Washington Stecanela Cerqueira was told his career was over as an unfulfilled 27-year-old in 2002. The then-Fenerbahce striker had complained of chest pains, and consequent diagnosis revealed that his left artery was 95 per cent blocked.

Atletico Paranaense, Tokyo Verdy and Urawa Red Diamonds are grateful that, improbably, courageously and relentlessly, the Brazilian conquered this physical burden to embark on an period of rich prolificacy. So too are Fluminense, for whom Washington's 11th-hour header against Sao Paulo last week spared them from elimination from the Copa Libertadores and sent the club into the semi-finals for the first time.

After seeing off the reigning Brazilian champions, O Tricolor Carioca must now strive to navigate a way past the reigning South American champions, Boca Juniors. And there is no doubt that this objective is the latest steep hurdle to face a player affectionately known as Coração Valente (Brave Heart), Los Xeneizes winning their last 12 knockout-phase ties against Brazilian teams in the Libertadores.

"The players were happy to learn of this. It's a statistic there to be broken," insisted an undeterred Fluminense coach Renato Gaucho ahead of this evening's first leg in Buenos Airies. "Of course Boca have a strong team, huge support. They've eliminated everybody in recent years but they're not unbeatable."

Back from the brink
The early years of Washington's professional career were decorated by goals but hindered by injuries. When the latter dried up following his arrival at Ponte Preta in 2000, however, the dynamic frontman thrived. He finished as the top scorer in the Campeonato Paulista and the Copa do Brasil in 2001, and left the Campinas outfit having posted 93 goals in 106 games and earned promotion to the Brazilian national team, whom he represented at the FIFA Confederations Cup Korea/Japan 2001.

A player whose quick feet belie his colossal stature, Washington proved an instant hit after joining Fenerbahce in 2002, but in the November of that year, with his name prominent on the Turkish Super League goal chart, his tragedy began to unfold. Cardiac problems not only forced him to undergo surgery but also cast a dark cloud over his capacity to return.

Atletico Paranaense nevertheless signed the inactive player in 2003, and their gamble was to pay dividends. On an emotional return to action, over 14 months after surgery, Washington scored O Furacão's opener against his former employers Parana. Coração Valente was immediately engulfed by his team-mates, who hugged and applauded him as his name reverberated around the Arena da Baixada.

It was the first of 44 goals in 49 games Washington would score for Atletico, including an unprecedented 34 in one edition of the Brasileiro. Thereafter, he joined Tokyo Verdy before a switch across Japan to Urawa Red Diamonds, who he inspired to the AFC Champions League title and third place at the FIFA Club World Cup last year, finishing as the global showpiece's leading marksman above Kaka, Filippo Inzaghi, Rodrigo Palacio and Martin Palermo in the process.

Now, after starring for Fluminense since a post-Japan 2007 transfer, he must attempt get one over on the latter pair in the Copa Libertadores semi-finals, and Washington is aware that achieving a positive result in Argentina is imperative. "Boca are going to give it their all to put the tie out of our reach," he said.

"They have three players in particular, Palacio, Palermo and [Juan Roman] Riquelme, who can turn a game so we have to mark very tightly and keep our concentration. But at the same time we must attack because away goals are so important. We're all very confident."

It was one of the best days of my life, unforgettable. Now I want to repeat this against Boca and help Fluminense make history
Washington after completing his brace in injury time against Sao Paulo to send Fluminense into the Libertadores semi-finals for the first time.

And confidence is something that Washington will carry abundantly into tonight's contest after ending an uncharacteristic eight-match goal drought with a double in the Rio side's 3-1 second-leg win over Sao Paulo. " ," the 33-year-old enthused.

If Washington can help guarantee a Brazilian presence in the Libertadores final for the fourth season running, it would leave Fluminense on the brink of history - and cement the heroic tale of a true Brazilian Brave Heart.