Marcelo (footballer, born 1988) 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 da Silva. "Júnior" is a generational suffix used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.

Quick facts for kids
Marcelo

Marcelo in 2022

Personal information

Full name

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior

Date of birth

12 May 1988 (age 37)

Place of birth

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Height

1.74 m (5 ft 9 in)

Position(s)

Left-back

Youth career

2002–2005

Fluminense

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2005–2007

Fluminense

(4)

2007–2022

Real Madrid

386

(26)

2022–2023

Olympiacos

(0)

2023–2024

Fluminense

(3)

Total

464

(33)

International career

2005

Brazil U17

(1)

2007

Brazil U20

(0)

2008

Brazil U23

(1)

2012

Brazil Olympic (O.P.)

(0)

2006–2018

Brazil

(6)

Medal record

FIFA Confederations Cup

Representing Brazil
Winner	2013 Brazil
Summer Olympics
Silver	2012 London	Team
Bronze	2008 Beijing	Team
FIFA U-17 World Cup
Runner-up	2005 Peru

*Club domestic league appearances and goals

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior (born on 12 May 1988), known simply as Marcelo, is a Brazilian former professional footballer. He played as a left-back, a defensive position on the left side of the field. Many people consider him one of the best left-backs ever because of his amazing attacking skills.

Marcelo spent most of his career with the Spanish club Real Madrid. He is one of their most successful players, having won 25 trophies with the team. He started his professional journey with Fluminense in 2005, winning a title in his first season.

In January 2007, Marcelo joined Real Madrid. He became a key player there, winning five UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga titles. In 2021, he became the captain of Real Madrid, the first non-Spanish captain since 1904. After leaving Real Madrid in 2022, he played briefly for Olympiacos. He then returned to Fluminense in 2023 and won the Copa Libertadores with them.

Marcelo has been recognized many times for his talent. He was named to the FIFPro World XI six times and the UEFA Team of the Year three times. He was also part of France Football's "Team of the Decade (2010–2019)".

For his country, Marcelo first played for Brazil in 2006. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics and a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics. He helped Brazil win the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Marcelo also played in two FIFA World Cups (2014 and 2018) and was named to the Dream Team for both tournaments.

Marcelo's Club Career
Marcelo's International Career
Marcelo's Style of Play
Football Business Activities
Marcelo's Personal Life
Sponsorships
Career Statistics
- Club
- International
Honours and Achievements
See also

Marcelo's Club Career

Starting at Fluminense

Marcelo began playing futsal, a type of indoor football, when he was nine years old. By age 13, he joined the youth team of Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro. He came from a difficult background and almost stopped playing football. However, his grandfather encouraged him to keep going.

Joining Real Madrid

Marcelo training with Real Madrid in 2007

Marcelo moved to Real Madrid in January 2007. The club president, Ramón Calderón, was very excited about him. He called Marcelo "a pearl that half of Europe wanted." Many people thought Marcelo could be the next great left-back for Real Madrid, just like the famous Brazilian player Roberto Carlos.

Marcelo played his first game for Real Madrid as a substitute on 7 January 2007. His first start was on 14 April 2007. In the 2007–08 season, Marcelo played in almost all of Madrid's league games. His speed, attacking skills, and defensive work made him a very important player.

In 2009, Marcelo sometimes played as a winger, which is a more attacking role. He scored his first goal for Real Madrid in a 4–0 win against Sporting Gijón. His coach, Juande Ramos, said Marcelo's future might be as a winger, but he could still help in defense. Marcelo scored another goal with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Becoming a Key Player (2009–2011)

Marcelo with Real Madrid in 2010

Under the new coach, Manuel Pellegrini, Marcelo was a regular starter. He was known for his speed and ability to play both offense and defense on the left side. He even led the league in assists (passes that lead to goals) during the 2009–10 season. He signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2015, showing how important he had become.

In the 2010–11 season, with coach José Mourinho, Marcelo returned to his natural position as a left-back. He played in every league game, showing strong defense and exciting attacks. He scored his first goal of the season in a 1–0 win against Espanyol. He also had a fantastic game in the UEFA Champions League against Lyon, scoring his first Champions League goal and setting up another. Real Madrid won 3–0 and moved to the quarter-finals. Marcelo was named man of the match. His great performances led to him being chosen for UEFA's best team of the season. Many people called him the best left-back in the world. Even Diego Maradona said Marcelo was one of the top players in La Liga.

A Regular Starter (2011–2013)

Marcelo training with Real Madrid in 2012

On 17 August 2011, Marcelo was sent off (given a red card) during a game against Barcelona. On 3 December 2011, he scored Real Madrid's third goal in a 3–0 win against Sporting Gijón.

The legendary defender Paolo Maldini praised Marcelo, calling him a "great attacker and a defender." Roberto Carlos, another famous left-back, said Marcelo was the best in the world. He even called Marcelo his "heir," meaning his successor. Marcelo played a big part as Real Madrid won their 32nd league title.

