Nenê (footballer, born 1981)

Club career

Early career

Born in Jundiaí, São Paulo, Nenê started playing professionally with local Etti Jundiaí at the age of 19. On 16 May 2002, he moved to Palmeiras on loan until December.

Nenê made his Brasileirão Série A debut on 11 August 2002, starting and scoring the opening goal in a 1–1 home draw against Grêmio. He finished the year with five league goals, but his club suffered relegation for the first time in its history.

On 27 January 2003, Nenê signed for defending Série A champions Santos. Mainly a backup option to Robinho and Ricardo Oliveira, he still scored three goals during the team's Copa Libertadores run, and also appeared in both legs of the finals as a substitute.

Spain

In 2003–04, Nenê moved to Spain, first with RCD Mallorca – making his La Liga debut on 14 September 2003 in a 0–4 away loss against Athletic Bilbao– and then Deportivo Alavés. With the Basque side he put up two extraordinary individual seasons, with 21 goals in the league alone, playing his first year in the second division and achieving promotion.

After being relegated from the top level with Alavés in 2006, Nenê met the same fate with RC Celta de Vigo, again appearing in all 38 league games and totalling nearly 3,000 minutes of action for the Galicians.

Monaco

On 22 August 2007, Nenê was transferred to AS Monaco FC for an undisclosed fee. A year later, having already started with the French, he joined RCD Espanyol in the last days of the summer transfer window on a one-year loan, with a buying option for the Catalans at the season's end, which was finally not activated.

Back with Monaco, Nenê began the new campaign in impressive scoring fashion, scoring nine goals in his first ten matches – this included a brace against US Boulogne in a 3–1 away victory, both from long-range free kicks, as he led the scoring charts for a lengthy period of time.

Paris Saint-Germain

On 11 July 2010, Nenê joined Paris Saint-Germain in a deal believed to be around €5.5 million. "I'm very happy to have signed for Paris," the player told PSG's official website, adding: "Like PSG, I'm hoping to have a big league season and to pull something off in the Europa League". He scored in his first official appearance, a 3–1 home win against AS Saint-Étienne, adding two on 11 September against newly promoted AC Arles-Avignon (4–0, home). Halfway through the season he had already registered 13 goals, making him the third-highest scorer only behind Moussa Sow and Kevin Gameiro; his displays, free-kick ability and attacking flair earned him comparisons with Ronaldinho, a compatriot who played at the Parc des Princes earlier in the decade, but he only scored one more goal until the end of the campaign, with PSG finally finishing fourth.

In the summer of 2011, Paris Saint-Germain were purchased by Qatari investors and bought several new players, including Jérémy Menez with whom Nenê had played at Monaco. The Brazilian began the season hesitantly, struggling to accept that he had lost his star status in the team with the arrival of Javier Pastore. On 29 October, however, he scored two goals (both penalties) in a 4–2 home win against Stade Malherbe Caen, putting his team three points clear at the top of the table.

Nenê scored his first hat-trick with PSG on 13 May 2012, netting all of the game's goals in the home fixture against Rennes in only 18 minutes of play. He finished the campaign as the league's second top scorer, helping his side to second and direct qualification to the UEFA Champions League.

Al-Gharafa

On 15 January 2013, after having appeared in 112 official matches with PSG (but only nine in the league in the first half of the season), Nenê moved to Al-Gharafa SC in the Qatar Stars League. In March, he was suspended for nine games and fined €67,000 for fighting with Houssine Kharja, being eventually released in late January of the following year.

West Ham United

On 18 February 2015, free agent Nenê signed for West Ham United until the end of the campaign. He made his debut ten days later in a 1–3 home defeat by Crystal Palace by coming on as a 61st minute substitute for Alex Song, and was released at the end of the season following an unsuccessful stint at the Hammers.

São Paulo

On 26 January 2018, the 36-year-old Nenê agreed to a two-year contract with São Paulo. In an interview held the previous December, he claimed to have been a supporter of the club as a child. He scored his first goal for his new team on 7 February, in a 1–0 win over Bragantino for the Campeonato Paulista.

