# Nenê (footballer, born 1981)

**Nenê** is an attacking midfielder, 1.81 m tall.<sup>[1](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)</sup> He made 142 [Ligue 1](https://www.edgepedia.org/ligue-1) appearances and scored 55 goals across four and a half campaigns with Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain.<sup>[3](https://fbref.com/en/players/265ebd37/Nene)</sup> In 2026, at age 44, he left Juventude and signed for the Campeonato Brasileiro Série C club Botafogo-PB of João Pessoa, continuing one of the longest careers in Brazilian football.<sup>[2](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)</sup> He played a significant part in Botafogo-PB's 2026 Campeonato Paraibano title, which ended a seven-year drought without a state championship for the club.<sup>[2](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)</sup>

| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Position | Attacking midfielder; height 1.81 m<sup>[1](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)</sup> |
| Late career | Joined Botafogo-PB in 2026 at age 44 after leaving Juventude; won the 2026 Campeonato Paraibano<sup>[2](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)</sup> |

## Early moves and Spain

Nenê's recorded transfer path begins at Palmeiras, who sold him to Santos on 1 July 2002. A year later, on 1 July 2003, he moved from Santos to Mallorca in Spain, and on 1 July 2004 he transferred from Mallorca to Alavés.<sup>[1](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)</sup>

## Monaco, PSG, and France

His most productive years came in France. With Monaco and Paris Saint-Germain he made 142 Ligue 1 appearances across four and a half campaigns and scored 55 goals.<sup>[3](https://fbref.com/en/players/265ebd37/Nene)</sup> He transferred from Monaco to Espanyol on 1 July 2008, then from Monaco to Paris Saint-Germain on 11 July 2010.<sup>[1](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)</sup>

**Departure from PSG.** On 13 January 2013 his PSG registration was listed as unassigned, and [Sky Sports](https://www.edgepedia.org/sky-sports) reported at the time that he had confirmed he would sign for the Qatari club Al Gharafa.<sup>[1](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)</sup> Flamengo had also made an offer to sign him from PSG earlier that month, according to his agent.<sup>[1](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)</sup>

## Return to Brazil and later career

After his European years Nenê returned to Brazilian football.

**Botafogo-PB.** In 2026, at age 44, he left Juventude and signed for Botafogo-PB of João Pessoa, a Campeonato Brasileiro Série C club, continuing one of the longest careers in Brazilian football.<sup>[2](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)</sup> He played a significant part in Botafogo-PB's 2026 Campeonato Paraibano title, which ended a seven-year drought without a state championship for the club.<sup>[2](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)</sup>

During the 2026 World Cup, held in the United States, Mexico, and Canada, Nenê also worked as a commentator for the Brazilian channel CazéTV, an arrangement he said had been agreed before he signed with Botafogo-PB.<sup>[2](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)</sup>

## References

1. [Nene – Player Profile, Sky Sports Football](https://www.skysports.com/football/player/7109/nene)
2. [Nenê está aposentado? Jogador está em qual time?, Sporting News BR](https://www.sportingnews.com/br/futebol/noticias/nene-esta-aposentado-jogador-esta-em-qual-time/a4605d994508da5cc45ffc5d)
3. [Nenê, Sports Reference (FBref)](https://fbref.com/en/players/265ebd37/Nene)

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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Sports, games, and recreation › Association football › Football people and teams › People › Men's footballers of South America › Brazilian men's footballers › Contemporary Brazilian footballers › Brazilian footballers born in the 1980s*

*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Oct 21, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 15, 2026; Oct 21, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 21, 2026*

*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*

License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license