When we focus on Botafogo's mascot, a fantastic story closely tied to the Brazilian club begins. Carlito Rocha, who presided over the club for many years, played a crucial role. Since the club's founding, the mascots have changed constantly. Several characters have appeared, forming a unique team culture. Fellow fans, do you want to know the full story behind it? Don't rush. BRG365 will tell you.
And now, see the wonderful chapters of the history of Botafogo's mascots:
Superstitious Mascot - the Dog Briba
Going back to the 1940s, Carlito Rocha, who was the club's president at the time, due to his deep superstition, gave rise to the official mascot that the team still uses today. At the same time, there were two other mascots that left more or less profound marks on the team's history.
Carlito Rocha was known for being superstitious. At that time, he accidentally adopted a stray puppy, with black and white fur, that perfectly matched the club's colors. He considered it his lucky charm. This dog was Biriba. Its origin was quite dramatic. It was found in the street by defender Macaé. Then, Biriba was taken to the club's headquarters. And in its first “appearance,” accompanying the team in battle, it witnessed Botafogo's victory.
In 1948, Botafogo was unstoppable in the Campeonato Carioca. With 17 victories and 2 draws, it lifted the trophy and remained undefeated. This victory made Biriba famous. Quickly, it became the unofficial mascot, but very beloved by the team. Since then, in every corner of the “Glorious Team” (nickname of Botafogo), among the crowd of fans at the Nilton Santos Stadium, the story of Biriba spread from mouth to mouth. In 2021, Biriba had a new companion - Bira. It was also a dog, but with a fiercer design style, to give continuous energy to the fans, known as “the dog crew.”
➡️Next Botafogo game: Check the schedule for December, January, and February 2025
Donald Duck: Loved But Not Official
However, Biriba was not the first mascot of this carioca team. A few years before his story spread, Lorenzo Molla, a caricaturist, had the brilliant idea of drawing “Donald Duck” dressed in Botafogo's jersey. This creativity immediately captivated the hearts of fans. The iconic Disney character began to be seen as Botafogo's mascot.
But unfortunately, the dream was beautiful; the reality was harsh. Although the fans had happily accepted it, the team could not make it official for practical reasons. It was known that, in that situation, if Botafogo wanted to use Donald Duck as a mascot legally, it would have to pay high royalties to Disney. This was an astronomical figure for the team, impossible to pay.
The Little Statue: A Solution for Copyright Issues
Faced with the copyright issue, the club's management and the fans did not just stand by. They delved into the subject and finally came up with the “little statue” plan. This small statue drew inspiration from the famous “Manneken Pis” in Brussels, Belgium. It was sculpted by artist Belmiro de Almeida. Initially, it was placed on Botafogo beach. There is a little story behind this. Since the prototype was the image of a boy urinating, in some cultural contexts, it was seen as a sign of disrespect.
But the change happened in 1948. After the team won the Campeonato Carioca that year, Jorge Kaiuca, a merchant, was inspired to dress the statue in Botafogo's jersey. Since then, whenever the club had a glorious moment, lifting the trophy, the little statue was newly dressed, once again wearing the colors that represented the team's honor. Over time, it became Botafogo's second mascot and is still owned by the club today.
