Gilberto (footballer, born 1989)

Gilberto Oliveira Souza Júnior (born 5 June 1989), simply known as Gilberto, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Cruzeiro.

For other people named Gilberto, see Gilberto.

Gilberto
Personal information
Full name Gilberto Oliveira Souza Júnior
Date of birth (1989-06-05) 5 June 1989
Place of birth Piranhas, Brazil
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Cruzeiro
Number 21
Youth career
2005–2007 Confiança
2007–2009 Santa Cruz
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2009–2011 Santa Cruz 26 (12)
2010 → Vera Cruz (loan) 18 (12)
2011–2014 Internacional 39 (5)
2012 → Sport Recife (loan) 25 (7)
2013 → Portuguesa (loan) 24 (14)
2014–2015 Toronto FC 28 (7)
2015 → Vasco da Gama (loan) 25 (9)
2015–2016 Chicago Fire 19 (5)
2016–2017 São Paulo 43 (15)
2018 Yeni Malatyaspor 12 (2)
2018–2022 Bahia 189 (83)
2022 Al-Wasl 31 (15)
2023– Cruzeiro 3 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 00:04, 18 February 2023 (UTC)

Club career

Santa Cruz

A Santa Cruz youth graduate, Gilberto made his senior debut on 5 July 2009, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 Série D away win against CSA.[1] In January 2010, after five first team appearances, he was loaned to Vera Cruz until the end of the year's Campeonato Pernambucano.[2]

After scoring twelve goals in 18 appearances (including four in a 4–1 home routing of Vitória das Tabocas), Gilberto returned to Santa and started to feature more regularly. He became an undisputed starter during the 2011 campaign under Zé Teodoro, scoring twelve goals in the 2011 Pernambucano and being chosen as the best striker in the competition.

Internacional

In May 2011, Gilberto signed a three-year contract with Internacional in the Série A.[3] He made his debut in the category on 28 May, replacing Mario Bolatti in a 1–0 loss at Ceará.

Gilberto scored his first goal in the main category of Brazilian football on 16 November 2011, netting the game's only in a home defeat of Bahia. On 7 July of the following year, after being sparingly used, he was loaned to Sport Recife until May 2013.[4]

After appearing regularly, Gilberto returned to Inter in January 2013.[5] In July, however, he moved to Portuguesa also in a temporary deal;[6] an immediate starter, he finished the season 14 goals for the club.

Toronto FC

On 13 December 2013, Gilberto joined Major League Soccer side Toronto FC for a reported transfer fee of over $3 million, choosing MLS after turning down more lucrative offers from Mexico and Germany.[7][8] He made his debut with Toronto FC against D.C. United on 22 March 2014, the game ended in a 1–0 home victory.[9]

Entering as a substitute against the Columbus Crew on 31 May 2014, Gilberto recorded an assist on Jermain Defoe's 81st-minute equalizer in an eventual 3–2 win to help his team win the Trillium Cup.[10] On 27 June 2014, Gilberto scored his first goal for Toronto FC against the New York Red Bulls, lashing in a 72nd minute free-kick, after arguing with Defoe as to who would take the kick.[11]

Vasco da Gama (loan)

Due to the arrival of Jozy Altidore, and Sebastian Giovinco in January 2015, both of whom would take up DP slots, after only one season with Toronto, Gilberto was loaned to Brazilian club Vasco da Gama on 20 February 2015.[12] He was the club's top goalscorer during the 2015 Campeonato Carioca with nine goals, but was demoted to a backup option after the arrival of new manager Celso Roth.

Chicago Fire

Vasco de Gama terminated the loan in July 2015, forcing Toronto to release Gilberto. He was claimed off waivers and acquired as a designated player by Chicago Fire on 27 July 2015.[13][14]

After scoring five goals in his first season – which included a brace against former club Toronto – Gilberto failed to find the net in his second, and his contract with Chicago Fire was mutually terminated on 29 June 2016.[15]

São Paulo

On 15 July 2016, Gilberto signed a contract with São Paulo FC until December 2017.[16] A backup to Andrés Chávez, he only featured in eight matches.

On 12 February 2017, Gilberto scored a hat-trick in 5–2 home routing of Ponte Preta, for the year's Campeonato Paulista.[17] He finished the tournament as the top goalscorer with nine goals, along with William Pottker.

Yeni Malatyaspor

Following a two-year stint with São Paulo, Gilberto joined Süper Lig side Yeni Malatyaspor in Turkey.[18]

Bahia

On 11 June 2018, Gilberto returned to Brazil, signing a six-month contract with Bahia.[19] He signed an extension until the end of 2021,[20] being the lead scorer for the team. On 19 October 2020, he became the all-time leading scorer in goals in the Campeonato Brasileiro for Bahia.[21] On 5 November 2020, Gilberto scored his 50th goal in 113 matches for Bahia, across all competitions.[22]

Al-Wasl

On 9 January 2022, Gilberto signed contract free with Al-Wasl.[23]

