SAO PAULO // The once-every-four-year frenzy over the World Cup sticker album has taken over Brazil like never before.
Brazilians have long been avid fans of World Cup albums and their enthusiasm is reinforced by the arrival of the tournament in their country.
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Everybody is talking stickers, from kids to grown-ups and students to doctors.
Even Brazil’s president, Dilma Rousseff, has joined in the fun, coming to the aid of her three-year-old sticker-collecting grandson.
Fans have set up trading places in front of stadiums, plazas and bookstores to swap their stickers and try to complete their sets.
Brazil led all countries in sales during the 2010 World Cup and this time numbers are already better than they were four years ago, according to the Fifa-picked company in charge of the album, the Italy-based Panini. “The last time I did this was when I was just a little kid, but with the World Cup coming to Brazil there was no way I was going to pass up on this one.
“The World Cup is here and this album will be historic,” said Fernando da Silva, 32, who was trying to complete his second album at a trading point in front of the Pacaembu Stadium in Sao Paulo.
“This brings back all the memories from when I used to swap stickers with my friends at school.”
Hundreds of people have been going to the Pacaembu every weekend, as well as to other trading places across Brazil’s largest city. Several internet groups are devoted to people wanting to swap stickers.
The 649 stickers needed to complete the 80-page album include some players who will not feature at the World Cup, as well as photos of unfinished venues, because of Brazil’s delayed preparations.
Brazil is one of the squads with mistakes, as Robinho’s sticker was included in the album and he was not picked for the World Cup team.
Each pack of five stickers costs 1 real (Dh1.5).
“These albums bring people together,” said Jan Mascarenhas, a computer specialist, who was “a South Korean player away” from completing his set.
Mascarenhas’s missing player, sticker No 628, Shin Kwang-hoon, is not on South Korea’s World Cup squad.
“I don’t know anything about the guy, but I need him badly,” Mascarenhas said.
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