The portrait of a star: Da Rosa shines bright to lift Brazil to maiden quarter-finals berth

When Brazil took a 29:26 win against Norway in their opener at the 2025 IHF Men’s World Championship, the shock was huge. Against the co-hosts, in the Unity Arena in Baerum, especially as Norway were revving up for a medal challenge.

It was a sign that the South American champions were up for a shock or two at this edition of the competition. But who would have thought that Brazil were going to secure their maiden quarter-finals berth ahead of Sweden, Norway or Spain, all eliminated in the main round?

Probably nobody. Except this sturdy, hard-working Brazil team, which delivered a fantastic performance throughout the whole competition, regardless of their off moments against Portugal, Chile or the United States of America, when they were down by several goals in different moment of the match.

Each time, they found something in the tank. Against Norway, they were down five goals early, only to bounce back in the second half. Against the USA, they were also down three goals, but delivered a better second part of the match, securing another win.

But against Sweden, in their 27:24 win, Brazil led from start to finish, by as much as six goals in the 38th minute and by five goals in the 53rd minute, to secure the much-needed win to break through to the quarter-finals for the first time in history, joining Portugal, another newcomer on the biggest of stages.

“It is a very different feeling for us. We are not used to being here. Each game is special and we enjoy it to the fullest.,” said goalkeeper Rangel Da Rosa, who had a whopping 20-saves performance against Sweden.

Da Rosa was Brazil’s true hero at this IHF Men’s World Championship, providing some incredible saves, which kept the South American side alive in the matches or, in other cases, lifted Brazil’s spirits and conserved the lead which they had already taken.

Against Norway, Da Rosa saved two penalties and 11 shots in total, for a 33% saving efficiency, spearheading his team’s stunning comeback. He produced 13 saves against Portugal, for a 36% saving efficiency. Against USA, he had 17 saves, for a 50% saving efficiency.

His only off match came against Chile, when he mustered only three saves. But he came back even stronger, opening the decider against Sweden with two penalties saved in the first six minutes. By the 15th minute, he had seven saves, conceding only four goals.

In the end, Da Rosa finished with 20 saves, a 48% saving efficiency and 11 one-on-one saves, with three coming from fast breaks, two penalties and other two against Sweden’s experienced wings.

“I think that the preparation has been very good. To have the confidence of my teammates, my coach and my goalkeepers.  Therefore, all this comes together and I can do my best performance,” adds Brazil’s goalkeeper.

At 28 years old, he is currently featuring at club level for French side Saint-Raphaël Var Handball, placed fifth in the French first league. But his emergence was not a fast-paced one. He came to Europe back in 2015, when he was still a teenager, featuring at Spanish side BM Villa de Aranda.

Then, Da Rosa spent two years in Romania at now-defunct club HC Odorheiu Secuiesc. Then he bounced between Bidasoa Irun,BM Logroño La Rioja and Granollers, before finally settling in France in 2023.

His ascension to being the first choice between the posts of Brazil was no easy feature. This is Da Rosa’s third edition of the IHF Men’s World Championship, but in the previous he was the understudy of two more experienced goalkeepers – Maik dos Santos and Leonardo Terçariol.

Now, the time is his and Da Rosa has an absolutely otherworldly 40% saving efficiency after the first five matches he played in. Not only his percentage is impressive, but also his usage, only Denmark’s Emil Nielsen boasting more saves throughout the competition, 66, to Da Rosa’s 64.

“In the end, when you have to take on the role of the first goalkeeper, you change your mentality a lot. There have always been very good goalkeepers in Brazil. So the young ones who come, sometimes not play so many minutes,” says Da Rosa.

Yet with this type of performances, he will surely be the first choice in the next years.

“Yes, now is my time and I hope to take advantage of it in the best way possible,” added the Brazilian shot stopper, with a big smile upon his face after his side’s win against Sweden.

Da Rosa also gave props to Brazil’s goalkeeping coach, Kuwaiti Ali Al Kheder.

“He is a very positive person. He always tries to motivate us.  He is always positive. He tells us that we are going to stop and that helps us a lot,” added Da Rosa.

With a quarter-finals berth in the bag, Brazil will now play against Spain, as they could potentially secure the first place, provided Portugal lose against Chile and the South American side wins against “Los Hispanos”.

Yet facing either Germany – if they win the group – or Denmark – if they finish second – is a tough proposition nonetheless.

“It is crazy to be in the quarter-finals. It is like a dream,” concludes Da Rosa.