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Contemporary Brazilian footballers

182 articles

Ricardo Goulart

Ricardo Goulart (Ricardo Goulart Pereira, Gao Late), born 1991 in São Paulo, Brazilian-Chinese second striker; Cruzeiro and Guangzhou Evergrande star, 2015 AFC Champions League top scorer, MVP and AFC Foreign Player of the Year; retired April 2023.

Ricardo Mathias

Ricardo Mathias (Ricardo Mathias da Silva), Brazilian centre-forward born 2006 in Nova Iguaçu; Internacional youth product, 34 matches and 6 goals, Gaúcho 2025 and Brazil U17/U20 titles, sold to Al-Ahli Saudi FC in December 2025.

Richarlison

Richarlison de Andrade, Brazilian forward born 1997 in Nova Venécia; played for América-MG, Fluminense, Watford, Everton, and Tottenham; Copa América 2019 and Olympic 2020 winner; Europa League 2025 with Spurs.

Riquelme Fillipi

Riquelme Fillipi (Riquelme Fillipi Marinho de Souza), Brazilian left winger born 2006 in Santo André; Palmeiras youth product, Brasileirão Sub-20 MVP 2025, sold to Inter Miami CF in September 2026.

Roberto Firmino

Roberto Firmino (Roberto Firmino Barbosa de Oliveira), Brazilian forward born 1991 in Maceió; Liverpool 2015-2023 false nine, 362 games, 111 goals, six trophies; later Al-Ahli, AFC Champions League Elite 2025 winner, now Al Sadd.

Robinho

Robinho (Robson de Souza, born 1984, São Vicente) is a Brazilian former forward for Santos, Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Milan, 100 Brazil caps, now serving a nine-year Italian rape sentence in Brazil since March 2024; distinct from namesake Robson Azevedo da Silva (born 1995).

Robinho Júnior

Robinho Júnior (Robson de Souza Júnior, Juninho), born 2007 in Santos, is a Santos FC left-sided attacker and son of Robinho; Paulista Sub-17 top scorer 2024, professional debut July 2025, contract to April 2027.

Rodrigo Dourado

Rodrigo Dourado (Rodrigo Dourado Cunha), Brazilian defensive midfielder born 1994 in Pelotas; Internacional veteran, Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist, now at FC Juárez on loan from Club América for Apertura 2026.

Rodrygo

Rodrygo (Rodrygo Silva de Goes), Brazilian forward born 2001 in Osasco; Santos 2017-2019 then Real Madrid, 70 goals in 292 games, two Champions Leagues, 2022 semifinal brace vs Manchester City; Brazil international; ACL rupture March 2026 ruled him out of the 2026 World Cup.

Ronaldinho

Ronaldinho (Ronaldinho Gaúcho), Brazilian attacking midfielder and wide forward born 1980 in Porto Alegre; won the 2002 World Cup, two FIFA World Player of the Year awards (2004, 2005), the 2005 Ballon d'Or, and two La Liga titles and the 2006 Champions League with Barcelona; retired 2018, planning a 2026 Ravenna return.

Ryan Roberto

Ryan Roberto de Oliveira Dantas (born 2008, São Paulo) is a Brazilian attacking midfielder who came through Athletico Paranaense and Flamengo, starred in the U20 Copa Libertadores, debuted for Flamengo in 2026, and joined Shakhtar Donetsk in June 2026.

Sávio (footballer, born 2004)

Sávio (Sávio Moreira de Oliveira, also known as Savinho), born 2004 in São Mateus, Brazil, is a Brazilian left-footed winger who broke through at Girona, played for Manchester City, and joined Tottenham Hotspur in 2026 for a reported £75m.

Sergio Mendonça

Sergio Mendonca (Sérgio de Mendonça Siqueira Filho, born 2004) is a Brazilian centre-forward, 1.91 m, who played for Botafogo U20, Maricá, Young Lions (8 goals in 19 games), and joined Isen Mulang FC in Indonesia's Super League in August 2026.

Souza (footballer, born 2006)

Souza (João Victor de Souza Menezes, born 2006, Mauá, Brazil) is a Brazilian left-back from Santos's academy who joined Tottenham Hotspur in January 2026 and moved on loan to Porto in August 2026; a Brazil under-17 international at the 2023 U-17 World Cup.