Marcelo scored his first goal of the Champions League season against Manchester City on 19 September. Real Madrid won that game 3–2. In February 2013, after recovering from an injury, Marcelo captained Real Madrid in a 2–1 victory. He also captained the team again in April, but had to leave the game due to a muscle injury.

Winning Trophies (2013–2018)

Marcelo scored the first goal for Real Madrid in the Guinness International Champions Cup final in 2013, which Real Madrid won 3–1 against Chelsea. During the league season, he played 28 matches and scored one goal.

Marcelo scored Real Madrid's third goal in their 4–1 win in the Champions League final against city rivals Atlético Madrid. He scored with a shot from outside the box during extra time.

Marcelo in action against Shakhtar Donetsk during the group stages of the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League

On 10 July 2015, Marcelo signed a new contract with Real Madrid, keeping him at the club until 2020. He scored his first goal of the season on 18 October 2015, in a 3–0 home win against Levante.

He was a regular starter when Real Madrid won the Champions League again, beating Atlético Madrid in the final.

He played 30 matches when Madrid won La Liga and was a regular starter when Madrid won the Champions League after defeating Juventus 4–1 in the final.

On 13 September 2017, Marcelo signed another new contract, keeping him at the club until summer 2022. In the Champions League, he played eleven games and scored three goals. Madrid won their third Champions League title in a row, beating Liverpool 3–1 in the final.

Final Seasons and Captaincy (2018–2022)

During the 2018–19 season, Marcelo played 34 games and helped Real Madrid win the Club World Cup for the third time in a row. He then played 15 games in the 2019–20 league season, as Real Madrid won the league title.

He played less often in the 2020–21 season due to injuries. Real Madrid finished second in the league that year.

On 16 June 2021, Marcelo became the captain of Real Madrid for the 2021–22 season. He was the player who had been with the team the longest after Sergio Ramos left. This made him the first non-Spanish captain since 1904. On 19 October 2021, Marcelo played his 100th Champions League game in a 5–0 win against Shakhtar Donetsk.

On 30 April 2022, after winning La Liga, Marcelo became the player with the most titles in Real Madrid's history, with 24 trophies. On 28 May 2022, he lifted his fifth Champions League trophy after Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1–0 in the final. After this final, Marcelo announced he would leave the club after 15 amazing years.

Playing for Olympiacos

On 3 September 2022, Marcelo signed with the Greek club Olympiacos. He scored three goals in two matches in the Greek Cup. However, on 18 February 2023, Marcelo ended his contract with Olympiacos after just five months.

Returning to Fluminense

On 24 February 2023, Fluminense announced that Marcelo was coming back to the club. He played his first game back on 5 April in the Copa Libertadores, a 3–1 win. Four days later, Marcelo scored his first goal in his second time at the club. It was a long-range shot in a 4–1 victory against Flamengo in the Campeonato Carioca final. He won another trophy with Fluminense, his first since returning.

On 4 November 2023, he started in the Copa Libertadores final against Boca Juniors. Fluminense won 2–1 after extra time. This made Marcelo the 12th player to win both the Champions League and Copa Libertadores titles.

Marcelo left Fluminense on 2 November 2024. On 6 February 2025, he announced his retirement from football on social media.

Marcelo's International Career

Argentina's Lionel Messi evades Marcelo in the semi-final of the 2008 Summer Olympics.

Marcelo scored in his first game for Brazil on 5 September 2006, in a 2–0 win against Wales. He was often compared to former Brazil left-back Roberto Carlos, who also played for Real Madrid. They even played together for a short time at Real Madrid.

He was part of Brazil's under-23 team at the 2008 Olympics, where they won a bronze medal.

In May 2010, Marcelo was named as one of the substitutes for Brazil's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. He was later called up by the new coach, Mano Menezes, for a friendly game against the United States. He was named Man of the Match in a 2–1 friendly win against Mexico in October 2011, scoring the winning goal after dribbling past several players.

He was one of the older players on Brazil's team for the 2012 Summer Olympics, where they won a silver medal.

Marcelo was chosen for Brazil's squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, which was played in Brazil. He started in all the matches, including the 3–0 victory over Spain in the final on 30 June.

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, also played in Brazil, Marcelo scored an own goal in the opening game against Croatia. This was the first goal Brazil had ever conceded in a World Cup opening game. However, Brazil still won the match 3–1.

In May 2018, Marcelo was part of Brazil's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was captain in the first match and started in four of Brazil's five games. Brazil was knocked out by Belgium in the quarter-finals on 6 July 2018. This was his last game for the national team.

Marcelo's Style of Play

Marcelo taking on Rafael Márquez at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Football legends like Paolo Maldini and Diego Maradona have praised Marcelo. Maradona even called him the best left-back in the world. Marcelo is often compared to Roberto Carlos, who said Marcelo was his "heir" and had better technical skills. Marcelo is widely seen as one of the greatest left-backs of all time.

