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

Date of birth

12 May 1988 (age 37)

Place of birth

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Height

1.74 m

Playing position

Left-back

Youth career

2002–2005

Fluminense

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps^†

(Gls)^†

2005–2007

Fluminense

(6)

2007–2022

Real Madrid

386

(26)

2022–2023

Olympiacos

(0)

2023–2024

Fluminense

(3)

National team

2005

Brazil U17

(1)

2007

Brazil U20

(0)

2008

Brazil U23

(1)

2012

Brazil Olympic (O.P.)

(0)

2006–2018

Brazil

(6)

Honours

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

Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 22:30, 26 October 2024 (UTC).

† Appearances (Goals).

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior (born 12 May 1988), known as Marcelo, is a Brazilian professional footballer. He played as a left-back for Fluminense most recently. Many people think he is one of the best left-backs ever. He is famous for his strong attacking skills.

Marcelo spent most of his career with Real Madrid in Spain. He won 25 trophies with them, making him one of their most successful players. In 2021, he became Real Madrid's captain. He was the first non-Spanish captain since 1904.

He started his career with Fluminense in 2005. He won a state championship there. In 2007, he moved to Real Madrid. After 15 years, he left Real Madrid in 2022. He then played briefly for Olympiacos before returning to Fluminense in 2023. With Fluminense, he won the Copa Libertadores, a major South American club trophy.

Marcelo has been honored many times for his skills. He was named to the FIFPro World XI six times. He also made the UEFA Team of the Year three times.

For his country, Marcelo played for the Brazil national team starting in 2006. He won a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics. Four years later, he won a silver medal at the 2012 Olympics. He also helped Brazil win the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Marcelo played in two FIFA World Cups, in 2014 and 2018.

Playing for Clubs

Starting at Fluminense

Marcelo began playing futsal, a type of indoor football, when he was nine. By age 13, he joined the youth team of Fluminense in Rio de Janeiro. His family was not rich. He even thought about quitting football. But his grandfather encouraged him to keep playing.

Joining Real Madrid

Marcelo training with Real Madrid in 2007

Marcelo moved to Real Madrid in January 2007. The club's president, Ramón Calderón, was very happy. He said Marcelo was a "pearl" that many European clubs wanted. Many people thought Marcelo could replace the famous left-back Roberto Carlos at Real Madrid.

Marcelo played his first game for Real Madrid on 7 January 2007. He came on as a substitute. In the 2007–08 season, he became a regular starter. His speed, attacking skills, and defense made him a key player.

In 2009, Marcelo sometimes played as a winger. 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. Marcelo scored his second goal with a powerful shot from outside the box.

Becoming a Star (2009–2011)

Marcelo with Real Madrid in 2010

Under coach Manuel Pellegrini, Marcelo played often. He was known for his speed and ability on the left side. He helped with many goals in the 2009–10 season. He signed a new contract with Real Madrid until 2015. This season was a big step forward for him.

In the 2010–11 season, new coach José Mourinho put Marcelo back at left-back. Marcelo played well in every game. He scored his first goal of the season in February. He had an amazing game in the UEFA Champions League against Lyon. He scored his first Champions League goal and helped with another. Real Madrid won 3–0 and reached the quarter-finals. Many people called him the best left-back in the world.

A Key Player (2011–2013)

Marcelo training with Real Madrid in 2012

Marcelo continued to be a key player. Famous footballer Paolo Maldini praised Marcelo. He called him a great attacker and defender. Roberto Carlos also said Marcelo was the best left-back in the world. He even called Marcelo his "heir."

Marcelo helped Real Madrid win their 32nd league title. He scored his first goal of the Champions League season against Manchester City. Real Madrid won that game 3–2. In 2013, Marcelo returned from an injury. He captained Real Madrid in some games.

Winning Many Trophies (2013–2018)

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

In the 2014 Champions League final, Marcelo scored Real Madrid's third goal. This was against their city rivals Atlético Madrid. Real Madrid won 4–1 in extra time.

Marcelo playing against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015

In 2015, Marcelo signed a new contract until 2020. He scored his first goal of the season against Levante. He was a regular starter when Real Madrid won the Champions League again. They beat Atlético Madrid in a penalty shootout.

He played 30 matches when Madrid won the La Liga title. He also started when Madrid won the Champions League again. They defeated Juventus 4–1 in the final.

In 2017, Marcelo signed another contract until 2022. During the Champions League season, he played eleven games and scored three goals. Real Madrid won their third Champions League title in a row. They beat Liverpool 3–1 in the final.

Final Seasons and Captaincy (2018–2022)

In the 2018–19 season, Marcelo played 34 games. Real Madrid won the Club World Cup for the third time in a row. He played 15 games in the 2019–20 league season. Real Madrid won the league title that year.

He played less in the 2020–21 season because of injuries. On 16 June 2021, Marcelo became the captain of Real Madrid. He was the player who had been on the team the longest after Sergio Ramos left. This made him the first non-Spanish captain since 1904.

On 30 April 2022, Marcelo won his 24th title with Real Madrid. This made him the player with the most titles in the club's history. He passed Paco Gento. On 28 May 2022, Marcelo lifted his fifth Champions League trophy. Real Madrid beat Liverpool 1–0 in the final. After this win, Marcelo announced he would leave the club after 15 years.

Playing for Olympiacos

On 3 September 2022, Marcelo joined Super League Greece club Olympiacos. He scored three goals in two matches in the Greek Cup. On 18 February 2023, Marcelo left Olympiacos after five months.

