The Day Brazil Lost of One of Its Greatest Young Talents

By: Bruno Romani | April 19th, 2008

Dener - Portuguesa

Before Ronaldinho and Robinho existed, he already showed on the pitch a diverse repertoire of dribbles and beautiful plays. He used to say that he preferred a dribble to the goal.

Before Rivaldo and Ronaldo were thinking of winning the award for the best player on Earth, he was already one of the greatest promises of Brazilian football in many years. And I remember saying at the time for the dismay of many that the line-up for the national squad in the 94 World Cup should have him along with Romario and Bebeto. His name is Denner, midfielder who played for Portuguesa, Grêmio and Vasco.

But before we could see the rewards for his talent, a car accident took him away from us at the age of 22. Since that April 19th of 1994,I still find myself thinking what could’ve been if the world had seen Dener. He could’ve been easily the best player in the world.

He was of the greatest jewels Portuguesa ever had. He also brought some skills to the tough football of Rio Grande do Sul by spending 6 months at Grêmio. When he died, he was on a loan from Portuguesa to Vasco. The night before his accident, he was in talks with officials of Stuttgart. Vasco was in the final of the state league, and the title was entirely dedicated to him. Replacing Dener in that final, a youngster named Jardel went to the pitch and scored the two goals of the title. But that’s another story.

After his death, his family lived through harsh financial times, thanks to a stalemate involving the officials of Vasco and Portuguesa who both refused to pay for his life insurance. Only recently Vasco was ordered to pay that. But there’s no money will ever pay for this wasted talent.

Dener, we miss you.

videos. You gotta whatc for yourselves.

Plays: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=plftq_X64u0

Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kj97HhsRbZs&feature=related

Great Goals: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EQ1Jf1XBz7g&feature=related

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HJBrKBJNn_s&feature=related

Dener at Gremio: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R7u3FN_-5R8&feature=related

The Day of his Death: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YW9FmXehQd8&NR=1

Vasco fans Say Good-Bye to Dener in the Final of Campeonato Carioca: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k7GMmz1q1-I&feature=related

Final Vasco x Fluminense dedicated to Dener: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHuZur8LM2g