The atmosphere in the building was raucous, with the crowd beginning to chant. "RAFIFA! RAFIFA! RAFIFA!" The spectators relentless support was on for Rafael "Rafifa13" Leite Fortes as he prepared to battle his friend, and Brazilian compatriot, Lucas "LucasRep98" Costa in Miami, Florida at the Grand Final of the 2017 Regional Final of the FIFA Ultimate Team Championship Series.

The winner would be crowned the Season 1 Americas Champion, be known as the best FIFA player in North, South, and Central Americas, and take home $30,000 USD. It was the biggest game in Rafifa13's competitive career.

His journey to this key moment started almost twenty years ago. "My first-ever FIFA title was FIFA 98," Rafifa13 recalls in an interview with EA SPORTS. "I remember spending hours and hours playing the indoor football mode. It was so different and so exciting at the same time." 

Despite loving the game and spending countless time behind the controller, it wasn't until more than a decade later that he realized he could become a professional competitive FIFA player. "I felt that I had the talent to do the leap [to the pro ranks] from a normal and casual player at my first live event in 2011, playing FIFA 12. Up to that time, I had only played against the AI and against my brother, but I did really well against experienced and good players from the Rio de Janeiro competitive FIFA scene. So at that time, I thought: 'Ok, I've got something going on right here.'"

And how right he was! Since erupting onto the FIFA competitive circuit, Rafifa13 has been crowned Brazilian champion twice in addition to his success in local tournaments. As his profile grew, so did the interest of various eSports organizations looking to sign him. Rafifa13 eventually joined Brazilian eSports team E-Sport FLIX.

"The guys from E-Sport FLIX had been following with much attention to everything happening in the Brazilian FIFA competitive scene and saw me as an important asset [to win] titles and for the growth of the Brazilian competitive circuit," he says. “So I believe it was natural for them to seek someone with experience in the game and in the championships held in Brazil."

"RAFIFA! RAFIFA! RAFIFA!" The chant continued, as Rafifa13 refused to let his team or his supporters down. Throughout the Miami Regional Final, he exercised pure dominance and moved unbeaten through the group and knockout stages. His experience and excellent form delivered the game of his life, and allowed him to emerge victorious over LucasRep98 by an aggregate score of 5-3, and crowned the Americas Regional Champion .

"When I look back,” Rafifa13 says, “I will remember the moment when I lifted the trophy. The audience was really great and it was a crazy moment. It was the end of an incredible and remarkable day for all of us."

Though one of the most experienced players competing that day, Rafifa13 felt like he flew under the radar before the tournament. "I believe I went in as an underdog to the tournament. A lot of the players and the analysts considered other players with better online records as the favorites. That changed when I played an excellent match against AS Roma's player Aman Seddiqi. After that, it was nice to receive all this attention as it brought me confidence when playing against my opponents." 

Winning the Americas Regional Final was a major accomplishment for the Rio de Janeiro native, but he hopes this is only the beginning of a promising career in competitive gaming – a career that has slowly gained his family's acceptance. "I think at first, it was difficult for my family and friends to take seriously my leap from a casual player to a pro FIFA player. It probably happens with all players of all eSports, and with me it [was no] different. Happily, at this moment, all of them see what FIFA can bring to my life and support me in my choices."

For his home country, Rafifa13’s triumph in Miami could be the start of Brazil’s ascension as a FIFA competitive gaming titan. "It was important to have an all-Brazilian grand final and champion. We have had for a long time a 'mutt complex' where [Brazilians] think we are not as good players as the Europeans or the Americans. Winning in Miami was excellent for all Brazilians who can now say: 'We are good as they are. We can be Regional and World Champions as they once were.'"

After his victory in Miami, Rafifa13 once again attracted the interest of eSports clubs and ultimately left E-Sport FLIX signing with French giants Paris Saint-German eSports to join an already impressive lineup alongside August “Agge” Rosenmeier and Lucas “Daxe” Cuillerier.

What's next on the agenda for Rafifa13? A World Championship. By winning the Regional Final in Miami, the Brazilian secured his ticket to the FIFA Ultimate Team Championship in Berlin this May. In the German capital, Rafifa13 will have the chance to battle with the top FIFA competitors for the chance to be crowned the best in the world.

His preparations have already commenced. "I continue my training with my former E-Sport FLIX teammate Rodrigo "D1g0" Araujo and playing FUT Champions," Rafifa13 says. "It is important to keep yourself up-to-date and competing at the highest levels during the time before Berlin."

It's a daunting task, but Rafifa13 has his eyes on the prize going into Berlin. "It is impossible to say that I do not have the goal of being champion. Of course, the level there will be much higher, but if I can play my best as I did in Miami, I believe I can go far in this competition."

Watch Rafifa13's journey live from Berlin on May 20 and 21 on FUTChampions.com/Live.