The 29-year-old, who has effectively taken Ronaldinho's place and scored in the 2-1 opening win over North Korea, has become a favourite of coach Dunga after his career nearly went to ground in the frozen wastes of Ukraine.
"I've been through a lot in my life, it was a lot worse when I was kicking a ball around in a sugar cane field, so now I'm here, I just try to concentrate and try not to worry," he said during a recent media conference at Brazil's South African base.
He became a regular starter last year after Dunga lost patience with Ronaldinho, deciding that the AC Milan player's approach did not fit in with his down-to-earth philosophy.
"I wanted to get my parents away from sugar-cane cutting," he said in a television interview last month. "I wanted to give a life to my parents. I wanted to give my parents a house."
After making his name at Pele's former club Santos in the Brazilian championship, Elano fell on more troubled times when he moved to Shakhtar Donetsk in Ukraine.
Out of the blue, he was picked for Dunga's first game as coach shortly after the 2006 World Cup.
"I've always considered myself a supporting actor in every club, I've never been worried if I'm going to be the main man or not," he said.
"I prefer to be an important piece in a winning group. I'm an employee here to do my job. I get up at 7.30, have breakfast and get on the bus to go and train."
