Alexandre Pato facts for kids
Pato playing for AC Milan in 2010
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| Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 2 September 1989 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Pato Branco, Brazil | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.79 m | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Striker | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2000–2006 | Internacional | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2007 | Internacional | 18 | (7) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007–2013 | AC Milan | 117 | (51) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2016 | Corinthians | 30 | (9) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2015 | → São Paulo (loan) | 62 | (19) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016 | → Chelsea (loan) | 2 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2017 | Villarreal | 14 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2017–2019 | Tianjin Tianhai | 47 | (30) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2019–2020 | São Paulo | 20 | (5) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2021–2022 | Orlando City | 26 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023 | São Paulo | 9 | (2) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2007 | Brazil U20 | 12 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2012 | Brazil U23 | 9 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2008–2013 | Brazil | 27 | (10) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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Alexandre Rodrigues da Silva (born 2 September 1989), known as Alexandre Pato or just Pato, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a striker, which means he was a forward player who focused on scoring goals.
Pato started his football journey as a young player for Internacional in 2000. He made his first team debut in 2006 when he was only 16 years old. He quickly showed his talent, scoring 12 goals in 27 games. He also helped his team win the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.
In August 2007, Pato moved to Italy to play for AC Milan, a famous club. In 2009, he scored 18 goals in 42 matches. This amazing performance earned him two big awards: the Golden Boy Award and the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year. During the 2010–11 season, he helped Milan win the Serie A league title. He was one of the top scorers for his club that season, with 14 goals in 25 games.
In January 2013, Pato went back to Brazil and joined Corinthians. He helped them win the Campeonato Paulista trophy. Later, he played for São Paulo on loan, scoring 38 goals in 95 games. Pato also had loan spells at English club Chelsea and Spanish club Villarreal. In 2017, he moved to China to play for Tianjin Tianhai, before returning to São Paulo in 2019.
Pato also played for the Brazilian national team starting in 2008. He was part of the teams that won the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup. He also earned two Olympic medals for Brazil: a bronze medal in 2008 and a silver medal in 2012.
Contents
- Club Career Highlights
- International Career
- Style of Play
- Career Statistics
- Honours and Awards
- See also
Club Career Highlights
Internacional: Early Success
Pato began his career in Internacional's youth teams. He was known for his skills, strength, and technique. At just 16, he played in the Brazilian under-20 championship. His team, Internacional, won the final against Grêmio 4–0, and Pato was the top scorer in that tournament.
He signed his first professional contract with Internacional in 2006. At 17, he made his debut in November against Palmeiras. Pato scored his first professional goal in the very first minute of the game! He also made two assists, helping Internacional win 4–1.
Pato was part of the Internacional team that won the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup. He scored a goal in the semi-finals against Al Ahly. At 17 years and 102 days old, Pato became the youngest goalscorer in a senior men's FIFA tournament. He broke the record set by the legendary Pelé.
Pato continued to impress, scoring in the Campeonato Gaúcho and Copa Libertadores. A big moment was when he helped Internacional win their first ever Recopa Sudamericana title. He scored against Pachuca in the final match, leading his team to victory.
AC Milan: European Adventure
Joining a European Giant
In August 2007, AC Milan, a top Italian club, signed Pato for about €24 million. Because of football rules for young players from outside Europe, Pato couldn't play official matches until January 2008. But he could play in friendly games and train with the team. He made his unofficial debut in September 2007 and scored a header.
Pato scored his first official goal for Milan on his Serie A debut. This was on 13 January 2008, in a 5–2 win against Napoli. He scored two goals in a single game for the first time against Genoa later that month. He finished his first season with 9 goals in 20 games.
Shining in Italy
In late 2008, Pato scored two goals in Milan's 5–1 win over Udinese. He also scored twice against Roma in January 2009, showing he was key to Milan's attack. He scored six goals in four games, including a winning goal against Fiorentina. Pato finished the 2008–09 season as Milan's top scorer with 18 goals.
In August 2009, Pato scored two goals in Milan's first Serie A match of the 2009–10 season. In October, he scored two goals in a Champions League match against Real Madrid, helping Milan win 3–2. In January 2010, Pato won the Serie A Young Footballer of the Year award, becoming the first Brazilian to do so. He continued to score goals, but injuries started to affect his playing time.
Battling Injuries
In the first match of the 2010–11 season, Pato scored two goals in a 4–0 win. However, he soon faced more injuries. He scored twice against Chievo and again against Bari. But then, he injured his hamstring for the third time in less than a year, which kept him out for six weeks.
In January 2011, he scored two goals to help Milan draw 4–4 against Udinese. He also scored two goals in the Coppa Italia against Sampdoria. Pato scored important goals, including two against rivals Internazionale in the Derby della Madonnina.
In September 2011, in a Champions League match against Barcelona, Pato scored one of the fastest goals in the competition's history, just 24 seconds after kick-off! Later that month, he got another thigh injury. In January 2012, Pato almost moved to French club Paris Saint-Germain, but he decided to stay with Milan. Unfortunately, he got another muscle strain, which made him miss the rest of the season.
