Araújo (footballer, born 1977) facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Araújo

Personal information
Full name	Clemerson de Araújo Soares
Date of birth	(1977-08-08) 8 August 1977 (age 48)
Place of birth	Caruaru, Brazil
Height	1.72 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Youth career
1996	Porto-PE
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
1997–2003	Goiás	170	(50)
2004	Shimizu S-Pulse	29	(9)
2005	Gamba Osaka	33	(33)
2006–2007	Cruzeiro	15	(5)
2007–2010	Al-Gharafa	133	(113)
2011–2012	Fluminense	6	(0)
2012	→ Náutico (loan)	33	(8)
2013	Atlético Mineiro	4	(1)
2013–2014	Goiás	35	(9)
2016	Central	14	(4)
2017	Sete de Setembro
International career
1999	Brazil U23	3	(3)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Clemerson de Araújo Soares, known simply as Araújo, is a former professional footballer from Brazil. He was born on August 8, 1977, and played as a forward, which means he was a player who focused on scoring goals.

Araújo's Football Journey

Araújo was born in Caruaru, a city in Brazil. He started his professional football career in his home country. He became well-known for his amazing goal-scoring skills.

Playing in Japan

In 2005, Araújo moved to Japan to play for a team called Gamba Osaka. This was a very successful year for him. He scored an incredible 33 goals in the league. His many goals helped Gamba Osaka win the J1 League title that year. This was a big achievement for both him and his team.

After his successful time in Japan, Araújo returned to Brazil. He joined the team Cruzeiro.

Success in Qatar

A couple of years later, Araújo moved to Qatar. He played for a team called Al-Gharafa. Here, he continued to show his talent for scoring goals. In the 2007–08 season, he was the top scorer in the league.

Al-Gharafa's Star Player

Al-Gharafa was a very strong team in Qatar. They were champions for three years in a row. Araújo was a key player in their success. He led the league in scoring during the 2008 season.

On March 4, 2008, Araújo scored a goal against Al Khor. This goal helped him match a record of 25 goals in one season, set by another famous player, Gabriel Batistuta. Araújo finished that season with 27 goals, which was a new record at the time. This record was later broken in December 2018. During his time at Al-Gharafa, he played alongside another Brazilian star, Juninho Pernambucano. Araújo left the club in 2010.

Araújo's Achievements

Araújo won many titles and awards throughout his career. These show how successful he was as a footballer.

Team Trophies

• Goiás State League: He won this league with Goiás in 1998, 1999, 2000, 2002, and 2003.
• Brazilian League (2nd division): He won this with Goiás in 1999.
• Brazilian Center-West Cup: He won this cup with Goiás in 2000, 2001, and 2002.
• J1 League: He won Japan's top league with Gamba Osaka in 2005.
• Minas Gerais State League: He won this league with Cruzeiro in 2006.
• Qatar Stars League: He won Qatar's top league with Al-Gharafa in 2007–08, 2008–09, and 2009–10.
• Qatari Stars Cup: He won this cup with Al-Gharafa in 2009–10.
• Emir of Qatar Cup: He won this cup with Al-Gharafa in 2009.
• Qatar Crown Prince Cup: He won this cup with Al-Gharafa in 2009–10.

Individual Awards

• World's top scorer in 2005: He scored 33 goals in 33 games. The International Federation of Football History & Statistics (IFFHS) considered him the world's best striker in 2005.
• J. League MVP: He was named the most valuable player in Japan's league in 2005.
• J. League Top Scorer: He was the top goal scorer in Japan's league in 2005.
• J. League Best Eleven: He was chosen as one of the best 11 players in Japan's league in 2005.
• Japanese Footballer of the Year: He was named the best footballer in Japan in 2005.
• Qatari League Top Scorer: He was the top goal scorer in Qatar's league in 2007–08.
• Super Awards Best Player in Qatar Stars League: He was named the best player in Qatar's league in 2009.

See also

In Spanish: Clemerson de Araújo Soares para niños