 |
MarceloBrazilian footballer
Date of Birth: 12.05.1988
Country:  Spain |
Content:
Biography of Marcelo
Early Life and CareerMarcelo Vieira da Silva Júnior, commonly known as Marcelo, is a Brazilian footballer who currently plays as a vice-captain, defender, and midfielder for the Spanish club Real Madrid and the Brazilian national team. He started playing futsal at the age of 9 and joined the youth team of Fluminense, one of the top clubs in Brazilian football, at the age of 13. Initially playing as a midfielder, Marcelo was shifted to the position of defender by his new coach to better utilize his speed. He almost quit football due to his parents' inability to afford his daily bus trips to the training base, but the club took care of these expenses to ensure they didn't lose this promising player. Marcelo played 38 matches for Fluminense, scoring six goals, before catching the attention of Real Madrid scouts.
Move to Real Madrid
In January 2007, Marcelo signed a contract with Real Madrid until 2013 for a transfer fee of 7 million euros. He quickly adapted to life in Madrid, thanks to his fellow countrymen who were already defending the colors of Real Madrid. Roberto Carlos, in particular, took the young defender under his wing and shared his experience with him. Marcelo played six matches and won the Spanish championship title in the remaining part of the 2006/07 season. Under the guidance of coach Bernd Schuster, Marcelo solidified his position in the starting lineup.
National Team Career
In 2006, Marcelo made his debut for the Brazilian national team in a friendly match against Wales, scoring a goal in his first appearance as Brazil won 2-0. He was also selected for the Brazilian Olympic team for the 2008 Beijing Olympics. The team topped their group, winning all three matches without conceding a goal. Marcelo scored a crucial goal in the quarterfinals against Cameroon, helping Brazil secure a 2-0 victory in extra time. Although Brazil was defeated by Argentina in the semifinals, they defeated Belgium in the third-place match, winning the bronze medal.
Marcelo was not included in the squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, but he continued to represent the national team in subsequent years. He scored his second international goal in a friendly match against Mexico in October 2011. Marcelo also participated in the 2012 London Olympics, where Brazil finished as runners-up, losing to Mexico in the final. He played all six matches in the tournament and earned his second Olympic medal.
Marcelo was a key player in Brazil's triumph at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, where they defeated Spain in the final. He also represented Brazil in the 2014 FIFA World Cup, scoring an own goal in the opening match against Croatia. Despite Brazil's disastrous 7-1 loss to Germany in the semifinals, Marcelo was named in the tournament's symbolic team, along with two other Brazilian defenders. Brazil finished fourth, losing to the Netherlands in the third-place match.
On March 27, 2017, Marcelo scored his first goal for the national team in an official match, netting against Paraguay in a World Cup qualifying match held in São Paulo.
Achievements
Throughout his career, Marcelo has achieved numerous accolades. With Real Madrid, he has won multiple La Liga titles, UEFA Champions League titles, and FIFA Club World Cup titles. He has also won the FIFA Confederations Cup with the Brazilian national team. Marcelo's skill, versatility, and attacking prowess have made him one of the best left-backs in the world.
