Young Sporting fan gets the new season underway

He might be just five years old, but he has already captured the hearts of every Sporting fan with his brave fight against cancer. Dressed in a full Sporting strip, Francisco signed his first contract with the club in a ceremony with president Bruno de Carvalho.

"We have the pleasure of signing Francisco, whose job it is to kick off the first match of the season", said Bruno de Carvalho, going on to speak about Alvalade's latest signing: "He is the big signing of the night. He is a big name who will show everyone what Sporting is all about. The club is 110 years old and it is with people like Francisco that we will easily last another 110.

The dream was complete when little Francisco led the team out in front of 30,000 fans and made his way to the centre spot to get the game underway.