royal showed his worth – when he helped Brazil reach the finals in the tournament. Brazil lost to Rodrigo De Paul‘s Argentina.
Returning from COPA America, he met a Barcelona that was engulfed in Lionel Messi’s contract battle.
At that time, the club was on the brink of total financial collapse. After Messi’s departure, Barca began selling its stars in order to reduce its huge wage bill.
Royal became one of those Barca had to let go. Other notable names include Francisco Trincão (loan), Antoine Griezmann and Miralem Pjanic. To manage their budget, the Spanish club signed Luuk de Jong – at the end of the 2021 summer transfer window.
Coming to England:
Still, on the last day of the August 2021 transfer window, Tottenham Hotspur announced they had acquired Emerson Royal from Barcelona. The English club wanted stiff competition for Matt Doherty.
In an emotional reaction to leaving the club of his dreams, the Brazilian posted these emotional words via Instagram.
Leaving the club of his childhood dreams was one of the most difficult pains Emerson had witnessed.
Well, Barca, our meeting and working together were very quick.
I think you have read and heard that my childhood dream was to wear your glorious shirt, to meet your passionate fans, to stay in your home.
That child is me who, when he was little, always wore red and blue, opened his eyes and found himself ready to defend you and help you with honour – with everything he deserves.Dreams have no boundaries—they don’t come with a size, a set time, or a specific shape. This morning, I woke up to overwhelming support from Barcelona fans and my teammates. Stepping onto the field with all my passion, I’m grateful for the chance to experience a part of what I’ve always envisioned in my career. Thank you for making that dream a reality.
In this life, we never know what to expect. Sometimes, we never know if the dream is a bit of reality or reality is a bit of a dream …
Cheer up, Barcelona! I want to thank you for believing in me, that dreamy boy… 💙 ♥ ️@fcbarcelona
At the time of writing this Emerson Royal’s Biography, he has accepted his fate. Now, more than ever, Royal has a mission to prove his worth with the Spurs and the Brazil national team, which was managed by Tite.
Will FC Barca regret the decision to sell him? Well, only time will tell. The rest, as we say of his Bio, is history.
Introducing Estela Braga – Emerson Royal’s Partner:
The Super girlfriend is a Leo and is often considered as someone with both beauty and brains.
According to her Instagram Biography, Estela Braga is a medical student at a University in Spain. Now, meet the latest addition to the Spurs WAG collection.
Emerson Royal’s wife-to-be and current girlfriend (2021) celebrates her birthday every 11th of August. Around 2021 – during her 24th birthday, we made calculations and noticed Estela Braga is two years older than her boyfriend. Well, who cares!! Age is just a number.
Emerson Royal, celebrating his girlfriend’s birthday.
At the conclusion of her birthday celebration, Estela Braga made some romantic words for her husband in appreciation of his efforts. She said;
Thank you for looking at me like that and for making me happy every day.
I love you more than yesterday and less than tomorrow!
In the area of her personality, Estela Braga loves to be around family members. Pictured below is her and someone who looks like her Grandmother. Emerson Royal’s wife-to-be also loves to be around her pets – two dogs and a cat.
Estela Braga personality – Explained.
Wedding Bells are on the way!
Estela Braga is not shy to let her fans understand the love that exists between her and Royal. She praises him as the one who teaches her to be better every day.
Emerson inspires his lover – in every attitude and always makes her see everything in a lighter way.
Thanks to the trust and love Estela and Royal have for each other, it is only a matter of time before the Spurs footballer pops the [will you marry me?] question.
We sincerely hope they will become husband and wife. Emerson Royal and Estela Braga.
Personality:
Like the flu, the consistent smile he gives can be very contagious. Emerson is someone who smiles consistently, and every time he flashes his signature grin, the mood of the next person close to him gets elevated.
Aside from football, Dancing and a little of acting is an integral part of his life.
From the video below, it appears close friends and one or two members of Emerson Royal’s family do share this great hobby with him. Watch it!
A final note on Emerson Royal’s personal life is the relationship he shares with his dog. This Canine is not just his best friend but the perfect pet for his home.
Meet Emerson Royal’s Dog.
Royal joins the likes of Marcelo and Paulo Dybala, who are huge dog lovers. His dog is a special breed – that helps him to reduce stress. It also listens to his problems (especially after a difficult day at work) and, most importantly, loves him unconditionally.
Emerson Royal Lifestyle:
In the world of fashion trends, several footballers – like England’s Trevoh Chalobah – set the rhythm. Emerson Royal himself is a fashionista. He is a very stylish dresser who loves to look smart.
Emerson Royal drives a Mercedes car (find below). He is someone who applies so much swagger to his athlete’s lifestyle. Behold a piece of video evidence – that’ll make you understand his lifestyle better.
