Just found this interesting old article on Brazilian nicknames.

[Druss_The_Legend]

What's in a Brazilian name? | Football | The Guardian

<p>Plus: the best Premiership record at Old Trafford; Everton's negative goal difference; Forfar 5, East Fife 4; tight first division play-off finals; and classical composers inspired by music (2). Email your questions and answers to knowledge@guardian.co.uk</p>

amp.theguardian.com

Juninho Paulista- Little Junior from Saint Paul is the literal translation of his nickname.
Also Brazil the country got it's name from the Portuguese and is named after a tree the Pau-brasil.

 

[Colgates_shaving_foam]

I remember as a kid finding it weird that Brazilian players were allowed their nickname instead of their proper name on their shirt.

Would be like having 'wazza' or 'Stevie G' on an English player's shirt.

 

[Centralscrutinizer]

I got educated in this a bit when I was working in Brazil when we had Juninho playing for us.
Paulista - someone from Sau Paulo state.
Paulistano - someone from the city of Sau Paulo.

 

[Jonny Ingbar]

I remember as a kid finding it weird that Brazilian players were allowed their nickname instead of their proper name on their shirt.

Would be like having 'wazza' or 'Stevie G' on an English player's shirt.

It added to the mystery and romance of Brazil in the 70's and 80's though , didn't it!

What would be the worst England nickname on the back of a shirt?

Sausage? Adam Foreshaw.

 

[Centralscrutinizer]

It went a bit wrong with Brazil when they ended up with Fred and Hulk in the team