Brazilian footballer (born 1992)
Carlos Henrique Casimiro (born 23 February 1992), known as Casemiro,[4] is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays 👍 as a defensive midfielder for Premier League club Manchester United and captains the Brazil national team. He is known for 👍 his defensive abilities, ball-winning skills, and tackling. Casemiro is widely regarded as one of the best defensive midfielders of his 👍 generation.[5][6][7] He was included in the FIFA FIFPro World XI in 2024.[8]
Casemiro began his career with São Paulo and progressed 👍 through the ranks. He scored 11 goals in 111 games as a midfielder for the club. His defensive abilities caught 👍 the attention of Real Madrid, and he joined the club on loan in January 2013. He played 15 games for 👍 Real Madrid Castilla during his loan spell. Afterward, he was signed permanently by Real Madrid for a fee of £5.1 👍 million, becoming a part of their first-team squad at the Santiago Bernabéu.
After joining Real Madrid, Casemiro initially struggled to break 👍 into the first team. He was loaned to FC Porto for €15 million in order to gain more playing time. 👍 During his time at Porto, Casemiro performed impressively and helped the team reach the Champions League quarterfinals.[9] Real Madrid decided 👍 to reacquire him for €7.00m in the summer transfers of the 2024 season.[10] Since then, Casemiro has played a crucial 👍 role in Real Madrid's success, contributing to their triumphs in various competitions. He has won numerous trophies, including three La 👍 Liga titles, three Supercopa de España, three FIFA Club World Cups, three UEFA Super Cup, one Copa del Rey, and 👍 five UEFA Champions Leagues. In 2024, after winning his fifth Champions League title at Madrid he later joined to Manchester 👍 United for a transfer fee €70.65m. He won the EFL Cup in his first season there.[11]
A full international since 2011, 👍 Casemiro was in Brazil's squad at the 2024 and 2024 FIFA World Cups, as well as four Copa América tournaments, 👍 winning the 2024 Copa América and the runners-up of the 2024 edition.
Club career [ edit ]
São Paulo [ edit ]
2003–2010: 👍 Youth career [ edit ]
Born in São José dos Campos, São Paulo, Casemiro was a product of São Paulo's youth 👍 system. From the age of 11 upwards, he acted as captain to its sides;[12][13] he was known as "Carlão" – 👍 an augmentative form of his first name in Portuguese – early on, and would be called up for the 2009 👍 FIFA U-17 World Cup.[14]
2010–2013: Consistent success [ edit ]
Casemiro made his Série A debut on 25 July 2010, in an 👍 away loss against Santos. He scored his first goal as a professional on 15 August, helping to a 2–2 draw 👍 with Cruzeiro.[15]
On 7 April 2012, Casemiro scored the first goal of a 2–0 win over Mogi Mirim at the Arena 👍 Barueri in that year's Campeonato Paulista after replacing the injured Fabrício early on, but was later sent off.[16] São Paulo 👍 also won the Copa Sudamericana, with the player making one substitute appearance in a 5–0 home success against Universidad de 👍 Chile in the quarter-final second leg on 7 November.[17]
Real Madrid [ edit ]
2013–2024: First successes and loan to Porto [ 👍 edit ]
On 31 January 2013, Casemiro was loaned to Real Madrid in Spain, being assigned to the B-team in Segunda 👍 División.[18] He played his first game in the competition on 16 February, starting in a 1–3 defeat at Sabadell.[19] Casemiro 👍 made his La Liga debut on 20 April, playing the full 90 minutes in a 3–1 home win over Real 👍 Betis.[20] On 2 June, he scored his first goal in Europe, opening the reserves' 4–0 win over Alcorcón at the 👍 Alfredo Di Stéfano Stadium.[21] Eight days after his first goal for Real Madrid Castilla, the move was made permanent for 👍 four years and a fee of R$18.738 million was paid.[22][23][24]
Casemiro was loaned to Porto on 19 July 2014 in a 👍 season-long loan.[25] He totalled 41 games overall for the Portuguese club, scoring four goals,[26] including a free kick on 10 👍 March 2024 in a 4–0 home win over Basel in the last 16 of the UEFA Champions League.[27]
2024–2024: Becoming first-choice 👍 [ edit ]
Casemiro playing for Real Madrid in 2024
