The 24-year-old entered the organised game at a young age, joining the youth system at his local second-division team in the state of Sao Paulo. He then moved to the capital, Rio de Janeiro, where he took his first steps into professional football.

And Joao Pedro shares his memories of those early years by answering our questions on his footballing firsts...

What's the first kit you ever had as a kid?

I think it was the club from my city, Botafogo de Ribeirao Preto, where I started in the academy when I was four years old. That was the first shirt I remember having. They were the traditional team from my city, that’s why I started there. It’s not a really big club, but it’s the big club from my city.

What’s the first team you remember playing for?

I started there with that club. It is a very traditional club in my city; everybody from there wants to play for them one day as a professional. I didn’t get to play for them, but it was good to spend a few years there.

Who was the first coach you remember giving you advice?

When I was young, I remember one coach from Fluminense who gave me a lot of confidence in the games, so it was very good to have him at that time. When you have a coach who makes you feel confidence from him, I think you are more ready to play the games. I needed that when I was that age.

Who was your first room-mate you remember on away trips when you turned professional?

It was Marcos Paulo. We used to play together in the academy at Fluminense. Now he plays in Brazil for Juventude, but he was at Atletico Madrid before. We spent a lot of time together because we came through the academy and went to the first team together. I still speak to him and we play Pro Clubs on EA FC, so it’s very good.

How well do you remember your professional debut?

My first professional game was for Fluminense against Volta Redonda. In Brazil we have these small tournaments for each region, so it was in that. I was on the bench for the game, but I came on and I gave an assist in my first appearance for the professional team. It was for [Roger] Ibanez, I think he plays in Saudi Arabia now for Al-Ahli. I remember it well, because it was my professional debut.

When did you score your first professional goal?

My first goal was against Flamengo in Maracana, a header for Fluminense. Igor Julio was the right-back at that time and he crossed the ball in and I scored. That made it 3-2, but we couldn’t get another goal, so unfortunately we lost.

Can you remember the first time someone recognised you in public?

In the academy when I had a good season in the Under-17s, I think I scored like 35 goals, or maybe 39. Then the club media started to post me more, so people started to come to the games and I started to get recognised then.