The organizers announced that Brazilian football legend José "Bebeto" Gama de Oliveira, famous for his iconic "baby rocking" celebration, will deliver the keynote speech at the SBC Rio Summit in 2025.
The "Celebrating Brazilian Sports" speech will kick off the summit's educational program on Wednesday, February 26. In his keynote, the football star will reflect on his career, from winning the FIFA World Cup in 1994 to his entry into politics.
Bebeto commented, "Football permeates every part of Brazilian culture, impacting almost every Brazilian's life in some meaningful way.
"I am excited to speak at the SBC Rio Summit and share my journey—not only as a professional football player but also as a person who has had to lead, adapt, and grow at different stages of life. I hope the lessons I've learned along the way can inspire and resonate with others beyond the sports community."
Bebeto was born in Salvador and began his football career in 1981, playing for a year with Bahia's youth team. The following year, he transferred to Vitória, continuing in the youth team before moving up to the main squad.
During his time at Vitória, Bebeto had an impressive debut season, and then joined Flamengo in 1983. While at the club, he scored 151 goals in 285 matches and won several championships, including the Brazilian Football Championship (1983, 1987) and the Rio Football Championship (1986).
While playing for Flamengo, Bebeto was first selected for the Brazilian national team. He represented Brazil in three World Cups, reaching the finals twice. Bebeto scored 52 goals in 98 matches, becoming the sixth-highest scorer in Brazilian history.
In 1989, the same year the Brazilian team won the Copa America, he joined Vasco da Gama. In his first year at the club, he won the Brazilian Football Championship. He was also the top scorer of the Brazilian Football Championship in 1992.
In 1992, Bebeto transferred to Deportivo La Coruña in the Spanish league, where he played 133 matches and scored 118 goals, earning the top scorer title for the 1992/93 season and winning the Copa del Rey in the 1994/95 season.
1994 was a significant moment for Bebeto on the international stage, as he played a crucial role in helping the Brazilian team lift the World Cup trophy. After scoring against the Netherlands in the quarter-finals, he performed the iconic "baby rocking" celebration, making Bebeto a household name.
From 1996 to 1999, Bebeto played for several clubs. In 1996, he returned to Flamengo. In 1997, he joined Sevilla in Spain for half a season. In July of the same year, Bebeto returned to Vitória and was reselected for the Brazilian national team.
During his time at Vitória, he contributed to the club winning the Bahia State Championship and the Northeast Cup. Bebeto later transferred to Cruzeiro, where he played a match against Dortmund in the Club World Cup.
In 1998, the football star joined Botafogo, where he reached several milestones in his career. He scored his 500th official career goal and was selected for the 1998 World Cup in France, where he made history as the oldest Brazilian player to score in the tournament.
Bebeto also played a key role in Botafogo's success that year, helping them win the Rio-São Paulo Championship and leading the team to the runner-up position in the Brazilian Cup.
From 1999 to 2002, Bebeto played for several clubs. In 1999, he played for Toros Neza in the Mexican league for half a season. In 2000, he joined the Japanese team Kashima Antlers, then briefly returned to Vitória. In 2001, Bebeto returned to Vasco da Gama and ended his professional career at the age of 38 with Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia.
In the years following his retirement, Bebeto briefly served as the head coach of América Football Club in Rio and coached the team during the 2009 Rio State Championship.
In the 2010 Brazilian elections, Bebeto entered politics, representing the Democratic Labor Party in the Rio de Janeiro Legislative Assembly. Bebeto served as a state deputy and was re-elected in 2014 and 2018.
Rasmus Sojmark, CEO and founder of SBC, said, "This February, it is our great honor to have Bebeto participate in the SBC Rio Summit. His ability to adapt, lead, and succeed in different environments is truly inspiring. These experiences go beyond football, providing valuable insights that I believe will resonate deeply within our industry and bring transformative experiences to all attendees."