Marcelo is known for his attacking skills. He mainly plays as a full-back or wing-back, but he can also play on the left wing or in midfield. His movement with the ball, speed, quickness, and dribbling skills often help him get past opponents. He is very dangerous on counter-attacks, breaking through defenses and creating goals.

He is also good at crossing the ball, making accurate passes, and seeing the whole field. This allows him to help create scoring chances for his teammates. Even though he is naturally left-footed, he can use his right foot well too.

Sometimes, experts have questioned Marcelo's defensive work. They have pointed out that his defensive skills and awareness could be better.

Football Business Activities

In 2017, Marcelo started investing in football clubs with his company, DOZE (which means "Twelve"). His company became a major owner of Azuriz, a club in Brazil. In 2021, DOZE also invested in the Portuguese club Mafra.

Marcelo's Personal Life

In 2008, Marcelo married his longtime girlfriend, Clarice Alves. They had their first son, Enzo Alves Vieira, on 24 September 2009. Their second son, Liam, was born on 1 September 2015.

Marcelo has many tattoos, including his shirt number and his birth day (12) on his left arm.

He has said that his grandfather, Pedro Vieira, was his inspiration for playing football. His grandfather helped him financially when he was starting his career in Brazil. His grandfather passed away in July 2014, during the World Cup. Marcelo wanted to leave the tournament for the funeral but stayed with the Brazil team to honor his grandfather's wishes.

On 26 July 2011, Marcelo became a Spanish citizen. This allowed him to be registered as a regular player in Spain, which was helpful because there are rules about how many non-European Union players a team can have.

Sponsorships

In April 2013, Marcelo became one of Adidas' new faces for a special event at the Bernabéu store. He joined Real Madrid teammates Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema, who also wore Adidas. Marcelo said that being with these stars and representing a great brand like Adidas was a dream come true.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			State league		National cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fluminense	2005	Série A	1	0	—		—		—		—		1	0
	2006	Série A	28	4	1	0	7	2	3	0	—		39	6
	Total		29	4	1	0	7	2	3	0	—		40	6
Real Madrid	2006–07	La Liga	6	0	—		0	0	0	0	—		6	0
	2007–08		24	0	—		2	0	6	0	—		32	0
	2008–09		27	4	—		2	0	5	0	—		34	4
	2009–10		35	4	—		2	0	6	0	—		43	4
	2010–11		32	3	—		6	0	12	2	—		50	5
	2011–12		32	3	—		3	0	7	0	2	0	44	3
	2012–13		14	0	—		1	0	2	1	2	0	19	1
	2013–14		28	1	—		4	0	7	1	—		39	2
	2014–15		34	2	—		3	1	11	1	5	0	53	4
	2015–16		30	2	—		0	0	11	0	—		41	2
	2016–17		30	2	—		3	1	11	0	3	0	47	3
	2017–18		28	2	—		0	0	11	3	5	0	44	5
	2018–19		23	2	—		4	0	4	1	3	0	34	3
	2019–20		15	1	—		3	1	4	0	1	0	23	2
	2020–21		16	0	—		1	0	2	0	—		19	0
	2021–22		12	0	—		2	0	3	0	1	0	18	0
	Total		386	26	—		36	3	102	9	22	0	546	38
Olympiacos	2022–23	Super League Greece	5	0	—		2	3	3	0	—		10	3
Fluminense	2023	Série A	19	1	1	1	2	0	8	0	2	0	32	2
	2024	Série A	17	1	6	0	3	0	8	2	2	0	36	3
	Total		36	2	7	1	5	0	16	2	4	0	68	5
Career total			456	32	8	1	50	8	123	11	26	0	663	52

International

Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Brazil
	2006	1	1
	2007	1	0
	2008	2	0
	2009	2	0
	2010	0	0
	2011	2	1
	2012	8	2
	2013	12	0
	2014	9	0
	2015	5	0
	2016	3	0
	2017	5	2
	2018	8	0
Total		58	6

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first:

List of international goals scored by Marcelo
No.	Date	Venue	Opponent	Score	Result	Competition
1	5 September 2006	White Hart Lane, London, England	Wales	2–0	2–0	Friendly
2	11 October 2011	Estadio Corona, Torreón, Mexico	Mexico	2–1	2–1	Friendly
3	28 February 2012	AFG Arena, St. Gallen, Switzerland	Bosnia and Herzegovina	1–0	2–1	Friendly
4	30 May 2012	FedExField, Landover, United States	United States	3–1	4–1	Friendly
5	27 March 2017	Arena Corinthians, São Paulo, Brazil	Paraguay	3–0	3–0	2018 FIFA World Cup qualification
6	10 November 2017	Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq, France	Japan	2–0	3–1	Friendly