Before the new season, Pato took over the number 9 jersey. But he injured his thigh again in training, missing the first six weeks. He returned in October 2012, assisting a goal against Lazio. In November, he scored his first goal of the season in the Champions League against Málaga. Due to his many injuries and inconsistent play, Pato was unfortunately given the "Bidone d'oro" award in 2012, which is a joke prize for the worst Serie A player.
Corinthians: Back in Brazil
On 3 January 2013, Pato signed with Corinthians in Brazil. He scored on his debut for the club against Oeste, showing his knack for scoring in his first games. He also scored in the Copa Libertadores against Millonarios.
However, Pato faced criticism from fans after missing some easy chances. His coach, Tite, defended him, saying the pressure came from his high transfer fee. Pato scored twice in a game against Bahia in July. But in October, he missed a crucial penalty kick in a shootout against Grêmio, which knocked Corinthians out of the Copa do Brasil.
Loan to São Paulo
In February 2014, Pato moved to São Paulo on a loan deal. He scored his first goal for São Paulo in April 2014, in his second game for the club. He played for São Paulo until December 2015.
Loan to Chelsea
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In January 2016, Pato went to London to join English Premier League club Chelsea on loan. He said he was "so happy" to join Chelsea and that it was "a dream."
On 2 April, he made his debut for Chelsea against Aston Villa. He came on as a substitute and won a penalty, which he then scored himself! This made him the sixth Brazilian to score on his Premier League debut. However, he only made two appearances for Chelsea that season, and the club decided not to sign him permanently.
Villarreal: Spanish Experience
In July 2016, Pato moved to Spanish club Villarreal. He scored on his debut for the club in a Champions League play-off match against Monaco. He also scored and assisted a goal in a UEFA Europa League group match against Zürich.
Tianjin Quanjian: Playing in China
In January 2017, Pato transferred to Chinese club Tianjin Quanjian. He made his debut in March 2017, but missed several chances. A week later, he missed an 88th-minute penalty kick, which meant his team didn't get their first win in the Chinese Super League.
Return to São Paulo (Again!)
On 27 March 2019, Pato returned to São Paulo for his second time. The club welcomed him back with the phrase: "Aqui o coração bate mais forte" (Here, the heart beats stronger), referring to his goal celebration. He played for São Paulo until August 2020, scoring nine goals in 35 games during this period.
Orlando City: MLS Adventure
In February 2021, Pato joined MLS side Orlando City in the United States. He made his debut in April but got injured during the game. He had knee surgery and faced setbacks in his recovery. He played only five games in his first season. He re-signed with Orlando for 2022 and played 22 games, scoring 3 goals. In November 2022, Orlando City decided not to renew his contract.
Second Return to São Paulo
On 26 May 2023, Pato rejoined São Paulo for a third time, signing a deal until December 2023.
International Career
Pato was called up to Brazil's youth teams. He helped the Brazil U20 team win the 2007 South American Youth Championship. This qualified Brazil for the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup.
He was chosen by Brazil coach Dunga for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Pato scored his first goal for the senior Brazilian team on his debut against Sweden in London on 26 March 2008. He scored within seconds of his debut, beating Pelé's record!
Pato played in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup in South Africa, which Brazil won. However, he was not selected for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.
Under new coach Mano Menezes, Pato became a regular player, wearing the number 9 jersey. He scored in friendly wins against the United States, Iran, and Ukraine in 2010.
Pato also played in the 2011 Copa América, where he scored two goals against Ecuador.
He was part of the Brazil Olympic Football team for the London 2012 Olympics. He scored Brazil's first goal against Belarus, helping Brazil win 3–1. In August 2012, Pato scored two goals as Brazil beat Sweden 3–0 in a friendly match.
Style of Play
Alexandre Pato was known as a quick, agile, and creative forward. He had excellent technical skills and a great eye for scoring goals. When he was young, many people thought he would become one of the best players in the world. His former coaches compared him to famous Brazilian attackers like Careca, Kaká, Romário, and Ronaldo.
Pato could play anywhere along the front line. He could be a main striker, a supporting forward, or play on either side of the field. Even though he was right-footed, he could shoot powerfully with both feet. He was also good at dribbling past opponents and creating chances for his teammates. Despite not being very tall, he was effective at heading the ball.
In 2010, a magazine called Don Balón listed him as one of the 100 most talented young players born after 1989. However, as his career went on, Pato suffered many recurring injuries. These injuries affected his speed, fitness, and ability to play consistently. Because of this, some people in the media feel that he didn't quite reach his full potential. When he scored a goal, Pato would often make a 'heart' gesture with his hands.
