Last week, the São Paulo skyline lit up with fireworks. On Wednesday night, football fans danced on the main Avenida Paulista and firecrackers filled the air. Corinthians, one of the city’s big three football teams, had just beaten Inter to win the Brazilian FA Cup. This was in no small part thanks to Ronaldo, the World Cup Winner and three times FIFA player of the year, who after 14 years in Europe is back in Brazil scoring for Corinthians. First, his eight goals in 10 games helped Corinthians win the São Paulo state championship. Then he scored in the 4-2 aggregate victory that won them the cup.

Boys play football in the Vila Cruzeiro favela of Rio de Janeiro, where former AC Milan star Adriano grew up

Brazilian football is booming, spurred by the return of top-flight players, innovative sponsorship schemes and a nascent economic recovery.