In the vibrant streets of Lisbon’s Chiado district, where the pulse of the city beats through its cobblestone paths and historic charm, a serendipitous moment unfolded that captured the attention of basketball fans and music lovers alike. Lucas Pina, a soulful street artist from São Tomé who has made a name for himself in Portugal’s cultural capital, found himself performing for an unexpected audience: NBA legend Michael Jordan and his wife, Yvette Prieto. This fleeting yet profound encounter, which took place on a warm June evening in 2025, has since gone viral, sparking conversations about authenticity, artistry, and the universal language of music.
Lucas Pina’s journey to this moment was anything but ordinary. Arriving in Lisbon in 2020 with dreams of becoming a musician, Pina faced significant challenges. He initially came to study music at the Polytechnic of Bragança, but financial support from an institution in São Tomé never materialized, forcing him to abandon his studies. To make ends meet, he worked in construction for three years, all while nurturing his passion for music. “I was passing through hunger to send something to my son,” Pina shared in an interview with A Mensagem. His determination to keep music at the core of his life led him to the streets of Chiado, where he transformed the iconic Largo do Chiado into his stage, performing for passersby with his guitar and soulful voice.
On June 2, 2025, as Pina strummed his guitar near the historic Brasileira do Chiado café, he noticed a crowd gathering. Among them was Michael Jordan, the basketball icon whose Air Jordan brand revolutionized sports and culture, accompanied by his wife, Yvette Prieto. The couple, vacationing in Portugal, was enjoying a quiet meal outdoors when Pina’s performance caught their attention. In a video that later spread across social media, Jordan can be seen smiling, nodding to the rhythm, and even holding a cigar as he immersed himself in the music. Prieto, too, was visibly engaged, nodding along as Pina’s voice filled the air.
What made this moment particularly special was its spontaneity. Pina, unaware at first of the celebrity in his audience, approached Jordan after his set, leading to a brief but meaningful exchange. “Michael Jordan on my show out of nowhere,” Pina wrote on Instagram, his excitement palpable. “I’m still shaking.” The interaction, though brief, was electric. Pina’s raw, heartfelt performance resonated with the crowd, and Jordan’s genuine appreciation was evident. Fans later praised Jordan for supporting a local artist, with one commenting, “If I was Jordan, I’d give him 10K cause he is very good.”
However, the story took an amusing turn when a fan jokingly commented on Pina’s Instagram post, noting that he was wearing an Adidas shirt and suggesting, “Jordan wouldn’t f**k with you.” Pina responded lightheartedly, saying, “Yes, that’s why he couldn’t take a picture with me that day.” Whether or not Jordan’s decision to skip a photo was due to the rival brand’s logo remains unclear, but the exchange sparked a wave of online chatter. As the face of Nike’s Air Jordan line, Jordan has long been cautious about associations with competing brands, making the comment a humorous nod to his business savvy.
For Pina, the encounter was a milestone. Having performed on Portugal’s Got Talent in 2021 and steadily built a following in Lisbon, he described the experience of playing for Jordan as surreal. “In the street, you see the eyes of the people,” he told A Mensagem. “Some days, you sing for two people and feel more than singing for thousands.” That night, with hundreds gathered, including one of the greatest athletes of all time, Pina’s passion shone through. His music, rooted in neo-soul and his São Tomé heritage, connected with Jordan and Prieto in a way that transcended fame.
Jordan and Prieto’s European adventures have become a recurring theme in recent years. From dancing in Capri to yachting in Croatia, the couple has embraced a life of leisure since Jordan’s retirement from basketball. Their Portugal visit added another chapter to their story, with Pina’s performance serving as a backdrop to their shared moment of joy. For Pina, it was a reminder that art can bridge worlds, bringing together a street musician from São Tomé and a global icon in a fleeting, authentic exchange that resonated far beyond the streets of Lisbon.
