Brazil Futsal Success — Eliminate the Rival Theory

Why is it that Brazil has produced such successful soccer teams, and so many brilliant players? One theory is that it is because Brazil has a lot of very poor areas, and so people are just desperate to leave the 'favelas' (slums), and that becoming a professional soccer player is a good way to do this. But a better explanation is the unique popularity in Brazil of a game called futsal. Futsal is played with a smaller ball that is more difficult to control, and in smaller spaces where people have to think faster and be more accurate with their passing. As former soccer superstar Ronaldinho said, "When you come to play soccer, it's easy if you've come from futsal."