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In this May 4, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza gestures to the sky after making the sign of the cross to give thanks that her team, Flamengo, defeated Palmeiras as she waits for the stadium to clear out before leaving Maracana stadium for home in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Souza is equally fanatical about Brazil's national team. "I pray they win the World Cup," she said. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__2_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, organizes her favorite Flamengo jerseys inside her home full of her soccer team's memorabilia in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Souza is known as "Zica" in honor of former Brazilian football great Zico, whose mother persuaded her to leave the streets and return to her home 46 years ago, where she cared for her parents. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__6_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, shows her statue of San Judas Tadeu, or Saint Jude, considered by fans the patron saint of Flamengo's soccer team, at her home in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I lived on the streets for 10 years begging for food and money, doing odd jobs here and there and selling candies. I never stole or got involved with drugs." Things started to change when she was wondering aimlessly down the streets of Rio at the age of 17, when the mother of then rising soccer star Zico invited her for dinner. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__8_]()
In this May 4, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, celebrates her team's first goal at a game with Palmeiras at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Zica is a well-known sight in her neighborhood and in the football stadium. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__9_]()
In this May 4, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, front left, hugs a friend at Maracana stadium before a match between their team Flamengo with Palmeiras in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. "I go to every game Flamengo plays in Maracana where I am always greeted with open arms by players and fans of Flamengo and the teams they play against. They all hug me and ask for my autograph," she said, adding that in 2010 Flamengo made her an honorary member. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__4_]()
In this May 4, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, caresses her five-year-old grandson Hugo before she leaves for Maracana stadium from her home in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Souza said that at age seven she fled her home because her parents mistreated here. Ten years later, the mother of Brazil's rising star Zico persuaded her to leave the streets. When she was 29, Zico's parents persuaded Souza to return to her home to care for her sick parents who did shortly after she returned. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__3_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, shows her braids decorated with beads in the colors of her favorite team, Flamengo, at her home in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Zica is a well-known sight in her neighborhood or in the football stadium. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__5_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, Flamengo soccer team souvenirs decorate the home of Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Souza's small concrete house is painted in Flamengo team colors, red and black. Her living room and sleeping quarters are bedecked with Flamengo jerseys, banners, beer mugs and other team memorabilia. Even a curtain in front of her kitchen is a plastic Flamengo flag. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__11_]()
In this May 4, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, watches her team Flamengo play Palmeiras at Maracana stadium in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Souza nicknamed herself Zica, after the mother of then rising star Zico helped her get off the streets when she was 17-years-old. For the next 12 years she lived in the homes of Zico's parents, and of Zico, doing "small chores like watering the plants and caring for children. I was never treated like a maid but as member of the family," she said. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__12_]()
In this May 4, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, drapes herself in a Flamengo soccer team flag as she walks to Maracana stadium to watch her team play in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 63-year-old Souza, who is one of the most die-hard and the best known fans of the iconic team, has over the years become an icon in her own right. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__13_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, poses for a portrait in her Flamengo club jersey in the doorway of her home painted in her team's colors of red and black in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The 63-year-old is one of the most die-hard and the best known fans of the iconic team who has over the years become an icon in her own right. Her nickname Zica is honor of former Brazilian soccer great Zico. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__1_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, a printed photograph showing Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, and her husband Carltioel Moraes, both wearing Flamengo soccer jerseys, sits in Souza's home alongside Flamengo soccer memorabilia at her home in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Souza met her husband during a Flamengo game. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)![Brazil_Flamengo_Fanatic__7_]()
In this April 28, 2014 photo, Maria Boreth de Souza, alias Zica, organizes her Flamengo soccer jerseys in her closet at home in the Olaria neighborhood of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. Flamengo is equally fanatical about Brazil's national team and "I pray they win the World Cup," which starts June 12. "If Brazil loses the tournament the statue of Christ the Redeemer will pack his bag and leave the city for good," she said. (AP Photo/Leo Correa)Brazil's Flamengo Soccer Club's Biggest Supporter
The 63-year-old Maria Boreth de Souza, who is one of the most die-hard fans of the iconic team, has over the years become an icon in her own right.
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- Brazil's Flamengo Soccer Club's Biggest Supporter