Career Statistics
Club
| Team | Season | League | State League | National Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Internacional | 2006 | Série A | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | 3 | 2 |
| 2007 | 9 | 5 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 24 | 10 | ||
| Total | 10 | 6 | 8 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 4 | 3 | 27 | 12 | ||
| AC Milan | 2007–08 | Serie A | 18 | 9 | — | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | 20 | 9 | ||
| 2008–09 | 36 | 15 | — | 0 | 0 | 6 | 3 | — | 42 | 18 | ||||
| 2009–10 | 23 | 12 | — | 0 | 0 | 7 | 2 | — | 30 | 14 | ||||
| 2010–11 | 25 | 14 | — | 3 | 2 | 5 | 0 | — | 33 | 16 | ||||
| 2011–12 | 11 | 1 | — | 1 | 1 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 18 | 4 | |||
| 2012–13 | 4 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 3 | 2 | — | 7 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 117 | 51 | — | 4 | 3 | 28 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 150 | 63 | |||
| Corinthians | 2013 | Série A | 30 | 9 | 14 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 17 |
| 2014 | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | ||||||
| Total | 30 | 9 | 19 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 8 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 62 | 17 | ||
| São Paulo (loan) | 2014 | Série A | 29 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 2 | 4 | 1 | — | 39 | 12 | |
| 2015 | 33 | 10 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 5 | 6 | 3 | — | 59 | 26 | |||
| Total | 62 | 19 | 14 | 8 | 12 | 7 | 10 | 4 | — | 98 | 38 | |||
| Chelsea (loan) | 2015–16 | Premier League | 2 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 2 | 1 | ||
| Villarreal | 2016–17 | La Liga | 14 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 7 | 3 | — | 24 | 6 | ||
| Tianjin Quanjian | 2017 | CSL | 24 | 15 | — | 2 | 2 | — | — | 26 | 17 | |||
| 2018 | 23 | 15 | — | 0 | 0 | 11 | 4 | — | 34 | 19 | ||||
| Total | 47 | 30 | — | 2 | 2 | 11 | 4 | — | 60 | 36 | ||||
| São Paulo | 2019 | Série A | 20 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 5 | ||
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 13 | 4 | |||
| Total | 20 | 5 | 11 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | 35 | 9 | |||
| Orlando City | 2021 | MLS | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2022 | 22 | 3 | — | 5 | 1 | — | — | 27 | 4 | |||||
| Total | 26 | 3 | — | 5 | 1 | — | 1 | 0 | 32 | 4 | ||||
| São Paulo | 2023 | Série A | 9 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | 10 | 2 | |
| Career total | 337 | 128 | 52 | 17 | 32 | 15 | 72 | 25 | 7 | 3 | 500 | 188 | ||
International
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2008 | 1 | 1 |
| 2009 | 4 | 0 | |
| 2010 | 3 | 3 | |
| 2011 | 7 | 2 | |
| 2012 | 4 | 3 | |
| 2013 | 5 | 1 | |
| Total | 27 | 10 | |
- Brazil score listed first, score column indicates score after each Pato goal.
| No. | Date | Cap | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 26 March 2008 | 1 | Emirates Stadium, London, England |  Sweden |
1–0 | 1–0 | Friendly | |
| 2 | 10 August 2010 | 9 | New Meadowlands Stadium, New Jersey, United States |  United States |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 3 | 7 October 2010 | 10 | Sheikh Zayed Stadium, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates |  Iran |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | |
| 4 | 11 October 2010 | 11 | Pride Park, Derby, England |  Ukraine |
2–0 | 2–0 | Friendly | |
| 5 | 13 July 2011 | 15 | Estadio Mario Alberto Kempes, Córdoba, Argentina |  Ecuador |
1–0 | 4–2 | 2011 Copa América | |
| 6 | 3–2 | |||||||
| 7 | 30 May 2012 | 19 | FedExField, Maryland, United States | United States |
4–1 | 4–1 | Friendly | |
| 8 | 15 August 2012 | 22 | Råsunda Stadium, Solna, Sweden | Sweden |
2–0 | 3–0 | Friendly | |
| 9 | 3–0 | |||||||
| 10 | 7 September 2013 | 25 | Estádio Nacional Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil | .svg){kind=small} Australia |
5–0 | 6–0 | Friendly |
Honours and Awards
Pato won many trophies and awards throughout his career:
With Internacional
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2006 (This is a huge tournament where club champions from different continents play each other!)
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2007
With AC Milan
- Serie A: 2010–11 (The top football league in Italy)
- Supercoppa Italiana: 2011 (A super cup played between the Serie A winner and Coppa Italia winner)
With Corinthians
- Campeonato Paulista: 2013 (A state championship in Brazil)
- Recopa Sudamericana: 2013
With Orlando City
- U.S. Open Cup: 2022 (A knockout cup competition in the United States)
With São Paulo
- Copa do Brasil: 2023 (Brazil's main knockout cup competition)
With Brazil U20
- South American Youth Football Championship: 2007
With Brazil U23
With Brazil Senior Team
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2009 (A tournament for national teams, a warm-up for the World Cup)
Individual Awards
- Brazilian U-20 Championships Top-Scorer: 2006
- Brazilian U-20 Championships Most Valuable Player: 2006
- Sendai Cup Top-Scorer: 2006
- Sendai Cup Most Valuable Player: 2006
- Serie A Player of the Month: January 2009
- Golden Boy Award: 2009 (Award for the best young player in Europe)
- Serie A Young Footballer of the Year: 2009
- AC Milan Hall of Fame
See also
In Spanish: Alexandre Pato para niños
