There are football careers that see players grow up in poverty, get spotted by scouts, and change their lives entirely by winning titles and playing in the biggest tournaments. But some careers are a bit more… modest. But they are worthy nonetheless.Take Melvyn Vieira, for example. This 33-year-old FC Versailles 78 midfielder never appeared in the Champions League. He never even played in the Ligue 1. Nor in the Ligue 2, for that matter. He’s just an average guy who loves playing football. Some might call him an underachiever, but that would be far too cynical.💪 “On a mis notre coeur, notre âme sur le terrain et on s’est battu les uns pour les autres”, les mots forts du capitaine du @FCVersailles78 Melvyn Vieira ⚽ Les Versaillais sont qualifiés pour les quarts de finale de la @coupedefrance pic.twitter.com/Wiel3jSsyJ— Téléfoot (@telefoot_TF1) January 30, 2022 Tonight, this ordinary guy play for a place in the French Cup final.Although Melvyn came on the brink of joining then-second-tier Angers SCO in 2014, the club never got in touch with the player even though they promised they would so. Instead, Vieira spent most of his career playing for Saint-Melo, a team competing in Championnat National 2, the fourth tier of French football.There was never bitterness in this man, despite missing out on what would have been a big break of his career. He didn’t mind. He enjoyed playing for Saint-Malo and going back to his wife in the evening. He loves football far too much to get such things as contracts and transfers to get in the way of his joy.🔥 𝙈𝙖𝙩𝙘𝙝𝙙𝙖𝙮 𝙙𝙚𝙢𝙞-𝙛𝙞𝙣𝙖𝙡𝙚 𝙣°𝟭⚽️ @ogcnice 🆚 @FCVersailles78Le Petit Poucet @intermarche va-t-il poursuivre son épopée et se qualifier pour la finale au Stade de France ? 🤩#CDF | #OGCNFCV78 pic.twitter.com/ss3OI2gmFt— Coupe de France (@coupedefrance) March 1, 2022 Until, one day, his world came tumbling down. Saint-Malo coach Fabien Pujo told Melvyn that, despite playing for the club between 2010 and 2016 and then again between 2018 and 2021, his services were no longer required.That day, Vieira was seriously considering retirement from football. There was no point anymore.”At the age of 32, it’s natural to think about stopping. Playing at an amateur level is taxing on family life, and I didn’t want to do that. When Versailles’ coach Youssef Chibji called me, I told him that I couldn’t imagine playing for a club other than Saint-Malo. I was in love with my club, its people, fans and history. But my family told me that I should accept the offer because I still had a lot to offer.”[#Supporters] 🗣 – Vous. Nous. Ensemble. Allez Versailles. ❤️ pic.twitter.com/cP20gKg5As— FC Versailles 78 👑 (@FCVersailles78) February 27, 2022 Vieira has represented France at youth level, but at club level, he’s never risen above National, the third level of football in his country. The natural question to ask is – are there any regrets about that?”No regrets. I’m proud of everything I’ve achieved. It’s not easy to play at this level for as long as I’ve been playing. I’m so lucky to have been playing for so long. Every time I step on the pitch, I feel as if I’m eight years old again. I’m the happiest guy in the world because I do what I like. I’m living my dream because I’m a football fan.”It’s a historic night for Versailles. They will face a Ligue 1 team at their beautiful Allianz Riviera stadium. And Melvyn Vieira will be there in the middle of the park, doing what he loves.COUPE DE FRANCESemi-finalTuesday23.00: (1.32) Nice (5.80) Versailles (10.5)Wednesday23.15: (3.70) Nantes (3.30) Monaco (2.20)***odds are subject to change
