Soccer is Brazil's biggest visible export and the former farmer has made a living out of supporting it, as befits a national treasure.
Next year he will go to Lima in Peru for the Copa America, South America's national tournament, where a TV company will pay him to make a documentary about his life, opinions and journey.
"I will do this by car," he said, "because it would be too easy by plane."
For Fernandez, it is the journey rather than the arrival, the taking part rather than winning, that is important.
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