PEORIA, Ill. – Get to know more about Bradley Soccer Caleb Ribeiro.

Ribeiro, originally from Massachusetts, finished the 2023 season with 1128 minutes played, 14 starts, one goal, and one assist. 

He started playing soccer when he was two years old. Ribeiro spent most summers in Brazil, where he learned that soccer is more than just a game.

"Soccer in Brazil is a huge part of the culture. Everybody plays futebol [soccer]," Ribeiro said. "You could go to any park, and people are playing, and people are passionate, but not just in a way that people are passionate about having a career out of a sport, but just playing for enjoyment and Brazilian culture is a lot about celebration, art, and music, and futebol, is represented in that way. Kids play the sport a lot differently than they might here,"
 

When he is not playing soccer, Ribeiro enjoys outdoor activities like hiking, fishing, and camping. His favorite hobbies include playing chess and watching motorsports.

"I'm a big fan of Formula 1, I'm a big fan of Charles Leclerc," Ribeiro said. "I grew up a lot around cars, my dad being really interested in cars, and I loved growing up watching racing with him and learning about different people, so I became a fan. Obviously, the legend Ayrton Senna is from Brazil, probably one of the greatest drivers ever, so I love learning about those kinds of guys and kind of just sports mentality in general."

Before becoming a Brave, Ribeiro played for Bard College in New York for two seasons. He is thankful for the opportunity to play at the highest collegiate level during the fall and spring seasons.

"I came from a Division III school, and here we are Division I, so there were some adjustments," Ribeiro said. "You spend a lot more time training and being involved with the team. For example, in the spring here we have so many trainings and lifts a week, and it is a busy schedule whereas, in my old college, the spring is very limited in the amount of training, so I feel fortunate to be here and be able to get to train, and play with my team every day, which is not something I had before,"

Ribeiro feels proud to represent such a historic soccer program and the longtime fans supporting the team.

"I can tell that when you go to our home games, there are a lot of people that really care about this school and this team, and I think to step out on the field and wear the Bradley badge means a lot because you have people talk to you after the game, and you can tell that they are passionate about this program, and the success of our team."

Ribeiro admires the coaching staff he has had during his time at Bradley, as they are well-known personalities among the college soccer community.

"To be able to say that I worked under coaches, even if It was just for one season, under the great Jim DeRose, and now Coach Regan, and Coach Barnett, that means a lot to me because those people are really important figures not only in this area but in the area of college soccer in general, and whether my impact is huge or very small it feels really special to be a part of that,"

Ribeiro has team-oriented goals for the future but believes the most important thing is to be a role model for future generations.

"I, like everyone else on the team, would love to have some success and win the conference championship. I think we have great confidence right now, that we have the guys to do it and have the energy to go forth and do it," Ribeiro said. "Personally, I love to just create an impact in the community. I think there are a lot of opportunities to connect with people in the area and get kids interested in soccer, get kids interested in Bradley, and just sports in general."

Watch Ribeiro at Shea Stadium for the last spring home exhibition game on April 14.