Brazilian Football Star, Hulk Welcomes Baby With His Ex-Wife’s Niece

Brazilian football star Hulk is celebrating the arrival of his first child with the niece of his ex-wife.

Camila Angelo gave birth to daughter Zaya at a hospital in Miami where the couple own a luxury apartment. The 35-year-old was given permission by his club Atletico Mineiro to miss Sunday’s match against Coritiba so he could be present at the birth. Overnight the striker called Zaya his “princess” and promised to “love and protect” her for ever in a moving message announcing he had become a father again.

Hulk, who already has three children with his former wife Iran Angelo, wrote on Instagram alongside photos of him holding his tiny daughter in his arms and with second wife Camila moments after the birth: “Our little Zaya was born under the blessing of God Our Almighty Father.

“Zaya means enlightened, luck, flower that blossoms and she comes to bring light and illuminate our lives more. Come blossom our home my love. We’ve dreamed about your arrival for a long time. Happy to be able to experience the grace of the promises of God. Thank you God for my family that I will honour and love for ever.”

In a direct message to the baby girl, he added: “You are an answer to our prayers, daughter, you came to make our life even more beautiful. You are our blessing. Welcome my princess, I will love and protect you for ever. Hulk, your father”.

The soccer star identified the hospital where Camila gave birth in his social media post, Mercy Hospital in Coconut Grove, Miami, which is Miami-Dade County’s only Catholic hospital. In an Instagram story he posted a photo of Zaya’s birth card with the time of her birth as well as her size and weight and even the name of the gynaecologist who delivered her. It showed she was born at 2:22pm Florida-time on Monday – 7:22pm in the UK – and weighed 8lbs 9oz.

Camila also revealed her happiness on her own social media, posting an adorable photo of her and her footballer husband cuddling their daughter moments after her birth and writing: “Welcome Zaya.” Hulk, who is still scoring around a goal a game despite being in the latter stages of his career, flew to the States at the weekend on his private jet to accompany Camila as she counted down the final hours to the arrival of their first daughter at their fabulous apartment in a luxury Miami condominium.

The 32-year-old model has joint American-Brazilian nationality. Hulk, full name Givanildo Vieira de Sousa, had already described himself as a dad-of-four on his social media profiles before the birth, listing Zaya as one of his kids after his three with his ex – Ian, Tiago and Alice.