On 5 June 2024, Casemiro returned to Real Madrid who activated his 👍 buyback clause,[28] and two months later his contract was extended until 2024.[29] On 13 March 2024, he scored his first 👍 competitive goal for the Merengues, heading home an 89th-minute corner kick by Jesé in a 2–1 victory at Las Palmas.[30] 👍 After being mostly a reserve player under Rafael Benítez, Casemiro became first-choice under his successor Zinedine Zidane,[31] and contributed with 👍 11 appearances in that season's Champions League. In the final against Atlético Madrid, he featured the full 120 minutes, as 👍 Real Madrid won their 11th title in a penalty shoot-out after a 1–1 draw.[32]
2024–2024: Prolific success [ edit ]
Casemiro scored 👍 four goals in 25 matches in the 2024–17 La Liga, helping his team win the league title for the first 👍 time in five years.[33][34] He then scored a long-range strike in the Champions League final against Juventus, helping his team 👍 to a 4–1 victory.[35] He again found the net on 8 August, putting his team ahead in a 2–1 victory 👍 over Manchester United in the 2024 UEFA Super Cup.[36]
During the 2024–18 Champions League, Casemiro made 12 appearances while scoring one 👍 goal,[37] as Madrid won their third consecutive and 13th overall title in the competition.[38] He was a regular starter during 👍 the season, as Real Madrid won the 2024–20 La Liga.[39] In August 2024, he extended his contract until June 2025.[40] 👍 Casemiro was a starter for Real Madrid when they won their 14th Champions League title. Casemiro was named Man of 👍 the Match, as Real Madrid defeated Eintracht Frankfurt 2–0 for the 2024 Super Cup.[41]
Manchester United [ edit ]
On 19 August 👍 2024, Real Madrid and Manchester United announced that they had reached an agreement for the transfer of Casemiro.[42][43] Three days 👍 later, he signed a four-year contract with the English club, with an option for an additional year's extension.[44] The deal 👍 was reportedly worth £60 million, plus £10 million in add-ons.[45] Casemiro was later reported as having previously told his agent 👍 to relay a message to Manchester United that he would bring them back into form after their 4-0 defeat at 👍 the hands of Brentford, saying "Tell them I’ll fix it."[46] He made his debut for the club when he came 👍 on as a substitute in a Premier League win away at Southampton on 27 August.[47] On 22 October, he scored 👍 his first Premier League goal from a header in the 94th minute in a 1–1 away draw against Chelsea.[48]
Casemiro was 👍 highly praised by his manager Erik ten Hag in January, who commented: "Casemiro is magnificent. In front of the back 👍 line, always taking good positions, in and out of position. And he can deal with the ball, he can give 👍 the right pass. So, he can accelerate the game and if necessary, he can score."[49] On 4 February, Casemiro was 👍 given a red card for violent conduct during a match against Crystal Palace for putting his hands around the neck 👍 of Will Hughes during a confrontation which also saw Antony and Jeffrey Schlupp receive yellow cards. This resulted in a 👍 three-match domestic ban; United would go on to win the match 2–1.[50] On 26 February, Man Utd won the EFL 👍 Cup, Casemiro's first trophy at the club and United's first trophy since 2024, with Casemiro scoring the opening goal in 👍 the 33rd minute of the 2–0 victory against Newcastle United in the final. His performance also earned him the Alan 👍 Hardaker Trophy. On 12 March, Casemiro was given a red card for a tackle on Carlos Alcaraz in a match 👍 against Southampton where referee Anthony Taylor overturned his initial yellow card decision for a straight red card after a VAR 👍 review, and Casemiro received a four match suspension; Man Utd would go on to draw the match 0–0.[51] Casemiro would 👍 be the only player of the 2024–23 Premier League to receive 2 red cards, and the only Man Utd player 👍 to receive a red card for that season.[52]
On 20 September 2024, he scored a brace in a 4–3 defeat against 👍 Bayern Munich on his 100th appearance in European competitions, in the opening match of the 2024–24 Champions League season.[53]
International career 👍 [ edit ]
Youth teams [ edit ]
Casemiro scored one goal in seven appearances for the Brazil under-17 team.[54] He played 👍 for the Brazil under-20 team at the 2011 South American U-20 Championship and the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup,[55] scoring 👍 three goals in 15 appearances in total at this level.[54]
Senior team [ edit ]
Casemiro playing for Brazil in 2024
