Hearts forward Claudio Braga believes title success for the Tynecastle club would help Scottish football grow - and inspire other teams to believe they could also enjoy Premiership glory.

The Edinburgh side hold a three-point lead at the top of the Premiership with four games left and are on course to become the first team outside of Celtic or Rangers to win the league in 41 years.

"I feel like it's been a beautiful story," Braga said. "Around Europe, even the world, people are looking [at Hearts] and they enjoy it. It's always a good story when somebody that is not supposed to win does good stuff.

"Hearts are a team that is known for playing with their heart and are like a family on the pitch. It's not like we are the team that plays the most beautiful football. We are just the team that fights the most and I feel that means everything is possible, even against big money.

"Everybody loves a good story. I'm Portuguese, I don't know that much about Scottish football but I know enough to know that it would probably help Scottish football in a way [if Hearts won the league].

"People would look more at Scottish football if it's not only going to be Celtic or Rangers winning. Even for the other teams in the league, they will not go to the next year thinking, 'oh, it's going to be Celtic or Rangers'.

"If we do it, they will probably think, 'we can do it also', so that would help Scottish football to get to a bigger level."

Braga's own contribution to the title push has earned him a nomination for PFA Premiership player of the year, but his focus is to make sure he and his team-mates are remembered for years to come.

"You want to make history, not only in football, but in life," he said. "You want to be remembered, and that's something that probably would happen if we win the league.

"I think every single one of us would be remembered forever, so that's something that you just really want to achieve. Not just as a football player, but as a person. That would be just such a good achievement."