Robinho
Who was Robinho?
Brazilian footballer who played as a forward for clubs including Real Madrid, Manchester City, and Santos, known for his technical skills and dribbling ability.
Biographical data adapted from Wikipedia’s article on Robinho (CC BY-SA 4.0).
Biography
Robson de Souza, known as Robinho, was born on January 25, 1984, in São Vicente, Brazil. He became one of the most skilled Brazilian football forwards in the 2000s and 2010s, known for his outstanding dribbling and attacking skills. He started his professional career at Santos, where he quickly made a name for himself and helped the club achieve significant success in domestic leagues.
Robinho's big moment came at Santos, playing a key role in leading the team to their first Campeonato Brasileiro title since Pelé's time in 2002. His impressive performances grabbed international attention, leading to a major transfer to Real Madrid in 2005. At Madrid, he won two La Liga titles and was known for his flair and technical skills on European fields. His success in Spain led to a record-breaking transfer to Manchester City in 2008, making him one of the most expensive signings in Premier League history at that time.
During his career, Robinho played for several top clubs across different continents, including AC Milan, where he won the Serie A title in his first season. He also had multiple stints with Santos and played for clubs in Turkey and China. On the international stage, he earned many caps for Brazil, played in two FIFA World Cups, and won the Copa América in 2007, along with two FIFA Confederations Cup titles in 2005 and 2009.
Robinho's career and reputation were later overshadowed by serious legal troubles. In 2017, an Italian court convicted him of sexual assault related to a 2013 incident at a Milan nightclub. The conviction was upheld through multiple appeals, including Italy's highest court in January 2022. Despite Italy's extradition requests, Brazil's constitution prohibits extraditing its citizens. In March 2024, Robinho began serving a nine-year prison sentence in Brazil for the conviction, effectively ending his professional football career.
Before Fame
Robinho grew up in São Vicente, a coastal city in São Paulo state, during a time when Brazilian football was producing many exceptional attacking players. His big break came at 12 when Pelé himself saw him as a future star, impressed by Robinho's natural talent and technical skills.
The late 1990s and early 2000s were excellent years for developing Brazilian football talent, with clubs like Santos known for producing world-class players. Robinho came onto the scene just as Brazil was continuing its strong run in international football. He developed through Santos' youth system, following the usual Brazilian path of nurturing technically skilled, creative forwards who could succeed globally.
Key Achievements
- Won Copa América with Brazil in 2007 and two FIFA Confederations Cups in 2005 and 2009
- Led Santos to Campeonato Brasileiro title in 2002, their first since the Pelé era
- Won two La Liga titles with Real Madrid and Serie A title with AC Milan
- Selected by Pelé as his successor at age 12, becoming one of Brazil's most recognized young talents
- Participated in two FIFA World Cups representing Brazil in 2006 and 2010
Did You Know?
- 01.Pelé personally selected 12-year-old Robinho as his heir apparent in 1996, predicting his future success at Santos
- 02.His transfer to Manchester City in 2008 for £32.5 million made him the most expensive signing in Premier League history at that time
- 03.He scored his first goal for Real Madrid in El Clásico against Barcelona at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium
- 04.Robinho wore the famous number 10 jersey for both Santos and the Brazilian national team
- 05.He played futsal during his youth development, which contributed to his exceptional close control and technical skills