Fluminense

After being released, on 15 July 2019, Nenê joined Fluminense until the end of the 2020 season. In the first two months of that year, he scored seven goals across all competitions.

Vasco and Juventude

After Fluminense, Nenê played for Vasco da Gama between September 2021 and March 2023 and then joined Juventude in April 2023. On 15 August 2024, at 43 years and 26 days old, he became the oldest player to score in the Brasileirão Série A, surpassing the record previously held by Rogério Ceni. He scored again the following August to further extend his record.

Botafogo-PB

On 10 January 2026, Nenê moved to Série C club Botafogo-PB, signing a one-year contract.

Personal life

In October 2012, Nenê was named an ambassador in France for the game FIFA 13, alongside Karim Benzema and Lionel Messi. In 2010, he signed a deal with Adidas.

Each year, Nenê organised with fellow footballer Neymar a charity match in his hometown of Jundiaí, with the purpose of raising money for food for families in need.

Career statistics

Honours

Paulista

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série C: 2001
• Campeonato Paulista Série A2: 2001

Paris Saint-Germain

• Ligue 1: 2012–13

Vasco da Gama

• Campeonato Carioca: 2016

Fluminense

• Taça Rio: 2020

Individual

• Ligue 1 Best Foreign Player: 2009–10
• Ligue 1 Top Scorer: 2011–12 (joint)
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2010–11, 2011–12
• Campeonato Carioca Best Player: 2016
• Campeonato Carioca Team of the Year: 2020

