“A Day in the Life” is a series where we’ll profile a variety of residents to get an intimate glimpse into their day-to-day. These are your neighbors. Get to know them.

Last Sunday, the New England Revolution continued to establish themselves as a team to watch when they defeated one of the best teams in MLS, the Seattle Sounders. And with the highly-anticipated World Cup kicking off in less than a month, professional soccer (or football) is poised to steal the spotlight.

Jose Goncalves, a central defender for the Revs, has spent just one season in the U.S. but has already proven to be one of the strongest defensive players in the league (winning the MLS award in 2013 for Defender of the Year). A left-footed player, Goncalves is known for his strong man-marking skills and defensive presence on the field. Not to mention, he also speaks six languages fluently and has experience playing in the UEFA Champions League and UEFA Europa League.

Here, the Revolution player gives BostInno a glimpse into his day-to-day life.

Marian White: How do you spend most mornings?

Jose Goncalves: When I wake up, I take my dog Lenny out for a walk so he can walk a little bit and so I can wake up and activate my body. I come back, I give him his food and I eat my breakfast. I try to read newspapers from all around the world, too.

What are the top priorities on your to-do list right now?

My priorities are to get back into good shape right now because I have been injured for almost four weeks now. Summer is coming; I like to hang out outside… I like to walk outside. I like to grill and barbeque, have a coffee outside in a bar – I like that.

What is the best part and the worst part about your day?

The best is that every day I can wake up and do what I always wanted to do – play soccer. The worst is that sometimes you want to help someone close to you, your family or your friends, and you are not able to. That’s the only issue I could always complain (about) in my life: I cannot help other people.

When did you begin playing soccer and what inspired you to continue playing throughout your life?

I watched a soccer game with my dad when I was a kid – around five or six years old. It was Benfica Lisbon vs. Sporting Lisbon. After that, I started to play soccer and I wanted to be a professional. At school, I was always playing with friends and the kids from the school, and now I am still playing soccer because I love it and this is my job. This is what I love.

What is the best thing about playing for the New England Revolution?

Being in Boston! Boston is a great city, and it’s great not only because it’s very famous due to the universities but also because it’s a well-known sports city. The Boston Celtics, the Bruins, the Red Sox, and the Patriots are doing very well and they are well-known in the U.S., so it’s one of the advantages of playing here in New England. Everyone is passionate about sport and that’s one of the best things about playing here.

If you could impart one piece of advice to our readers, what would it be?

Work hard. Always believe in yourself and in your dreams. Complaining doesn’t help you but if you work hard, you can always achieve.

What would you do if you were suddenly granted a day off from work tomorrow?

I would go home, walk my dog because I used to go out with him three or four times a day. I’d do something that I have to do, maybe call my dad, call my mom or friends back home, go and grab a nice coffee in the North End, eat some nice Italian pasta and buy some gluten-free cupcakes.

If you weren’t answering my questions, what would you be doing instead?

I would be in the gym, doing some workouts – on the bike or running on the treadmill.