Career statistics
As of 24 October 2021[24]
Club Season League State League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Santa Cruz 2009 Série D 50————50
2010 40—00—14[lower-alpha 1]6186
2011 Série C 00171231——2013
Total 90171231—1464319
Vera Cruz (loan) 2010 Pernambucano —1812———1812
Internacional 2011 Série A 131————131
2012 6193—4[lower-alpha 2]1—195
2013 308000——110
Total 2221730041—436
Sport Recife (loan) 2012 Série A 257————257
Portuguesa (loan) 2013 Série A 2414————2414
Toronto FC 2014 Major League Soccer 287—4[lower-alpha 3]0——327
Vasco da Gama (loan) 2015 Série A 12013910——269
Chicago Fire 2015 Major League Soccer 105—10——115
2016 90—00——90
Total 195—10——205
São Paulo 2016 Série A 82—20——102
2017 172119421[lower-alpha 4]0—3313
Total 2541196210—4315
Yeni Malatyaspor 2017–18 Süper Lig 122————122
Bahia 2018 Série A 218—202[lower-alpha 4]1—259
2019 321473942[lower-alpha 4]08[lower-alpha 5]85629
2020 33900108[lower-alpha 4]68[lower-alpha 5]45013
2021 261100624[lower-alpha 4]110[lower-alpha 5]84622
Total 1124273186168262017979
Career total 2888383483572194026451171
  1. Eight appearances and two goals in Copa do Nordeste, six appearances and four goals in Copa Pernambuco
  2. All appearances in Copa Libertadores
  3. All appearance(s) in Canadian Championship
  4. All appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  5. All appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste

Honours

Club
Santa Cruz
Internacional
Vasco da Gama
Bahia

Individual

References
  1. "CSA-AL 0 x 3 Santa Cruz – Favorito começa com show fora de casa" [CSA-AL 0–3 Santa Cruz – Favourite start with a show away from home]. Futebol Interior (in Portuguese). 5 July 2009. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  2. Andrade, Ramon (11 January 2010). "Santa Cruz empresta Gilberto ao Vera Cruz" [Santa Cruz loan Gilberto to Vera Cruz]. NE10 (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  3. Wernek, Jeremias (17 May 2011). "Inter atravessa negócio do Corinthians e contrata Gilberto, do Santa Cruz" [Inter flop Corinthians deal and sign Santa Cruz's Gilberto]. UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  4. "Gilberto acerta com o Sport" [Gilberto signs with Sport]. Sport Recife (in Portuguese). 7 July 2012. Archived from the original on 5 January 2018. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  5. "Gilberto deixa o Sport e volta ao Inter" [Gilberto leaves Sport and returns to Inter]. Rede Bandeirantes (in Portuguese). 8 January 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  6. "Atacante Gilberto é emprestado pelo Inter à Portuguesa" [Forward Gilberto is loaned from Inter to Portuguesa]. Diário Gaúcho (in Portuguese). 11 July 2013. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
  7. Rowaan, Dave (13 December 2013). "Toronto FC set to spend over $3 million to sign Gilberto". Waking the Red. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  8. Davidson, Neil (13 December 2013). "Toronto FC lands Brazilian striker Gilberto". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 13 December 2013.
  9. Bedakian, Armen (22 March 2014). "Match Recap: TFC 1, D.C. United 0". Toronto FC. Retrieved 25 March 2014.
  10. Zwolinski, Mark (31 May 2014). "Toronto FC beats Columbus to capture Trillium Cup". Toronto Star. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  11. "New York Red Bulls 2, Toronto FC 2". Major League Soccer. 27 June 2014. Retrieved 1 July 2014.
  12. "Toronto FC loans Gilberto to CR Vasco da Gama". Toronto FC. 20 February 2015.
  13. "Chicago Fire Acquire Brazilian Forward Gilberto as Designated Player". Chicago Fire. 27 July 2015.
  14. Tierney, Mitchell (27 July 2015). "Report: Toronto FC lose Gilberto to Chicago Fire Via Waivers". Waking The Red. Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  15. "Chicago Fire Soccer Club and Gilberto Mutually Terminate Contract". Chicago Fire FC. 29 June 2016. Retrieved 4 January 2017.
  16. Leonan, Érico (15 July 2016). "Gilberto assina até 2017 e já treina no CT" [Gilberto signs until 2017 and already trains in the camp]. São Paulo FC (in Portuguese).
  17. de Matos, José Edgar (12 February 2017). "São Paulo faz 5 na Ponte Preta em estreia de Ceni como técnico no Morumbi" [São Paulo makes 5 at Ponte Preta in Ceni debut as coach at Morumbi]. Grupo UOL (in Portuguese). Retrieved 27 May 2020.
  18. Larson, Kurt (19 February 2018). "'He only had good things to say': Ex-Toronto FC striker Gilberto convinced Auro to join Reds". Toronto Sun. Retrieved 26 May 2020.
  19. "Após passagem pela Turquia, Gilberto é anunciado como reforço do Bahia" [After stint at Turkey, Gilberto is announced as addition of Bahia]. Terra (in Brazilian Portuguese). 11 June 2018. Retrieved 2 May 2019.
  20. "Bahia encaminha renovação de contrato com Gilberto até 2021" [Bahia forwards renewal of contract with Gilberto until 2021]. BahiaNoticias (in Brazilian Portuguese). 31 January 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  21. "Gilberto ultrapassa Bobô como maior artilheiro do Bahia no Brasileirão" [Gilberto overtakes Bobô as Bahia's top scorer in the Brasileirão]. aTarde (in Brazilian Portuguese). 20 October 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  22. "Gilberto chega a 50 gols pelo Bahia e se iguala a Souza em lista de artilheiros do clube" [GGilberto reaches 50 goals for Bahia and matches Souza on the list of club scorers]. Globo (in Brazilian Portuguese). 7 November 2020. Retrieved 20 November 2020.
  23. "Gilberto é apresentado no Al Wasl de Odair Hellmann e frustra clubes brasileiros". 9 January 2022. Retrieved 12 January 2022.
  24. Gilberto at Soccerway. Retrieved 4 January 2018.
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