From Rio to the Wheat City, Pinto Joins Cougars Soccer

Paulo Vitor Costa Pinto is the second international student athlete recruited to the 2022 Cougar men’s soccer roster.

Pinto is a 5’9 midfielder from Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Like many Brazilians, he loves the game having grown up with a soccer ball at his feet. He played for many different clubs including Serra Macaense, Macae Esporte, and Madureira Football Club. He brings knowledge, skill and leadership, having captained the Independente and Flamengo Football Clubs, the latter being part of the division one system in Brazil. He also competed for Botafogo Football Club, another division one program.

“I can’t describe what soccer brings to me. It’s an incredible feeling when I’m playing,” said Pinto. “I like the responsibility, the pressure and the mission is always the same, to make history.”

“Paulo is an explosive player who is extremely difficult to defend,” said Cougar coach Chris McLachlan. “He is skilled and creative with the ball at his feet and will really help our team on the attack.”

Pinto is the first of his family to move from Brazil. He is enrolled in an English for Academic Purposes program for the fall with the intent to start Business Administration in January 2023. He has a goal to grow his online platform, where he has already amassed one hundred twenty five thousand Instagram followers.