They have won every Paralympic Games gold medal available in their sport and have never lost a match on the biggest stage, but the desire inside Brazil’s visually impaired football 5-a-side team has not dimmed. As they celebrated the 10-year anniversary of their first Paralympic success, and prepared for this year’s world championship in Japan, the Brazilians could not help but feel excited about the prospect of defending their crown on home soil.

 “As the Paralympic Games get closer, we can’t wait for them to begin,” said star forward Jefinho, who was part of the gold medal winning teams at the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Games. “It will be a great moment for all of us, probably the most important in our careers, and we are going to do everything to win for the Brazilian people, who will be there, cheering us on.”

Two-time Paralympic champion Jefinho says the Brazilian team is focused on Rio 2016 (Photo: Getty Images/Julian Finney)

Brazil are now coached by Fábio Vasconcelos, their former goalkeeper who won three Paralympic golds, starting with the cherished win over South American rivals Argentina in the inaugural Paralympic football five-a-side final, at the Athens 2004 Games. Three players from that tournament – Marquinhos, Damião and Bill – are still playing.

“Expectations are high, since we have never played in a competition on this scale at home,” said Vasconcelos. “We can’t wait to get the ball rolling and hear the crowd cheering us on.”

The Athens champions were honoured last week at the legendary Maracanã Stadium, before a Brazilian Cup match between Maracanã and América de Natal, receiving commemorative plaques from former Barcelona and Brazil star Romário.

“I have great  memories of winning Brazil’s gold medal in Athens,” said winger Marquinhos, 31. “It brought many things to our sport: more funding, more recognition from sponsors and improved training conditions.”

Brazil beat rivals Argentina to claim the inaugral Paralympic football 5-a-side title in Athens (Photo: Getty Images/Phil Cole)

The team, which also boats three world titles and six Copa Américas, has won every competition it has entered over the past seven years. This month the team began training in Niteroi, a city across the bay from Rio, for the world championships that will take place in Tokyo in November.

“We have only one objective, and that’s the title,” said Jefinho. “The world championship is the second most important competition for 5-a-side and we have been preparing since the beginning of the year, training hard to reach 100 per cent fitness for Rio 2016. Our sights have been set on the Paralympic medal since the beginning of the cycle and playing just gives us more and more confidence.”

The winning team in Tokyo will book their place at Rio 2016, although should Brazil win again the runners-up will qualify, as the host nation’s pace is already guaranteed at the Paralympic Games. The remaining six Rio 2016 places will be decided at continental qualifying tournaments in 2015.