Sao Paulo (AFP) – Brazilian teenager Leo Veiga had almost given up on his dream of becoming a professional footballer when artificial intelligence helped him secure a spot in the youth ranks of an Italian club.
Issued on: 02/06/2026 - 03:42Modified: 02/06/2026 - 03:47
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Tech companies promising to "democratize" football are launching apps that allow young players to upload videos recorded on their phone of them showcasing their ball skills.AI is then used to analyze and score their performance, which is sent to scouts and clubs.The 18-year-old Veiga was stuck playing for a small club in his home state of Santa Catarina in southern Brazil when he discovered one of these apps, from Swiss company Footbao.
Footbao Chief Executive Nick Rappolt estimates there are thousands of undiscovered football players with the skills to play for clubs or academies © Nelson ALMEIDA / AFP
