Gabi Bankhardt is Samba. She is Bossa Nova. She is Christ the Redeemer and she is Carnival. She is the favelas. She is churrasco and she is Copacabana. She is mutirão.

She is the all-encompassing, quintessential face of Brazil's footballing eruption, sewing community, diversity, culture and history together with the panache and prestige of showpiece gamedays as a chief architect to one of the NFL's newest models for international growth.

The league has mastered an unsung eye for perfect global ambassadors. Bankhardt - her green, yellow and blue-decorated nails glistening in tribute to her nation - is among their treasure trove of discoveries.

"I always say that if I was writing the story of my life, I would never write this part, I could never even imagine the things I'm able to do as a

See Full Page