Mahatma Gandhi Heberpio Mattos Pires is a 32-year-old Brazilian footballer who made headlines last year, not only for his exceptional football talent but also for the catchy name; the name sounded familiar to that of India’s legendary freedom fighter, Mahatma Gandhi.
Football Career Of Mahatma Gandhi
Mahatma Gandhi started his professional football career in 2011 with the Brazilian Atletico Goianiense. Many clubs began to borrow him over time, Trindade, Goiania, and Ipora, where he played and had different positions sometimes as a defensive midfielder, but also the left-back and central midfielder. He also played in both the first and second tiers of Brazilian football, earning himself a place for his contribution to Atletico Goianiense’s victory in the Campeonato Goiano in 2014, where he made five appearances.
Where is Mahatma Gandhi Now?
As per Transfermarkt, Mahatma Gandhi last played professional football in 2017 for Goiania. Currently, he is listed as ‘retired’ on the website. Notably, he does not maintain a social media presence, which makes it challenging to track his current activities or whereabouts.
The Story Behind His Unique Name
The background for Mahatma Gandhi’s name is derived from his parents’ admiration of the Indian leader’s philosophy of non-violence. His parents, based in Goiania, Brazil, were influenced significantly by Mahatma Gandhi’s role in India’s fight for independence and named their son after him as a tribute, as reported by RadioMango
It is interesting that the connection of Mahatma Gandhi to football transcends his name. The Indian leader was also involved in football during his time in South Africa (1893-1915), as he founded three football clubs for the Passive Resisters Football Club in Johannesburg, Pretoria, and Durban. This historical connection to the sport adds another dimension to the name of the Brazilian footballer, as reported by Moneycontrol
