While supporters are fully aware of the D.C. United playersā personalities that define them on the pitch, itās important to get to know who they are when they arenāt playing. The five facts feature will take a deep dive into playerās hobbies, interests and quirks as we look to give fans a behind-the-scenes glimpse at what makes our players tick.
Multilingual
Many people struggle to master just one language in their lifetime, but Felipe can already list five on his resume. English, French, Italian, Portuguese, and Spanish. Nearly everywhere his career has taken him, the Brazilian has had to learn a new dialect, accepting the challenge with open arms each time. It wouldnāt be surprising to hear him speaking Norweigan with Ola Kamara or Estonian with Erik Sorga in the near future as the 29-year-old has a real knack for learning new languages.
From Foe to Friend
What started out as a rivalry, blossomed into a close friendship for the two Brazilians. Felipe played against KakĆ” four times while the former Ballon dāOr winner was deploying his talents with Orlando City. With the tenacity of Felipe going up against the attacking flair of KakĆ”, the duo made for an entertaining matchup. Off the field it was a different story, as they often swapped jerseys and spoke in their native tongue after intense games. Following KakĆ”ās retirement in 2017, they have remained close with Felipe even attending his wedding last year.
Twitter Masterclass
Whether heās showing off his dance moves, or performing live concerts for his teammates, Felipe has mastered the art of the tweet. During quarantine, the Brazilian has posted some truly brilliant content to keep the fans entertained. We all knew about his footwork on the field, but we didnāt know about his footwork on the dance floor. Add in his two sons running wild around the house, yoga lessons with his wife and there you have it. The perfect twitter feed. Do yourself a favor and go follow @FeliMartins8.
World Traveller
Felipeās career has taken him all over the world, playing for eight clubs, in five countries, and on three continents. After spending his youth career with various teams in Brazil, Felipe travelled halfway across the world to sign with Padova in Italy. Following his stint with the Italian side, the midfielder moved to Switzerland where he spent three successful seasons before joining Montreal in 2011. Felipe then jumped ship to some team in New York with zero MLS Cups before heading back to Canada with Vancouver and eventually landing in the District last season.
Voted Most Disliked Player
Throughout his career, Felipe has shown a tendency to get under opposing players' skin. While his fans and teammates love his passion for the game and his relentless effort on the field, people from the outside looking in may have different opinions. When D.C. United traded for Felipe last season, it certainly raised some eyebrows among members of the Black- and-Red faithful as they remembered the midfielder from his days in New York and Montreal. After his first appearance for D.C. United, all was forgiven and he has firmly cemented his place as a fan favorite with his passion for the club.
