FIFA Gamer Turn Pro Baller: Nelson Semedo’s Modest Background

While Nelson Semedo is widely known in football circles as “The Motorist,” his journey to fame began long before his professional career. As a child, he spent countless hours immersed in his PlayStation 2, mastering the virtual world of football with his favourite team, FC Barcelona. Little did he know then that this childhood pastime would foreshadow his future destiny. Before his teenage years, Semedo’s affinity for FC Barcelona in FIFA games hinted at a path he would later tread in real life.

Beyond his football achievements, this article delves into Semedo’s early life, his upbringing in a modest and humble environment, and the twists of fate that shaped his journey. It explores his family background, his life before fame, and the personal milestones that defined his rise to stardom. Join us as we uncover the full story of “The Motorist,” offering insights into the man behind the football accolades.

The analysis involves his early life, family background, life story before fame, rise to fame story, relationship and personal life, etc.

Yes, everyone knows about his speedy abilities on the flank, a reason for his nickname “The Motorist“.

However, not many football fans have read Nelson Semedo’s Biography, which is quite interesting. Now, without further ado, let’s begin.

Nelson Semedo Childhood Story – Early Life and Family Background:

For Biography starters, Nélson Cabral Semedo was born on November 16, year 1993, in Lisbon, Portugal. He hails from a mixed heritage of Portuguese and Cape Verdean descent, which has fostered a close bond with fellow countryman Cristiano Ronaldo, who also shares Cape Verdean roots.

Nelson Semedo grew up with his beloved mother, a relatively unknown father, and a brother in the Portuguese suburb of Mira-Sintra. His mother, pictured below, raised him in a Catholic household.

Since childhood, Nelson Semedo cherished memories of spending time with his elder brother, who chose a different path away from soccer. Semedo pursued his education up to the postgraduate level.

Mira-Sintra, the hometown of Nelson Semedo, is a welcoming place, a little town with family and a PlayStation fun feel. For Nelson, It’s all about the football simulation video game FIFA, which he played for fun.

Early on, before his teenage years, Nelson had a twist with fate with FIFA’s FC Barcelona team, without knowing his destiny would take him there in the future.

Put simply, he, just like Cody Gakpo, his Liverpool teammate Diogo Jota, and Brazil’s Gleison Bremer, were once addicted to football video games.

According to the FC Barcelona website, Semedo was always fond of choosing FC Barcelona on FIFA when playing video games with his friends because right from time, even before the advancement of Lionel Messi, he always thought, “They are the best team in the world.”

Nelson Semedo Childhood Story – Career Buildup:

The reason for using FC Barca on the PlayStation FIFA Gaming Series was because of one name, “Ronaldinho“.

The magician footballer who once played at FC Barcelona dominated the front page of the FIFA 2007 PlayStation 2 gaming series.

Aside from his passion for playing PlayStation, Nelson Semedo was also devoted to wearing his FC Barcelona T-shirt while playing street football with friends on local pitches. During those times, street football was everything to him.

“I had never been part of an official team. I attempted a few times when I was younger, but it didn’t work out for me. I began my football journey playing in the streets,” Nelson Semedo recounted.

While many of today’s well-known footballers started their careers at a young age, Nelson Semedo took a different path. He continued playing Play Station and street football until he was 15 years old, when a staff member from Sintrense noticed his talent and became interested in him.

Nelson Semedo Childhood Biography – Early Career Life:

Before attempting his trial at Sintrense, a club known for its high standards, Semedo had been discouraged by others who believed he was too small to succeed. However, he defied these doubts and showed that determination and hard work outweigh physical stature.

In 2008, Semedo’s dedication to soccer paid off when he successfully passed his trials and joined the youth team of Sintrense, a local side playing in Portugal’s third division at the time.

Sintrense’s team management offered Nelson Semedo the supportive environment he needed to develop. Initially playing as a midfielder who enjoyed attacking and scoring goals, Semedo’s progress was gradual but marked by patience and determination.

Within three years, his dedication paid off as he swiftly rose through the youth ranks and earned promotion to Sintrense’s senior team. During this period, he caught the attention of several prominent Portuguese clubs, including Benfica, who eventually signed him.

Nelson Semedo Bio – Road to Fame Story:

Nelson Semedo was assigned to play with Benfica B after joining the club. At some point, he developed the intention of leaving Benfica B for a smaller team because he wasn’t getting the chance to play in midfield.