Casemiro made 👍 his debut for the Brazil senior team on 14 September 2011, in a 0–0 draw against Argentina, aged 19.[56] He 👍 was named by manager Dunga in the Brazilian squad for the 2024 Copa América, but did not play any matches 👍 in the quarter-final exit in Chile.[57]
On 5 May 2024, he was named among the 23-man list for the Copa América 👍 Centenario to be held in the United States.[58]
In May 2024, Casemiro was selected by manager Tite for the 2024 FIFA 👍 World Cup in Russia.[59] He made his debut in the competition on 17 June, playing 60 minutes in a 1–1 👍 group stage draw to Switzerland.[60]
In May 2024, he was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2024 Copa América on 👍 home soil.[61] In the final group game at the Arena Corinthians against Peru, he scored his first international goal to 👍 open a 5–0 victory, but was also sent off for two yellow cards and suspended from the next match.[62] He 👍 started in Brazil's 3–1 victory over Peru in the 2024 Copa América Final on 7 July, at the Maracanã Stadium.[63]
He 👍 was named to the 2024 Copa América squad on 9 June 2024.[64] In Brazil's third group match on 23 June, 👍 he scored the match–winning goal following a Neymar corner in injury time, to help his team defeat Colombia 2–1.[65] On 👍 10 July, he started in his nation's 1–0 defeat to rivals Argentina in the final.[66]
On 7 November 2024, Casemiro was 👍 named in the squad for the 2024 World Cup in Qatar.[67] On 28 November, he scored the winning goal in 👍 the second group match against Switzerland.[68] Brazil were eliminated by Croatia in the quarter-finals on 9 December, following a 4–2 👍 penalty shoot-out loss after a 1–1 draw following extra-time, although Casemiro was able to net his spot kick.[69]
Style of play 👍 [ edit ]
Casemiro mainly plays as a defensive midfielder,[70] although he has also been deployed in anchor man role in 👍 the centre of the pitch,[71][72] or even as a centre-back on occasion.[73] Casemiro is an intelligent, physically strong, mobile, aggressive, 👍 and hard-tackling midfielder, with an extremely high work-rate and good technical ability.[74][72][75][76] While he is mainly known for his ability 👍 to provide balance to his teams by supporting his more offensive-minded teammates defensively, and distributing the ball to them accurately 👍 after winning back possession, he is also a well-rounded midfielder, who possesses a powerful shot from outside the penalty area, 👍 and reliable distribution, as well as an ability to get forward with his runs off the ball, or start attacks 👍 with his passing. These characteristics also enable him to contribute offensively, or even score goals, in addition to breaking up 👍 plays.[72][77][78][79][80][81] Moreover, his quick reactions, as well as his excellent positional sense, ability to read the game, and good anticipation, 👍 enable him to excel in a holding midfield role in front of the defence, by cutting out counter-attacks and shielding 👍 the back-line.[72][74][82][83][84]
Often described as a "destroyer" in the media,[85] he has drawn praise from pundits for his energetic and combative 👍 style of play,[86][87][88] as well as his tactical awareness and abilities as a ball winner, which enable him to cover 👍 ground, track back, and press opponents.[77][81][83][89][90][91] His tenacity on the pitch, exemplified by his fierce challenges and stamina,[92] have led 👍 Marca to nickname him "The Tank."[93] In addition to his footballing abilities, he also stands out for his competitive spirit, 👍 mentality, consistency, and determination on the pitch.[74][94] Despite maintaining a good disciplinary record, he has, however, also come into criticism 👍 in the media at times over his excessively aggressive challenges on the pitch.[95] Casemiro's playing style has drawn comparisons with 👍 that of former Real Madrid defensive midfielder Claude Makélélé,[74] as well as compatriot Toninho Cerezo.[79]
Career statistics [ edit ]
Club [ 👍 edit ]
As of match played 1 November 2024
International [ edit ]
As of match played 17 October 2024[100]
Appearances and goals by 👍 national team and year National team Year Apps Goals Brazil 2011 1 0 2012 4 0 2013 0 0 2014 👍 2 0 2024 2 0 2024 4 0 2024 7 0 2024 12 0 2024 14 3 2024 2 0 👍 2024 11 1 2024 10 2 2024 6 1 Total 75 7
As of match played 17 October 2024 Scores and 👍 results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Casemiro goal[100]
Honours [ edit ]
São Paulo
Real Madrid
Manchester United
Brazil 👍 U17
Brazil U20
Brazil
Individual
