At the Flamengo Football Academy, 15-year-old football player Anrafael Nascimento Araujo 'dribbles, dares of joy' as he hopes to play professionally, a dream he says he shares with "many kids in Brazil today." Despite his commitment to the sports, older generations are less optimistic about state of football in Brazil. "I don't think kids today have the essence of football that they had 30 or 40 years ago," amateur footballer Lauro Nascimento says. Brazil, once known as the 'land of football,' has lost some of its former glory in the sport. The five-times World Cup holder has closed down some stadiums and privatized others. This includes the popular Macarana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, leading supporters to recreate the stadium's environment in viewing parties inside Rio favelas. IMAGES AND SOUNDBITES