Marcelo (footballer, born 1988)

Marcelo Vieira da Silva Junior, born on 12 May 1988 and known simply as Marcelo, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left-back. He is widely regarded as one of the greatest players ever to hold that position, and he was known above all for his attacking play from the flank. He began his professional career with Fluminense in 2005 and joined Real Madrid in January 2007 for a fee of 8 million euros. He spent most of his career in Madrid, where he became one of the club's most decorated players with 25 trophies, including five UEFA Champions League titles and six La Liga titles, and from the 2021-22 season he captained the club, the first foreign captain since 1904. After leaving Real Madrid in 2022 he spent five months at Olympiacos and then returned to Fluminense in 2023, winning the Copa Libertadores. For Brazil he won an Olympic bronze medal in 2008 and a silver medal in 2012, won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, and played at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups.