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Hulk (footballer) facts for kids

Kids Encyclopedia Facts
In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Vieira and the second or paternal family name is de Sousa.
Quick facts for kids
Hulk
Spar-Zen2015 (3).jpg
Hulk playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2015
Personal information
Date of birth (1986-07-25) 25 July 1986 (age 38)
Place of birth Campina Grande, Brazil
Height 1.80 m
Playing position Forward
Club information
Current club Atlético Mineiro
Number 7
Youth career
1998–2000 Serrano-PB
2000 Campinense
2001–2002 Vilanovense
2002 São Paulo
2003–2004 Vitória
Senior career*
Years Team Apps† (Gls)†
2004–2006 Vitória 2 (0)
2005 → Kawasaki Frontale (loan) 9 (1)
2006–2008 Kawasaki Frontale 2 (0)
2006 → Consadole Sapporo (loan) 38 (25)
2007 → Tokyo Verdy (loan) 42 (37)
2008 Tokyo Verdy 11 (7)
2008–2012 Porto 99 (54)
2012–2016 Zenit Saint Petersburg 97 (56)
2016–2020 Shanghai SIPG 100 (51)
2021– Atlético Mineiro 158 (86)
National team‡
2012 Brazil Olympic (O.P.) 6 (1)
2009–2021 Brazil 49 (11)
Honours
Representing  Brazil
Men's football
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner 2013 Brazil
Olympic Games
Silver 2012 London Team
  • Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:57, 8 December 2024 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 9 September 2021

Givanildo Vieira de Sousa (born 25 July 1986), known by his famous nickname Hulk, is a Brazilian professional footballer. He plays as a forward for Atlético Mineiro. He is known for his powerful shots and strong build. His nickname comes from his resemblance to the comic book character the Incredible Hulk.

Hulk started his professional career in Brazil. He then spent three years playing in Japan. After that, he moved to Portugal to play for Porto. There, he won many titles, including the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League and three national championships. He was also the top scorer in the league once. In 2012, he joined Russian Premier League team Zenit Saint Petersburg. With Zenit, he won all three domestic trophies and was named the league's best player and top scorer. In 2016, he moved to Shanghai SIPG in China. He later returned to Brazil to play for Atlético Mineiro.

Hulk first played for the Brazilian national team in 2009. He represented Brazil at the 2012 Summer Olympics. He also played for the senior team when they won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He was part of the team that finished fourth at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

Club Career Highlights

Starting Out in Football

Hulk was born in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Brazil. He began his professional football journey with Esporte Clube Vitória in Salvador, Bahia. He signed his first professional contract at just 16 years old. While in Vitória's youth system, Hulk played in different positions, including winger, midfielder, and forward.

He then went on loan to Japan to play for Kawasaki Frontale. In 2006, he was loaned to Consadole Sapporo in the second division. He had a great season, scoring 25 goals. In 2007, he was loaned again to another second division team, Tokyo Verdy. He was even better, scoring 37 goals in 42 matches. This made him the top goal scorer of the season. He briefly returned to Kawasaki in 2008 before rejoining Verdy.

Success with Porto

After his time in Japan, Hulk moved to Portugal to join Porto. Porto bought 50% of his playing rights. He quickly became an important player for the team. He scored his first goal for Porto in a 2–0 home win against C.F. Os Belenenses. As the season went on, he became a regular starter. He often played alongside Cristian Rodríguez and Lisandro López. They formed a strong attacking trio.

Hulk (footballer) 6335
Hulk playing for Porto in 2010

In the 2010–11 season, Hulk was amazing. He scored 16 goals in his first 16 games. This included three goals in one match against K.R.C. Genk in the UEFA Europa League. He won the Portuguese Championship Player of the Month award multiple times. On 7 November 2010, he scored two goals as Porto beat Benfica 5–0. Porto went on to win the league, with Hulk as the top goal scorer.

On 13 May 2011, Porto increased their ownership of Hulk's playing rights. He signed a new contract until 2016. He finished the season with 36 goals in 53 matches. His team won four major titles, including the league and cup. In the 2011–12 season, he scored 16 league goals. Porto won another national championship. He was voted Player of the Month for April for a record sixth time. He also provided 11 assists, which was the most in the league.

Moving to Zenit

On 3 September 2012, Hulk moved to the Russian club FC Zenit Saint Petersburg. The transfer fee was €60 million. He joined his former Porto teammate Bruno Alves there. Hulk scored his first goal for Zenit in his second league match. He scored with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Zenit-CSKA (2)
Hulk playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2015

He scored his first Champions League goal for Zenit against A.C. Milan. On 4 May 2013, he scored three goals in one game (a hat-trick) and assisted another. This was in a 4–0 win over Alania Vladikavkaz. On 17 May 2015, his free kick helped Zenit win the league title with two games left. Hulk was named one of the top 11 players in the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage by UEFA.

