Goalkeeper Bruno, Flamengo's starting goalkeeper since 2006, is now a "Citizen of the State of Rio de Janeiro." The title was voted on yesterday in the Rio de Janeiro State Legislative Assembly (Alerj) and published today in the Official Gazette of the Legislative Branch, in Resolution 729/09.

The project was presented by state deputy Altineu Côrtes (no party), shortly after the 2009 state title. According to article 272 of the Internal Regulations of the Alerj, the Title of Citizen of the State of Rio de Janeiro may be granted to "national personality, originating from other units of the Federation, who gives unequivocal proof of identity and affection for the State of Rio de Janeiro".

According to the justification presented, Bruno Fernandes das Dores de Souza, born in the city of Belo Horizonte on December 23, 1984, "never stopped protecting the goal of the Rubro-Negro da Gávea, gaining the status of idol of the Club. He remained as Flamengo's starting goalkeeper since then, being applauded by the fans as 'the best goalkeeper in Brazil', culminating in the exceptional performance in the final of the 2009 State Championship, when he saved three penalties against Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas, one in regulation time and two others in the penalty shootout, leading Clube de Regatas do Flamengo to its fifth three-time state championship (PENTATRI)".

The Resolution can be found at http://www.io.rj.gov.br/asps/pdfs.asp?jornal=PII .