IRVINE, Calif. -- Pedro Guimaraes's older brother, Johnny Guimaraes, remembers his younger sibling dominating him on the field as a kid.
Johnny Guimaraes, who eventually played soccer at Penn State, said they always competed. They spent many summers playing soccer in Brazil, where Pedro Guimaraes frequently “bodied” him and tried to show him “who’s boss.”
One day, Johnny Guimaraes tried hard against Pedro Guimaraes but was getting nutmegged and laughed at despite being almost eight years older.
“It was embarrassing but funny,” Johnny Guimaraes said. “…From that moment on, I used to tell my friends this kid is a child prodigy. He's gonna make it.”
Over 10 years later, Pedro Guimaraes is starting to “make it.” The 16-year-old Orange County Soccer Club defender has appeared in six professional matches. He has also been selected to the U-17 United States Men's Youth National Team and was part of the LAFC Academy, where he was named to the MLS NEXT All-Star Game.
Pedro Guimaraes, who aspires to play in Europe, thrives because of his passion for soccer. There are few places besides the pitch where the young talent would rather be.
“There wasn't ever a moment where my parents forced me to go play,” said Pedro Guimaraes in his first media interview. “It was more of me asking them to go play with me.
“I genuinely just always loved the game. It always brought a smile to my face. When I was sad about this or that, I always went outside to kick a ball with my dad, brothers or myself.”
Photo courtesy of Orange County Soccer Club
Pedro Guimaraes said it took him months to make friends in school when he moved to California, but it took him minutes to find buddies on his team. On the video game console, he grew up playing FIFA, now EA FC, but never any other sports games.
Pedro Guimaraes, a high school junior, is homeschooling, allowing him to spend more time on the field with his family and friends. He switched from traditional schooling after missing much of his freshman year due to travel and wants to graduate early.
“Man, his whole life is soccer,” Johnny Guimaraes said. “...He's a great kid off the field. I go into his room, and I see him studying. He works out a lot. He has a good diet. He just does what he has to do.”
Pedro Guimaraes is an outside back who likes to join the attack and contribute goals and assists. He said he is better at pushing forward than staying back to defend.
Pedro Guimaraes has grown with Orange County SC by playing with older players, mentioning defender Ryan Flood as a mentor. He debuted against Rhode Island Football Club in front of 5,500 people, and his team won 1-0.
“It was unreal,” Guimaraes said. “ I couldn't sleep that night thinking about the performance that we had.”
Pedro Guimaraes’s dad, Paulo Guimaraes, is “crazy” about soccer. As a Brazilian, he plays for fun and shares his love for the sport with his children.
Paulo Guimaraes said Pedro Guimaraes is skilled at other sports but has always been focused on soccer. When winter arrived in his home state of Pennsylvania, Pedro Guimaraes took his practice to the basement of his house and filmed himself practicing.
“It is his driven decision," Paulo Guimaraes said. "He loves this sport and is very focused on this."
Photo courtesy of Orange County Soccer Club
Pedro Guimaraes is working hard to achieve his goals, and Johnny Guimaraes believes he can reach them if he keeps it up.
“Even if he didn't get this lucky chance to be playing for [Orange County SC] right now, he'd be 30 years old, still trying to make it work,” Johnny Guimaraes said. That's just who he is.”
The young outside back has played with players from different countries and varying play styles. He learned the importance of the first touch and is working on developing his. He has also learned to care for his body and recover after matches as he noticed how carefully professionals manage their fitness and emphasized the little details and traits he wants to employ.
Eventually, he plans to pay it back.
“Learning from these guys is something I can take with me,” Guimaraes said. “I can also teach the other young guys when I get older."