It was Semedo’s former coach O Jogo who had to convince Semedo to play right-back. 

“I managed to convince him to remain with Benfica and play as a right-back. I spoke to him and made him understand the opportunity he had.  Today he has been rewarded for the effort he has put in. said Jogo.

Following the end of his Benfica B career, Semedo went on loan to Centro Desportivo de Fátima. He was observed to have developed rapidly upon his return after 29 games.

With Benfica’s senior team, Semedo reclaimed his starting position and became the third most frequently used player during their historic fourth consecutive league title win. He also contributed significantly to their victories in the Taça de Portugal, Taca de Liga, and Premier Liga titles.

The Portuguese’s performances throughout the 2016-2017 season led to him becoming the breakthrough player of the Year 2017.

Nelson Semedo Biography – Rise to Fame Story:

Sometimes, in football, fate takes a fortunate turn. Nelson Semedo may not have been considered the world’s best right-back aspiring to join FC Barcelona, but his childhood determination and aspirations bore fruit on July 13, 2017, when FC Barcelona announced his signing with the club.

Did you know? André Gomes played a crucial role in Semedo’s transition to Camp Nou, influencing his move and helping him settle into life at the club.

“I had a conversation with André about the club’s immense stature, the positive atmosphere in the locker room, and how it feels like a tight-knit family,” Semedo shared after signing. “I was genuinely impressed by what he said, and I feel fortunate to be here to experience it alongside him.”

Nelson Semedo became the 12th Portuguese player to join the ranks of Barcelona, following in the footsteps of footballing legends like Figo, Deco, and Vitor Baia.

In his remarkable career, he has earned accolades such as LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year (2016-17) and a place in the UEFA Champions League Breakthrough XI (2017).

Little could Nelson Semedo had imagined years ago when he was just a 15-year-old street footballer, that he would one day wear the Barcelona jersey. The rest, as they say, is history.

Nelson Semedo Love Life with Marlene Alvarenga:

The romances of Nelson Semedo escape the scrutiny of the public eye simply because his love life is drama-free.

Behind the successful Portuguese footballer, there exists a glamorous WAG in the beautiful person of Marlene Alvarenga.

Rather than going for a white lady, as most black footballers do, Nelson Semedo prefers to date someone from his family origin.

Marlene, without a doubt, is a beautiful addition to the abundance of beautiful women among FC Barcelona’s WAGs. She is very supportive of her man via posts from her own Instagram account.

Nelson Semedo is today happily married to Marlene Alvarenga. Currently, both lovers are blessed with a child named Luana Pereira Semedo, who was born on the 9th of May 2016.

The couples make public appearances together and often visit expensive destinations during football vacations.

Personal Life:

Getting to know Nelson Semedo’s Personal Life would help you get a complete picture of him. He has once revealed himself as a quiet and normal guy who places great value not just on family and close friends.

“For me, they are really important; chatting with friends and family, even if it’s at home, is what I like,” Semedo once admitted.

Nelson Semedo Lifestyle:

Nelson Semedo is a Footballer who seems to have it all. He’s got the money, a great house and a flashy car, thanks to his extraordinary salary as a footballer.

Family Life:

Semedo demonstrates a deep connection to his family members and his Cape Verdean roots. Cape Verde, unlike Portugal, is not a wealthy nation. The country faces challenges in organizing friendly matches due to the associated costs, resulting in a steady outflow of players from the Cape Verdean national team.

Among them is former Manchester United player Nani, born in Praia (the capital of Cape Verde), who opted to represent Portugal. Other notable footballers of Cape Verdean descent include Patrick Vieira and Henrik Larsson.

Untold Facts:

Did you know?… Having just signed for FC Barcelona, Semedo got himself engaged in a fight with Neymar. It happened during a training session on their tour of the United States. The incident was captured on camera.

It took Nelson Semedo 5 months to talk about the incident in an interview with Maisfutrbol, he once said;

“The altercation didn’t hinder me; it was a routine incident in training. My teammates and friends stood by me throughout.

Soon after my arrival, I found myself in a confrontation with one of the team’s key players. It was frustrating at the moment, but I empathized with Neymar, who was going through a tough phase and expressing his desire to leave the club.”

Shirt Number Fact:

Semedo wore number 50 at Benfica. This is a number that cannot La Liga won’t allow anyone to wear. The Spanish league only allows first-team players to wear numbers 1-25.

Fact Check:

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