Holding court in a media conference this week, there was a moment which summed up the infectious qualities of Claudio Braga.
The Hearts forward was asked about his partnership with Lawrence Shankland and the two of them now being tied at the top of the scoring charts.
‘He p****s me off, to be honest, because he’s just too good,’ joked Braga. ‘For example, I feel like I’m a more energetic guy and everything, but he makes things look easy, you know?
‘It’s like, how do you do that? He’s just really that good when it comes to the ball at his feet. The ball doesn’t cry at all, so that impressed me.’
This was Braga in a nutshell. He is not one of these modern footballers who are media-trained and monosyllabic.
The 26-year-old Portuguese is colourful, engaging, humorous and searingly honest. There is a boundless enthusiasm that has turned a £400,000 summer signing from Norwegian obscurity into the new darling of Tynecastle.
Claudio Braga’s boundless enthusiasm has turned him into the new darling of Tynecastle
Braga celebrates scoring the opening goal for Hearts in their recent victory against Celtic
Striker Lawrence Shankland is tied with Braga at the top of the Premiership scoring charts
As Hearts prepare for tomorrow’s showdown with Rangers – top of the table, six points clear of Celtic after a gritty 2-0 win at Falkirk last weekend – Braga is now very much back on form.
He had gone five games without a goal before netting the opener in a 2-1 win at Celtic Park a fortnight ago which saw Hearts reaffirm their title credentials.
With two goals in his last two games, he is tied with Shankland on eight apiece at the top of the Premiership scoring charts. Both have 11 in all competitions.
Rewind five months or so to when he was playing in Norway, and few outside data analytics circles would have tipped Braga for the stardom he is enjoying now.
Indeed, the Braga story begins long before his efforts in Scotland or Norway.
Born in Mafamude, an unglamorous working-class suburb of Vila Nova de Gaia near Porto, football was always in his blood. It was all he knew as a kid, less a career than a compulsion.
His dad coached locally and Braga bounced around various youth set-ups – Candal, Boavista, Pacos de Ferreira and Rio Ave.
There was certainly talent there and he scored a few goals, but the big breakthrough never arrived. Reflecting on his journey earlier this season, Braga cited a lack of finance in the Portuguese lower leagues.
‘In Portugal, the lower divisions don’t get the investment,’ he said. ‘You score, you play well, but doors stay closed.’
At 22 years of age, with his career going nowhere, an unromantic move to Norway beckoned. A trial at third division Moss FK in freezing conditions. All a far cry from the sunnier climes of Portugal. Safe to say, he wasn’t keen initially.
Yet, after speaking with his family and being persuaded to make the switch, it proved to be the launchpad for Braga’s career.
He scored 23 goals in 58 games over two seasons with Moss before joining Aalesunds. Another 14 goals in 41 games soon caught the eye of Jamestown Analytics and Hearts.
Reflecting on his time in Scandinavia, Braga said: ‘It was three-and-a-half-years in Norway, with a start full of doubts and difficult decisions.
‘At first, I thought that leaving the Portuguese league, which has a lot of quality, to play in the Norwegian third division might be a mistake. That weighed on me.
‘Even so, I took the risk because I felt it was the best decision for my career. Fortunately, it turned out well.
‘It’s important to say that I didn’t go to Norway for the money or anything like that. At the time, I felt I was having a good season, but there were few opportunities.
‘There was interest from some clubs, but nothing materialised and, in Portugal, there was little investment. Even today, I think it’s insufficient for the quality we have.
‘Norway was an incredible experience. It was where I first felt the recognition of being a footballer: people asking for photos, autographs, children looking up to me as an example. That never happened to me in Portugal.
‘The two clubs I played for, Moss and Aalesunds, were fundamental to my development. Moss was smaller, more family-oriented, and I hold it close to my heart because I felt such affection there.
‘Aalesunds, on the other hand, was a much more professional club, with excellent conditions and a first division structure. I was treated very well at both clubs, and that helped me grow not only as a player but also as a person.
‘Today I still follow the games of both clubs and, as soon as I get the chance, I want to go back and visit them. They were essential stages on my path, and I’ll never forget that.’
Born in Portugal, made in Norway, and now a superstar in Gorgie. Braga’s form has been pivotal to Hearts’ title challenge this season.
Watching him in action, he’s almost like a throwback to footballers of a bygone age. Socks low around his ankles, his natural skill and ball control make it clear he’s a player who learned the game on the streets.
Yes, he’s a late bloomer, but he has a personality and a belief in himself. When he joined Hearts in the summer, Braga requested to have the No 10 jersey because he was happy with the expectation that comes with it.
When he scores goals, his celebration mimics the famous ‘Siu’ routine made famous by his compatriot Cristiano Ronaldo.
He looks like he could well prove to be signing of the season, although his Hearts team-mate Alexandros Kyziridis might just have something to say about that.
Braga has swiftly attained cult-hero status, with fans regularly chanting his name in a brilliantly adapted version of Queen’s Radio Ga Ga.
He has become their smiling assassin, the perfect foil to Shankland up front, with both players now turning their sights on Rangers tomorrow afternoon.
The message at Hearts has been clear. Derek McInnes and his players refuse to be drawn into any talk about winning the title.
However, they have already done the double over Celtic. Should they beat Rangers for a second time this season, they would no longer be able to play it down.
Indeed, given the ongoing shambles at Celtic, there would be those who view a Hearts win tomorrow as enough to make them favourites in the title race. This is a match that carries obvious significance.
From freezing Norwegian fjords to topping Scotland at Christmas, Braga’s journey is the sort of story that football romanticises but rarely delivers.
Portugal ignored him, Norway rebuilt him, Scotland has embraced him. His success in Edinburgh is a reminder of the beautiful game’s enduring charm.
A naturally gifted footballer who brims with confidence on and off the pitch, he continues to kindle hope of league title glory at a club long starved of such audacious ambitions.