Time in China with Shanghai SIPG

Givanildo Vieira de Sousa
Hulk playing for Shanghai SIPG in 2017

On 30 June 2016, Hulk joined the Chinese club Shanghai SIPG. This was for a reported £45 million, which was a record for Asian football at the time. He scored an own goal in his debut match, helping his team win 5–0. However, he had to leave the game early due to a muscle injury. On 9 September, Hulk scored his first two goals for Shanghai SIPG after being out for two months. During his time in Shanghai, Hulk played 145 games and scored 77 goals.

Return to Brazil with Atlético Mineiro

On 29 January 2021, Hulk returned to Brazil. He joined Atlético Mineiro on a two-year contract. He made his debut on 7 March, assisting a goal in a 4–0 win. On 19 March, he scored his first goal for the club from a penalty kick.

After a difficult period, Hulk regained his form in the 2021 Copa Libertadores. He scored two goals in two different games. On 22 May, Atlético won the Campeonato Mineiro championship. Hulk was chosen for the team of the tournament.

On 17 July, Hulk scored both goals in a 2–1 win over Corinthians. In the next game, he scored twice again in a 3–0 win. On 21 November, he became the top scorer in the league. On 2 December, Atlético was playing for the league title. They were losing 2–0, but Hulk started a comeback by scoring from a penalty. Atlético went on to win the game and the 2021 Série A trophy. Hulk finished the league season as the top scorer with 19 goals.

Hulk played in all ten matches of Atlético's Copa do Brasil winning campaign. He scored in eight of them, including both parts of the final. He became only the second player to be the top scorer in both the Série A and Copa do Brasil in the same season. Hulk was the country's top scorer in 2021, with 36 goals in 68 games. He also provided 13 assists. His important role helped Atlético win three major titles that season. He received several awards, including the Bola de Ouro.

International Career

ConfedCup2013Champions16
Hulk playing for Brazil at the 2013 Confederations Cup

Hulk played his first game for Brazil on 14 November 2009. It was a friendly match against England. Brazil won 1–0. On 26 May 2012, he scored his first three goals for Brazil in a 3–1 win against Denmark.

In July 2012, he was chosen as one of the older players for Brazil's team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He played in almost all the matches. He scored a goal in the final, where Brazil lost 2–1 to Mexico.

In June 2013, Hulk played for Brazil in the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in every match as a starting right-winger. Brazil won the final against world champions Spain. At the 2014 FIFA World Cup, in the match against Chile, Hulk had a goal disallowed. In the penalty shootout, his shot was saved, but Brazil still moved forward.

Hulk was also called up for the Copa América Centenario in 2016. In August 2021, he was called back to the national team after five years. He played as a substitute in a 2–0 win over Peru.

Personal Life

Hulk was born and grew up in Campina Grande, Paraíba. He was the fourth of seven children in his family. He started playing football when he was three years old, encouraged by his father. Hulk has children.

Honours

Porto

Zenit Saint Petersburg

Shanghai SIPG

Atlético Mineiro

Brazil Olympic

Brazil

Individual

  • J2 League Top scorer: 2007
  • LPFP Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2008–09
  • LPFP Primeira Liga Player of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12
  • Primeira Liga Top scorer: 2010–11
  • SJPF Player of the Month: February 2009, September 2010, October 2010, December 2010, January 2011, April 2012
  • Russian Premier League Top scorer: 2014–15
  • Russian Premier League top assist provider: 2015–16
  • Russian Premier League Forward of the Season: 2014–15
  • Russian Premier League Right Winger of the Season: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2015–16
  • Russian Premier League Player of the Month: September 2013
  • Footballer of the Year in Russia (Sport-Express): 2014–15
  • Footballer of the Year in Russia (Futbol): 2015
  • Russian Cup top assist provider: 2012–13, 2015–16
  • UEFA Champions League Team of the group stage: 2015
  • Chinese Super League Team of the Year: 2017, 2018
  • Campeonato Mineiro Team of the Year: 2021, 2022, 2023
  • South American Team of the Year: 2021
  • Best Player in Brazil (Troféu Gazeta Esportiva): 2021
  • Best Right Winger in Brazil (Troféu Mesa Redonda): 2021
  • Top scorer in Brazilian Football (Prêmio Arthur Friedenreich): 2021
  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Player of the Year: 2021
  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2021, 2023
  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Top scorer: 2021
  • Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top assist provider: 2023
  • Bola de Ouro: 2021
  • Bola de Prata: 2021
  • Copa do Brasil Best Player: 2021
  • Copa do Brasil Top scorer: 2021
  • Campeonato Mineiro Top scorer: 2022, 2023, 2024
  • Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament: 2021

Images for kids

  • Spar-Zen2015 (3)

    Hulk playing for Zenit Saint Petersburg in 2015

See also

Kids robot.svg In Spanish: Hulk (futbolista) para niños

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