'We all follow the West Ham'

This summer, the FIFA World Cup will return to Brazil for the second time after a 64-year break.

One supporter who cannot wait to welcome football's biggest party to his homeland is West Ham United fan Pedro Henrique Martins.

Martins, 19, has been a Hammer since 2006, first becoming interested in the Club when Carlos Tevez and Javier Mascherano moved to east London from South America from Brazilian side Corinthians and Argentine giants River Plate respectively.

Seven-and-a-half years later, the teenager manages his own West Ham Brasil Facebook page and @west_hambr Twitter account, which have combined to attract more than 2,000 followers, including some Brazilian football journalists.

"I've been a massive supporter since the middle of the last decade, when West Ham signed Tévez and Mascherano," Martins confirmed. "Since then I started looking for some news of the Club and I must say, I fell in love with West Ham.

"I now manage a Facebook page called 'West Ham Brasil' with over 740 likes and also a Twitter account @west_hambr with more than 1.390 followers.

"For not being such a popular club in Brazil, our fans lack information about the team, so that's why I dedicate such a lot of time on these social networks in order to inform them about the hottest news."

Like many overseas-based supporters, Martins follows West Ham by watching as many live matches as he can on television. He has two particular favourites, both of which took place in the 2011/12 promotion season.

"There are two most memorable matches that I have. The first was when we beat Millwall at home 2-1. Kevin Nolan's red card gave the match a bigger emotion and when Winston Reid scored I just pictured myself at the Boleyn Ground celebrating madly.

"The second match was the Championship Play-Off final. I remember missing school that very day so that I could watch the match and I wasn't disappointed at all."

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Pedro Henrique Martins meets his hero Mohamed Diame

Despite his relative youth, Martins has also already visited the Boleyn Ground, attending the 1-0 Premier League win over Swansea City in January 2013.

"Last year I made one of my dreams come true, because I got to watch West Ham versus Swansea at Upton Park and no words could describe what I felt when 'I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles' was being played. It was one of my best experiences that I shall keep in my mind forever."

One highlight of Martins' visit was the opportunity to meet his favourite player, Mohamed Diame, and others.

"My favourite players nowadays are Diame, Adrian and the captain Nolan. I just love Diame's accuracy when he's got the ball on him, how Adrian has been saving us these last matches and Nolan for being a sheer leader on the pitch."

While it may be a while until Martins can make a return visit to east London, he is planning to continue growing support for West Ham in his homeland.

And with England visiting Belo Horizonte for their final 2014 FIFA World Cup Group D fixture with Costa Rica on 24 June, he is unlikely to be the only West Ham fan in the city that day!

"For now, I say goodbye and would like to leave an invitation for everyone to like my Facebook page and follow my Twitter. If there's anyone who supports West Ham around Itabira, Belo Horizonte or the state of Minas Gerais, just contact me through my Facebook page!"