RIO DE JANEIRO — On the sun-drenched sands of Rio de Janeiro’s bustling beaches, the typical weekend buzz ground to a near standstill on one notable stretch. People paused, phones held high to capture feats of athleticism they’d never seen before—exhibited by an unlikely athlete: a 3-year-old border collie named Floki.
Footvolley is the game, a unique blend of soccer and beach volleyball. Floki steals the show with skills that bewilder even seasoned players. The rules closely resemble beach volleyball, albeit with a lower net and soccer-like prohibitions against using hands and arms. Floki propels himself off the sand, using his mouth to send the ball flying, capturing the hearts of spectators and securing a vast following on Instagram and TikTok.
Gustavo Rodrigues, Floki’s owner and a footvolley coach, did not foresee this canine phenomenon. Initially, Rodrigues had his heart set on an American Bully, a breed known for its less agile disposition. But when Floki bounded into his life, the pup’s promise was clear from just 2 months old, leaping at birthday balloons with the enthusiasm that would soon translate to the footvolley court.
Startled beachgoers on Leblon Beach watched in awe as Floki demonstrated his prowess. Rodrigues first introduced Floki to “altinha,” a game where participants keep a soccer ball aloft in a circle. By 2023, Floki transitioned to the more demanding sport of footvolley, a pastime even revered Brazilian soccer stars like Ronaldinho and Romário enjoy in retirement. Here, Floki’s agility, coordination, and on-court intelligence shone brightly.
“He does things professionals struggle with—like court positioning,” Rodrigues, 26, marveled. “When the ball moves across the court, he instinctively follows it, always facing it head-on.” Even while resting by the beach bar’s shade, Floki’s focus was unwavering, eyes locked on the nearby match.
During play, Floki signals his readiness with barks, seemingly grasping the game’s core rules. Occasionally, rather than returning the ball to Rodrigues as opponents expect, Floki cleverly scores by sending it over the net himself, celebrating by leaping into his owner’s arms.
Among the captivated audience was Luiza Chioli from Sao Paulo. Familiar with Floki from TikTok, she never imagined witnessing his live performance while enjoying a drink. “On social media, we assumed they’d show only the best clips,” said the 21-year-old. “But he played excellently the whole time. It’s truly incredible.”
As Floki’s fame grows, so do opportunities. He and Rodrigues frequently journey from their home in Brasilia to Rio and other locales, showing off skills and engaging in marketing efforts. Sunday began with almost an hour of play alongside Natalia Guitler, a former footvolley champion dubbed the Queen of the Beach. Their attempts at trick passes interspersed with dips in the ocean left them both seeking shade.
“We’re exhausted,” Guitler confessed, collapsing beside Floki. Reviewing their best moments for Instagram, her post shared a remarkable rally, including a bicycle kick over the net: “Me and my bestie @dog_altinha playing footvolley.”
The day wasn’t over for Floki. A marketing shoot for Farm, a fashion brand epitomizing Rio’s tropical flair, awaited. He later promoted banana-flavored dog popsicles and gave altinha demos to mall-goers. Despite a long day, an evening promenade along Copacabana’s beachfront saw him tugging energetically at his leash.
As the weekend concluded, Rodrigues and Floki prepared to return to Brasilia. There, their influencer lives yield to the intensity of competitive matches. Winning about one in every three, their opponents often face humiliation at the paws of a dog. “People talk and joke about it,” Rodrigues noted. “Nobody likes losing a point to him, so they give it their all against us.”