Taison

Taison (Taison Barcellos Freda, born 1988, Pelotas) is a Brazilian left winger for PAOK; ex-Shakhtar Donetsk captain with six Ukrainian league titles, 8 Brazil caps, and Copa Libertadores 2010 winner with Internacional.

Talisca

Talisca (Anderson Souza Conceição), Brazilian attacking midfielder born 1994; played for Bahia, Benfica, Besiktas, Guangzhou, Al-Nassr, Fenerbahçe, now Al-Jazira; league titles in Portugal, Turkey, China; no senior Brazil caps.

Thiago Maia

Thiago Maia, full name Thiago Maia Alencar, is a Brazilian defensive midfielder for Internacional who won Olympic gold at Rio 2016 and the 2022 Copa Libertadores with Flamengo.

Thiago Silva

Thiago Silva (Thiago Emiliano da Silva), "O Monstro", Brazilian centre-back from Rio de Janeiro; Fluminense, Milan, PSG, and Chelsea, 113 Brazil caps, 2021 Champions League winner, back at Fluminense in 2026.

Uilliam Barros

Uilliam Barros Pereira, Brazilian centre-forward born 1994 in Bonito, brother of retired player Vinícius; Fortaleza youth product, Copa do Nordeste 2018 winner with Sampaio Corrêa, now at Persib Bandung in Indonesia's Super League.

Vágner Love

Vágner Love, full name Vágner Silva de Souza, is a Brazilian retired striker born in 1984, best known for CSKA Moscow, where he won the 2005 UEFA Cup.

Victor Aznar

Victor Wehbi Aznar Ussen (Víctor Aznar), Brazilian goalkeeper born 2002 in São Paulo; Cádiz CF reserve and first-team keeper, 62 appearances, 34 starts with 9 clean sheets in 2025/26 LaLiga2, then sold to Lion City Sailors in August 2026.

Viery

Viery (Viery Fernandes Santos Lopes), born 2005 in Ubá, Brazil, is a centre-back who came through Grêmio's academy, debuted in 2025, and joined Fiorentina in July 2026 for up to €17 million.

Vinícius Júnior

Vinícius Júnior (Vinícius José Paixão de Oliveira Júnior), Brazilian left winger born 2000 in São Gonçalo; Flamengo academy product signed by Real Madrid for €46m in 2018; two Champions League final goals, The Best FIFA Men's Player 2024, contract to 2032.

Vitor Roque

Vitor Roque (full name Vitor Hugo Roque Ferreira) is a Brazilian forward who moved from Athletico Paranaense to Barcelona in 2023 and joined Palmeiras in 2025.

Walace

Walace, full name Walace Souza Silva, is a Brazilian defensive midfielder born in 1995 in Salvador who won Olympic gold in 2016 and plays for Vitória on loan from Cruzeiro.

Wallace (footballer, born 2004)

Wallace (Wallace Gomes da Silva dos Santos, born 2004) is a Brazilian defender for Grêmio, squad number 82; distinct from the 2004-born Madureira midfielder Wallace Camilo dos Santos Leandro.

Wallace Yan

Wallace Yan (Wallace Yan de Souza Barreto, born 2005), Brazilian right-footed attacker from Flamengo's academy; 2024 U20 Libertadores top scorer, scored vs Chelsea at the 2025 Club World Cup, sold to RB Bragantino in 2026 for €6 million.

Weverton

Weverton (Weverton Pereira da Silva), Brazilian goalkeeper born 1987 in Rio Branco, Acre; Rio 2016 Olympic gold medalist who saved Nils Petersen's penalty in the final, Palmeiras record holder, Grêmio keeper, and Brazil's 2026 World Cup squad member.

William Gomes

William Gomes (born 2006, Aracaju, Brazil) is a Brazilian right winger for FC Porto, signed from São Paulo in 2025 for €10 million; he won the 2025-26 Primeira Liga and renewed to 2031 with a €100 million release clause.

Willian (footballer, born 1988)

Willian (Willian Borges da Silva) is a Brazilian footballer known for seven seasons at Chelsea and the most Premier League appearances by a South American player.