Celebrated Brazilian World Cup footballer Leonardo Nascimento de Araujo praised compatriot Jose Ramirez Baretto, describing him as a true representative of Samba soccer.

"I know Baretto is doing very well in India. He is one of the players who represent Brazil very well. He is the most important Brazilian playing in India," Leonardo told newspersons in Kolkata on Wednesday.

Baretto, a success story in Indian football, is donning the jersey of Mahindra United this season, and finished the highest scorer in the Federation Cup, which Mahindra won, with six goals.

Asked to comment on the tragic on-field death of another Brazilian striker, Cristiano Junior, during the Federation Cup final last year, Leonardo said, "It was a big pity. We saw the incident on television and were shocked. It was very hard for his family. But then sometimes such things happen in football."

He expressed happiness at the large number of Brazilian players doing duty in India.