Marcelo (footballer, born 1988)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Vieira and the second or paternal family name is da Silva. "Júnior" is a generational suffix used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.
Marcelo
Marcelo in 2022
Personal information
Full name Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior[1]
Date of birth (1988-05-12) 12 May 1988 (age 36)[2]
Place of birth Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Height 1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)[3]
Position(s) Left-back
Youth career
2002–2005 Fluminense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2005–2007 Fluminense 30 (6)
2007–2022 Real Madrid 386 (26)
2022–2023 Olympiacos 5 (0)
2023–2024 Fluminense 43 (3)
International career
2005 Brazil U17 3 (1)
2007 Brazil U20 4 (0)
2008 Brazil U23 6 (1)
2012 Brazil Olympic (O.P.) 6 (0)
2006–2018 Brazil 58 (6)
Medal record
Representing  Brazil
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner 2013 Brazil
Summer Olympics
Silver medal – second place 2012 London Team
Bronze medal – third place 2008 Beijing Team
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Runner-up 2005 Peru
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:30, 26 October 2024 (UTC)

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior (born 12 May 1988), known as Marcelo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who most recently played as a left-back for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Fluminense. Widely regarded as one of the greatest left-backs of all time, he is known for his attacking capabilities.[4] He spent most of his career with La Liga club Real Madrid and is one of the club’s most decorated players, winning 25 trophies.[5]

Starting his professional career with Fluminense in 2005, Marcelo won a Campeonato Carioca title in his first season and was named in the 2006 Brasileirão Team of the Season. In January 2007, he joined Real Madrid for an €8 million fee.[6] At Real Madrid, he went on to be a mainstay, winning many trophies, including five UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga titles.[5] In 2021, Marcelo became the captain of Real Madrid from the start of the 2021–22 season, making him the first foreign captain since 1904.[7] After leaving Real Madrid in 2022, he had a five-month spell at Olympiacos, followed by a return to Fluminense in 2023, where he won the Copa Libertadores. He has been named in the FIFPro World XI six times, the UEFA Team of the Year three times, and La Liga's Team of the Season in 2016. He was also named to France Football's "Team of the Decade (2010–2019)".[8]

Having debuted for Brazil in 2006, Marcelo was part of the 2008 Olympic squad and won a bronze medal. Four years later, he was part of Brazil's 2012 Olympic team and won a silver medal.[9] Marcelo played in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup as Brazil was victorious, beating Spain 3–0 in the final. He was also part of Brazil's squad at two FIFA World Cups (2014 and 2018), being named in both tournament's Dream Teams.[10]

  1. ^ "FIFA World Cup Russia 2018: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 15 July 2018. p. 4. Archived from the original (PDF) on 11 June 2019.
  2. ^ "FIFA Club World Cup UAE 2017: List of players: Real Madrid CF" (PDF). FIFA. 30 November 2017. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 23 December 2017. Retrieved 23 December 2017.
  3. ^ "Player Profile". Real Madrid C.F Official Web Site. Archived from the original on 17 May 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2014.
  4. ^ Cite error: The named reference lifeline was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  5. ^ a b "Marcelo becomes most decorated player in Real Madrid history after La Liga title triumph | Goal.com". www.goal.com. Archived from the original on 30 April 2022. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
  6. ^ "Real Madrid signs defender Marcelo". 15 November 2006. Archived from the original on 3 September 2022. Retrieved 17 July 2017.
  7. ^ Cite error: The named reference :5 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  8. ^ Cite error: The named reference :6 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  9. ^ Cite error: The named reference :0 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).
  10. ^ Cite error: The named reference :1 was invoked but never defined (see the help page).