References

References

1. (13 December 2010). "PSG: Nene, élu meilleur joueur étranger de Ligue 1 par France Football". Info PSG.
2. (16 May 2002). "Palmeiras contrata atacante Nenê, do Etti Jundiaí". Diário do Grande ABC.
3. (27 January 2003). "Depois de Ricardo Oliveira, Santos contrata atacante Nenê, ex-Palmeiras". [[Folha de S.Paulo]].
4. (19 August 2003). "Pacheco tendrá un medio brasileño: Nené". [[Diario AS]].
5. (15 September 2003). "Urzaiz y Etxeberria firman una goleada para el Athletic Club". Diario Córdoba.
6. (24 August 2004). "Nené, ex del Mallorca, ficha por el Alavés". Diario AS.
7. (19 September 2005). "El Getafe de Schuster derrota al Alavés y es el nuevo líder". [[El Mundo (Spain).
8. (25 July 2006). "El Celta fichó al brasileño Nené del Alavés". Diario AS.
9. (17 June 2007). "Victoria y descenso para el Celta". [[El País]].
10. (22 August 2007). "Brasileiro Nenê deixa o Celta e acerta com o Monaco". [[Universo Online]].
11. (30 August 2008). "El Espanyol llega a un principio de acuerdo para la cesión de Nené". Diario AS.
12. ESPN Soccernet]], 24 October 2009
13. (22 November 2009). "Nenê (Monaco) en tête du classement des buteurs". [[Le Parisien]].
14. [https://web.archive.org/web/20100718111211/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/news/story?id=808546&sec=transfers&cc=5739 Nene seals PSG switch]; ESPN Soccernet, 13 July 2010
15. [https://archive.today/20120721113626/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=295207&cc=5901 Sessegnon on target in PSG win]; ESPN Soccernet, 7 August 2010
16. [https://archive.today/20130103110315/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=295107&cc=5901 Paris Saint-Germain 4–0 Arles]; ESPN Soccernet, 11 September 2010
17. [http://blogteam.sport24.com/bruno_roger-petit/2010/11/psg-om-nene-le-nouveau-ronaldinho.html PSG-OM: Nene, le nouveau Ronaldinho, sauve le "Clasico" du "Soporifico" (PSG-OM: Nene, the new Ronaldinho, saves the "Clasico" from "Soporifico")] {{Webarchive. link. (26 April 2012 ; Sport 24, 7 November 2010 (in French))
18. [http://www.goal.com/en-us/news/69/transfer-zone/2011/07/25/2590180/official-paris-saint-germain-signs-jeremy-menez-and-blaise Official: Paris Saint-Germain signs Jeremy Menez and Blaise Matuidi] {{Webarchive. link. (6 April 2015 ; [[Goal (website)). Goal]], 25 July 2011
19. (6 December 2012). "L1: Nene et Pastore, les mal-aimés du PSG". [[20 minutes (France).
20. (7 December 2012). "Ancelotti se irrita com Nenê". Goal.
21. [https://archive.today/20120714014634/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report/_/id/320281?cc=5739 Paris Saint-Germain 4–2 Caen]; ESPN Soccernet, 29 October 2011
22. [https://archive.today/20130103044328/http://soccernet.espn.go.com/report?id=320032&cc=5739 Paris Saint-Germain 3–0 Stade Rennes]; ESPN Soccernet, 13 May 2012
23. (20 May 2012). "L1: Olivier Giroud termine meilleur buteur". Le Parisien.
24. [http://www.planetepsg.com/news-23261-mercato_nene_officiellement_au_qatar.html Nenê officiellement au Qatar (Nenê officially in Qatar)] {{Webarchive. link. (1 September 2024 ; Planète PSG, 15 January 2013 (in French))
25. [http://www.modernghana.com/sports/455086/2/fight-with-nene-the-moroccan-kharja-severely-punis.html Fight with Nene: the Moroccan Kharja severely punished!] {{Webarchive. link. (4 March 2016 ; Modern Ghana, 26 March 2013)
26. [http://dohanews.co/nene-kharja-and-others-hit-with-suspensions-hefty/ Nene, Kharja and others hit with suspensions, hefty fines following football scuffle] {{Webarchive. link. (4 February 2015 ; [[Doha News]], 27 March 2013)
27. (28 January 2015). "Nene a résilié". [[L'Équipe]].
28. (18 February 2015). "Hammers snap up Nene". West Ham United F.C.
29. Simon Stone. (28 February 2015). "West Ham United 1–3 Crystal Palace". [[BBC Sport]].
30. (28 May 2015). "Nene thanks Hammers". West Ham United F.C.
31. (26 January 2018). "Negócio fechado: Nenê reforça o São Paulo por duas temporadas". Universo Online.
32. (18 December 2017). "Nenê revela time de infância, diz ter se tornado torcedor do Vasco e quer títulos históricos para 2018". [[Yahoo!]].
33. (7 February 2018). "São Paulo marca com Nenê aos 5 min, mas sua para bater Bragantino". Universo Online.
34. Gomes, Fred. (15 July 2019). "Nenê chega ao RJ sonhando com Sul-Americana pelo Fluminense e minimiza idade: "Carcacinha boa"". [[Rede Globo.
35. Carvalho, Paula. (27 February 2020). "Como vinho! Artilheiro do Fluminense aos 38 anos, Nenê quer mais: "Continuar quebrando barreiras"". Globo Esporte.
36. Josué Seixas. (16 August 2024). "Nenê, from Juventude, surpasses Rogério Ceni and reaches historic milestone in the Campeonato Brasileiro".
37. (16 August 2024). "Joga no Juventude, mas já não vai para novo: Nenê é o mais velho da história a marcar no Brasileirão". [[Rádio Renascença]].
38. (10 January 2026). "Oficial: Aos 44 anos, Nenê assina com o Botafogo-PB e amplia carreira histórica".
39. (2012). "FIFA 13: Nene rejoint Messi et Benzema en tant qu'ambassadeur". Melty.
40. (19 November 2012). "Nene présente le 80, nouveau ballon Adidas de L1". Sport and Biz.
41. P., Quentin. (5 December 2014). "Anciens: Nenê défie Neymar!". Le Meilleur du PSG.
42. (April 2015). "Ex-Santos e Palmeiras, Nenê estará de olho na decisão do Paulista". Nene Officiel.
43. "Nené: Anderson Luís Carvalho". BDFutbol.
44. {{Soccerway. anderson-luis-de-carvalho/3838
45. "2002". Futebol 80.
46. (20 May 2012). "Olivier Giroud couronné". [[Ligue de Football Professionnel]].
47. (20 July 2020). "Gabigol, do Flamengo, é eleito craque do Campeonato Carioca; veja seleção". Globo Esporte.