Award-winning São Paulo songwriter who grew up in football - and music-loving family has shot to stardom since 2015 debut

The house lights were dimmed in one of Rio’s top music venues and, as the star of the show prepared to take the stage, thousands of enraptured fans cried out their idol’s name in the darkness: “Liniker! Liniker! Liniker! Liniker!”

It was not, however, the England striker turned Match of the Day host Gary Lineker the sellout crowd was here to see. It was Lineker’s Brazilian namesake: a Grammy-winning pop sensation whose mesmerising performances and soul-stirring songs have captured the hearts and minds of millions.