Emerson Royal Family Life:
At the time they chased him out of two clubs, there came support he never had to pay for. Come rain or shine, Emerson Royal’s parents and his extended family members have always been there for him. In this section, we’ll tell you more about them.
About Emerson Royal’s Father:
Leite de Souza is his name. To date, the Brazilian right-back still keeps this picture that defines how old the solid relationship between him and his Dad has been.
Like father like son – check out the sticking resemblance between Emerson Royal and his Dad.
Also, something you might not have heard about Emerson Royal’s Dad is the fact that he was formerly an Athlete. Thanks to nature, the Super Dad genetically transferred his speed to Emerson and his older brother.
In an interview with UOL, the then 20-year-old defender said the following;
It’s a high speed I have. My father, my brother, they’re fast people. I think there’s a bit of genetics too.
About Emerson Royal Mother:
Tania Ferreira shares a close relationship with her son – Emerson.
What comes to mind when Tania Ferreira sees her son in Tottenham and Brazilian jerseys is the thought of everything the boy fought for to become what he is today. The proud mother today reaps the fruits of the hard work of bringing up a successful son.
Early on, while her husband played the role of the breadwinner, Tania Ferreira maintained her speciality – being the home builder.
Emerson Royal considers his mother as the most important person in his life. From this picture, you can tell he is Mummy’s Boy.
Besides being a spectacular mother, she is also a friend. The smile on his Mum’s face fills him with energy to continue steadfastly in the continuous pursuit of his dreams.
About Emerson Royal Siblings:
They consist of three brothers – one older, and two younger – with no sisters. All boys were born and raised in Ermelino Matarazzo neighbourhood on the east side of São Paulo.
Meet Emerson Royal’s Brothers.
One of his brothers is absent in the photo above. Emerson Royal’s parents had him in the latter part of their lives. His next youngest brother is probably 18 years older than the family’s last born who is pictured here.
Royal holding his youngest brother – back in the days.
About Emerson Royal’s Grandparents:
Among all, only his grandmother has a link to his childhood story. If you can recall, it was in her backyard that Emerson learned how to play football.
Untold Facts:
In this final section of our Bio, we’ll tell you some truths you might not know about the pacey Brazilian right-back. Without further ado, let’s begin.
Emerson Royal Tattoo meaning:
Behold, his body art – that comprises writeups and drawings that illustrate love for family and important events of his life.
Emerson Royal Tattoo – Explained.
The most notable of Emerson Royal Tattoo is a writeup of three years – 1974, 1981 and 2001. Do you know the meaning of Veucer ou Veucer – the tattoo writeup on his chest?
A Multi-Millionaire in Brazil:
According to spurs-web, the defender earns £2,100,000 annually with Tottenham Hotspur. Emerson Royal’s salary in Brazil’s currency (Brazilian Real) implies he is a multimillionaire.
Where he comes from, the average Brazilian earns approximately 8,560 BRL per month. Therefore, it would take them around 34 years to make Emerson Royal’s Spurs weekly salary.
Emerson Royal Religion:
The Sao Paulo native joins about 123 million people or 64.6% of the Brazilian population, who are Roman Catholic.
You can tell he is a Christian, judging by the way he dresses. Often, Royal wears Crosses, and that shows his commitment to the Christian faith.
Emerson Royal Religion – Explained.
Emerson Royal Profile:
As of 2021, there are just four things he lacks in football. They include his FK accuracies, taking penalties, volleys, and finishing abilities.
Emerson Royal is very much comparable to Noussair Mazraoui and Diogo Dalot. These are near-perfect right-backs.
Emerson Royal Profile – Explained.
Conclusion:
Yes, it is absolutely normal to face disappointment in Life. It brings a whole new experience and what matters most is our ability to handle such situations. Emerson Royal faced two big rejections in his early football life. He forged his character from those bitter moments.
Rather than allowing their boy to suffer, Emerson Royal’s parents and family members stood by him throughout the times he got sent away from Palmeiras and Grêmio. His Mum and Dad ensured he never gave up on his dreams to become successful.
Today, the footballer who is still holding his childhood nickname – Royal – has now established himself as Brazil’s favourite right-back to succeed Dani Alves.
Emerson has seen the bitter side of football – even while in Europe. The Spurs footballer only spent a month at Barca – a club who already knew they were going to sell him because of financial issues. Read Marca, on why Royal was hurt by the way Barca sold him.
Thank you for giving us your time to digest this Biography about Emerson Royal. We care about the accuracy and quality of our writing about Brazilian Footballers.
Please reach us (via our contact page) if you notice anything that doesn’t look good in our Biography of Emerson Royal. Kindly stay tuned for more Brazilian Footballers’ Childhood stories from Us. Indeed, the story of Gabriel Martinelli, Gabriel Barbosa and Allan Loureiro would interest you. We would appreciate it if you help place a comment – to give us your thoughts about the Brazilian right-back.
