Courtesy:
news.bbc.co.ukJuninho, Celtic and Brazil starI think the best way to improve your skills is to play football on a smaller pitch.
I didn't play 11-a-side football until I was 13.
In Brazil most kids play what we call futebol de salao, which is similar to five-a-side.
It is played on a hard surface and the ball is a lot smaller and weighted with foam so it doesn't bounce.
This makes the ball harder to play with at first - but it's great practice for when you move to full-size football.
On a small pitch you need to have good control and move the ball around quickly.
There isn't much space so you need to be skilful.
Most of the kids in my neighbourhood played futebol de salao.
That is why Brazil always produces players with great skill.
The amount of space in 11-a-side is not good for young kids.
You spend too much time running around without the ball.
In futebol de salao you are always involved.
It's great to play 11-a-side when you're older - but it's better if you play on a small pitch first.
The pitches in Brazil can be poor quality - you need to have good control to play on them otherwise you will lose the ball.
This is another reason Brazilian players have good technique.
Sometimes making things harder for yourself improves your game in the long-run.
But remember that football isn't just about skill. it's also about having the right attitude.
The most important skill you can learn is discipline.