Ivanilson has been playing video games ever since he was four, or five, years old. He started playing, and eventually won easily, against competitors in games like FIFA and Need for Speed on the iconic grey Playstation 1 and its successor the Playstation 2.
His talent emerged in his early years, Ivanilson said. He has now been a professional esport player at Atert Bissen for two years, and he will celebrate his 23rd birthday on Monday.
In an interview, Ivanilson told our colleagues at RTL.lu that a crucial moment in his career had undoubtedly been the Covid pandemic, a time when people needed to stay at home and find distractions indoors.
The pandemic marked his jump into the realm of esports. As for many people during that time, Ivanilson took the opportunity to indulge in playing video games. He primarily played FIFA, now FC, the world-renowned soccer game.
However, his interest in football, either on the playstation or in real life, started earlier, he told RTL.lu: “When I was about six or seven years old I loved playing soccer and have played it ever since then. I took a four-year break to focus on FIFA, but I have now started to play real-life football again.”
Besides playing for Atert Bissen, the young prodigy is actively involved with the local football team of Sanem – without a controller in hand.
In 2006, FIFA 07 cast a spell on Ivanilson. He had played Pro Evolution Soccer before, a major competitor of EA. He then switched to FIFA and exclusively played it on his playstation. His fascination for the game was immediate, he said:
“The fact that I could control Messi and play with him completely mesmerised me. I had a television in my room, but I didn’t watch TV, I just played FIFA. I competed with my family until I was in fourth grade, then in fifth grade I began competing against others online.”
In fifth grade he was still living with his family in Portugal, he only moved to Luxembourg in 2012. It was certain that he had a talent for esports, although he had to learn how to lose and test his limits online. It made him learn an essential lesson for his future career as an esport professional:
“The most important thing is to realise what you need to improve, where skills are still missing. A lot of players don’t know what they are lacking. You can be the best at attacking, though if you are playing with professionals, your defence also needs to be strong. I have always been someone who noticed what I was not good at, which I then trained for and improved. I look up to the best to learn from them.”
Each year a new release is expected, so training and preparation time must also be allowed prior to the new version of FC – typically released in autumn.
When FIFA 22 was released during the pandemic, it was already clear that Ivanilson wasn’t just playing for fun. Then a student in Ettelbruck, he had to made a pivotal decision that year: to pursue football on the pitch, or compete virtually. He chose FIFA, and school. Looking back, it was the right decision.
In 2021, he won his first national title in the Orange eLeague’s individual competition and qualified for the FIFA 22 Global Series in London, where he gained his first major experience on the international stage. Since then, Ivanilson has become a four-time Luxembourg champion, most recently claiming the 2025 Orange eLeague title.
Ivanilson’s talent was never in doubt. But raw skill alone doesn’t pave the way to global success. His early journey into the world of competitive gaming was guided by key figures in Luxembourg’s eSports scene, including Fabio Martins David (xfabinhoo_) and Georges Geraldo (LxbFifa), who mentored him during the shift from FIFA 20 to FIFA 21.
“I owe a big part of who I am today as a player to them,” he says. Together with Fabio Martins, he also won the now-defunct team edition of the Orange eLeague.
The level of competition in Luxembourg is high. According to him, there are at least four players he considers equally skilled in terms of technique and ability. What sets him apart, however, is his meticulous preparation. He doesn’t just train hard; he studies his opponents in detail, analysing their tendencies and pinpointing weaknesses. This kind of tactical groundwork is standard at the international level, where top players make strategic use of every insight. It’s a clear and, as he puts it, “decisive tactical advantage”, one that often gives him the edge, especially in high-stakes matches.
After clinching this year’s national title in the Orange eLeague, he earned his place at the eChampions League in Manchester, held from 16–18 May, representing Luxembourg as national champion. This time, he finished 31st – not quite the result he had hoped for, but still a respectable showing given the caliber of global competition.
The tournament got off to a difficult start. In the early phase, he won only two out of five matches – an atypical performance, considering he usually secures four wins, or a clean sweep. Thankfully, at a critical stage of the event he managed to defeat Italian pro Danilo Pinto, known as “Danipitbull,” from Dsyre Juventus during the knockout rounds. The victory underscored his ability to compete with top-tier players. Ultimately, he drew one match and lost three, all by narrow margins. It wasn’t enough to progress, but as he points out, the smallest details can make all the difference.
He also notes that every year brings surprises: unknown players emerge from the shadows and shake up the rankings. That unpredictability, he says, is part of what keeps the game so exciting.
The next big milestone on his calendar is the Play-Ins for the upcoming World Cup in Saudi Arabia, for which he has already qualified along with 48 elite players. Only four of them will ultimately secure a spot at the World Championship, making competition especially fierce. With about two months left to prepare, the timing couldn’t be better: his final high school exams are now behind him. If he successfully completes the academic year, he’ll be able to shift his full focus back to eSports.
Despite his passion for Atert Bissen and the competitive gaming scene, Ivanilson doesn’t actually play FIFA – or EA FC, as it’s now called – in his free time. Instead, he prefers to unplug from the screen and spend time outdoors with friends. After so much high-intensity gaming, it’s a welcome way to decompress, he concluded.
