Rafaelle Souza was 6 years old when she began playing football in her hometown of Cipó, in Brazil's northeastern Bahia state. "I always played with the boys in the streets, barefoot. My father was a goalkeeper, but by the time I started playing, he wasn't playing anymore," she recalled in an interview with CGTN.

In around a quarter century since she began her football journey in the streets of Cipo, Rafaelle has carved an enviable career in the sport that has taken her to the U.S., China and England to ply her trade. She has also captained the Brazilian women's national team to the South American continental crown.

One of the best defenders in the women's game today, Rafaelle, 32, has managed to establish herself as a defensive lynchpin on every team she has played for over the years. Last season, she quickly became a fan favorite at Arsenal as the English team reached the Women's Champions League semifinals.

"I was very happy with the season. It was a very good experience playing in Europe. I think I learned a lot and was able to show my football to another part of the world. I had some very nice moments," she said.

This summer, the ace defender, who recently signed for American club Orlando Pride, is hoping to lead Brazil to their first ever Women's World Cup title.

'Anyone can win'

The quadrennial event, scheduled to be held from July 20 to August 20 in Australia and New Zealand, sees Brazil placed alongside France, Jamaica and Panama in Group F.

With the tournament featuring 32 teams this time, the most in its history, a handful of teams, including Brazil, will be in contention to win the title, according to Rafaelle.

"I believe that any FIFA top 10 team can win this World Cup. Women's football has evolved worldwide, and I think it's pretty even today," she said.

"The (defending champions) U.S. always come in well; there's also Germany, England for winning the Euro, Canada, Sweden, who are very strong. It's hard to pick a favorite, and we're among the 10, where anyone can win," she added.

The World Cup comes at a time when Rafaelle is at the peak of her powers, and Brazil will bank on her to lead the side from the back.

Yet, in what may seem like a distant memory now, it was only a few years ago when Rafaelle, having just completed her studies in the U.S., was on the verge of giving up the sport altogether.

"I thought about stopping playing football after I graduated in engineering in the United States. I went there to play in the professional league for the Houston Dash. It was still the first year of the team, and it brought some problems; I couldn't help my family financially," she recalled.

"As I had just graduated in engineering, I decided to go back to Brazil and try to work in engineering instead of football because I was making very little money at the time."

The China experience

However, fate, it seems, had other plans for Rafaelle. In 2016, she received an offer to play for Changchun Zhuoyue in the Chinese Women's Super League (CWSL). Going to a new country with a different language and culture was a challenge, but playing in China turned out to be a "unique experience," she said.

"At first, it was not easy to adapt to the Chinese culture, language and customs. I was the first foreigner in the Chinese league, so there was also this adaptation process. It was all very new, and it was quite hard to get used to at first," Rafaelle said, reflecting on her time in the country.

"The training sessions were very intense, with a lot of training time, and it was not what I was used to, but I got along very well with all the girls and with the coach, and I adapted to the culture. I think I have this ability to adapt to new cultures, and I was able to do that in China," she reminisced.

Having become more familiar with Chinese football during her time in the country, Rafaelle also offered her thoughts on China's prospects at this year's Women's World Cup. Specifically, she praised head coach Shui Qingxia, who guided the team to the Women's Asian Cup title in India last year.

"It was a great achievement to win the Asian Cup last year – something very impressive! With the arrival of the new coach, who was the coach of Shanghai (Shengli in the CWSL), I think she has done a very cool job and that the national team only has to gain from it. I think they will have a good World Cup, but I think that, like us, they are also in a moment of transition. The coach arrived in the national team a short time ago and is still getting accustomed to the role," she said.

China are in Group D with European heavyweights England and Denmark, and debutants Haiti.

'Source of pride'

Now in the middle of the team's preparations for Brazil's Women's World Cup campaign, Rafaelle is expected to be handed the side's captain's armband.

Brazil coach Pia Sundhage hasn't officially named a captain in her 23-member squad. However, with the legendary Marta having only returned from a long injury layoff earlier this year and not expected to start all games, Rafaelle is likely to continue as the team's skipper.

In a friendly against Chile earlier this month, Rafaelle led out the team as captain and handed the armband to veteran teammate Marta after being substituted out for the latter late in the game.

Having already led the team on multiple occasions, including during the successful Copa América Femenina campaign last year, Rafaelle said being able to captain Brazil has been a source of pride for her.

"It is a unique experience to be able to lead the national team as captain among so many experienced and successful players. It is a source of great pride not only for me but also for my family, and I have been very happy with that. But it is also a very big responsibility to carry the weight of being the captain of a great team like the Brazilian national team," she said.

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