Returning to Fluminense

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

On 4 November 2023, he started in the Copa Libertadores final. Fluminense won 2–1 against Boca Juniors in extra time. Marcelo became the 12th player to win both the Champions League and Copa Libertadores titles. On 2 November 2024, Marcelo left Fluminense.

Playing for Brazil

Argentina's Lionel Messi tries to get past Marcelo in the 2008 Summer Olympics semi-final.

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

He was part of Brazil's team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Brazil won a bronze medal. In May 2010, he was a substitute for Brazil's 2010 FIFA World Cup squad. He was named Man of the Match in a friendly against Mexico in 2011.

He was also part of Brazil's team for the 2012 Summer Olympics. Brazil won a silver medal. Marcelo played in all matches of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil won the final 3–0 against Spain.

In the 2014 FIFA World Cup, Marcelo scored an own goal in the first game against Croatia. Brazil still won the match 3–1. In May 2018, Marcelo was in Brazil's squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup. He was captain in the first match. Brazil lost to Belgium in the quarter-finals. This was his last game for the national team.

How Marcelo Plays Football

Marcelo playing against Rafael Márquez at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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

Marcelo usually plays as a full-back or wing-back. He can also play on the left wing or in midfield. He is known for his amazing ball control and quick moves. He often beats opponents with his dribbling skills. He is very dangerous on counter-attacks. He can run deep into the opponent's defense and create goals.

He is also great at crossing the ball. His passes are accurate, and he has good vision. This allows him to create chances for his teammates. He is naturally left-footed but can use his right foot well too.

Some experts have said that Marcelo's defense could be better. They sometimes point out his defensive work and awareness as areas for improvement.

Football Business Activities

In 2017, Marcelo started investing in football clubs. His company, DOZE ("Twelve"), bought most shares of Campeonato Paranaense club Azuriz. In 2021, DOZE also invested in the Portuguese club Mafra.

Personal Life

In 2008, Marcelo married his longtime girlfriend, Clarice Alves. They have two sons: Enzo, born in 2009, and Liam, born in 2015.

Marcelo has many tattoos. These include his shirt number and his birth date (12) on his left arm. He said his grandfather, Pedro Vieira, inspired his football career. His grandfather helped him financially when he was starting. His grandfather passed away during the 2014 FIFA World Cup. Marcelo stayed with the Brazil team to honor his grandfather's wishes.

On 26 July 2011, Marcelo became a Spanish citizen. This meant he could play for Real Madrid without counting as a non-EU player.

Sponsorships

In April 2013, Marcelo became a new face for Adidas. He joined Real Madrid teammates Gareth Bale and Karim Benzema at an event. They all wore Adidas gear. Marcelo said it was a dream come true to be with such great players and a big brand.

Career Statistics

Club

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club	Season	League			National cup		Continental		Other		Total
Club	Season	Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Fluminense	2005	Série A	12	2	0	0	0	0	0	0	12	2
	2006	Série A	18	4	0	0	3	0	0	0	21	4
	Total		30	6	0	0	3	0	0	0	33	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	2	0	8	0	3	1	32	2
	2024	Série A	17	1	3	0	8	2	8	0	36	3
	Total		36	2	5	0	16	2	11	1	68	5
Career total			457	34	43	6	123	11	33	1	656	52

International

Marcelo battles Croatia's Ivan Perišić for the ball during the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

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

Trophies and Awards

Marcelo holding the European Champion Clubs' Cup after Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League in 2018.

Marcelo celebrating after winning the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final.

Real Madrid

La Liga: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2011–12, 2016–17, 2019–20, 2021–22
Copa del Rey: 2010–11, 2013–14
Supercopa de España: 2008, 2012, 2017, 2020, 2022
UEFA Champions League: 2013–14, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2021–22
UEFA Super Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017
FIFA Club World Cup: 2014, 2016, 2017, 2018

Fluminense

Campeonato Carioca: 2005, 2023
Taca Rio: 2005
Copa Libertadores: 2023
Recopa Sudamericana: 2024

Brazil U17

FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2005

Brazil U23

Summer Olympics silver medal: 2012; bronze medal: 2008

Brazil

FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013

Individual Awards

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2006
France Football Team of the Decade (2010–2019)
L'Équipe Team of the Season: 2011, 2016, 2017, 2018
ESPN Best Left-back of the Year: 2017, 2018
UEFA Team of the Year: 2011, 2017, 2018
FIFA FIFPRO World 11: 2012, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019
FIFA World Cup Dream Team: 2014, 2018
La Liga Team of the Season: 2015–16
Facebook FA La Liga Best Defender: 2016
UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2010–11, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18
ESM Team of the Year: 2015–16, 2016–17
IFFHS Men's World Team: 2017, 2018
IFFHS World Team of the Decade: 2011–2020
IFFHS CONMEBOL Team of the Decade: 2011–2020

Images for kids

Marcelo training with Real Madrid in 2007
Marcelo with Real Madrid in 2010
Marcelo training with Real Madrid in 2012
Marcelo playing against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015
Argentina's Lionel Messi tries to get past Marcelo in the 2008 Summer Olympics semi-final.
Marcelo battles Croatia's Ivan Perišić for the ball during the opening match of the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Marcelo playing against Rafael Márquez at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.
Marcelo holding the European Champion Clubs' Cup after Real Madrid won the UEFA Champions League in 2018.
Marcelo celebrating after winning the 2018 UEFA Champions League Final.