Brazilian footballer
For other people named Paulinho, see Paulinho
Bezerra and the second or paternal family name is Maciel.
"Júnior" is a In❤️ this Portuguese name , the first or maternal family name isand the second or paternal family name isis a generational❤️ suffix used for someone whose name is the same as their father, like "Jr." in English.
José Paulo Bezerra Maciel Júnior❤️ (born 25 July 1988), known as Paulinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Sport Club❤️ Corinthians Paulista.
He is also a former Brazil international, making 56 caps between 2011 and 2018.
Club career [ edit ]
Early career❤️ [ edit ]
Paulinho began his playing career with Pão de Açúcar, joining the youth squad in 2004.
After failing to break❤️ through into the first team, Paulinho joined Lithuanian side FC Vilnius in 2006.
He played well for the club during his❤️ two seasons in Lithuania, scoring five goals from 38 domestic appearances, but at the end of the 2007 LFF Lyga❤️ campaign, FC Vilnius were relegated to the second division and Paulinho left the club where he moved to Poland, signing❤️ for Ekstraklasa side ŁKS Łódź.
[4] Following one season in Poland where Paulinho made 17 league appearances, he returned to Brazil❤️ and his first club Pão de Açúcar in the summer of 2008.
After a single successful season, Paulinho was on the❤️ move again, joining Série B side Bragantino in 2009.[5]
Corinthians [ edit ]
Paulinho playing for Corinthians in 2012
In 2009, playing for❤️ Bragantino, he drew the attention of São Paulo giants Corinthians, and was signed by the club.
His first league goal for❤️ the club came on 30 May 2010, coming off the bench to score Corinthians's fourth goal, sealing a 4–2 win❤️ over state rivals Santos.
[6] He would eventually go on to win important competitions with the São Paulo side, such as❤️ the 2011 Brasileirão and the 2012 Copa Libertadores, cementing himself as a hero for his club.
[7] Along the way to❤️ the Copa Libertadores final, Paulinho netted the only goal of the two-legged quarter-final tie against fellow Brazilian side Vasco da❤️ Gama, scoring in the 87th minute of the second leg on 23 May 2012 to send Corinthians into the semi-finals.[8]
On❤️ 10 November 2012, Paulinho struck twice as Corinthians cruised to a 5–1 victory over Coritiba in the 35th round of❤️ league play.
[9] On 16 December, Paulinho and Corinthians won the Club World Cup in Yokohama as Paolo Guerrero scored the❤️ winner in the 1–0 victory over European champions Chelsea.[10]
Tottenham Hotspur [ edit ]
On 6 July 2013, Premier League club Tottenham❤️ Hotspur confirmed the signing of Paulinho after he successfully completed his medical for a fee reported to be just under❤️ £17 million.
[11] This was the club's record transfer fee at the time.
However, in the same transfer window, this record was❤️ broken twice with the signings of striker Roberto Soldado from Valencia and winger Erik Lamela from Roma for a deal❤️ worth an initial £25.
8 million, plus up to £4.
2 million in bonus payments.
[12] He made his Premier League debut on❤️ 18 August 2013 against Crystal Palace, eventually being named Man of the Match in which Tottenham won 1–0 away thanks❤️ to a Roberto Soldado penalty.
[13] On 22 August, he scored his first goal for the club in a Europa League❤️ qualification match against Dinamo Tbilisi, a 5–0 away victory in the first-leg.
[14] He scored his first goal for the club❤️ in the Premier League on 22 September 2013 against Cardiff City, a 1–0 away victory, with a backheel in the❤️ 92nd minute of the game.[15]
Guangzhou Evergrande [ edit ]
On 30 June 2015, Paulinho joined Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande❤️ for €14 million (£9.
9 million), signing a four-year deal.
He was signed by his former international manager, Luiz Felipe Scolari.
[16][17] On❤️ 11 July 2015, he made his debut in a 2–0 away victory against Changchun Yatai, coming on as a substitute❤️ for Yu Hanchao in the 78th minute.
[18] On 25 August 2015, Paulinho scored his first goal for Guangzhou with a❤️ 35-yard free-kick in the first leg of a 2015 AFC Champions League knock-out stage match against Japanese side Kashiwa Reysol.
[19]❤️ On 13 December 2015, Paulinho scored a header against Club América in the third and final minute of the added-time❤️ in the quarter-final in the 2015 FIFA Club World Cup, making the game 2–1 and putting Evergrande into the semi-final.
[20]❤️ In January 2017, Paulinho extended his contract with Guangzhou until 31 December 2020.
[21][22]Barcelona [ edit ]
On 14 August 2017, Barcelona❤️ announced a deal with Guangzhou Evergrande for the purchase of Paulinho for €40 million.
[23] According to Guangzhou Evergrande, Barcelona made❤️ several unsuccessful bids before activating his release clause.
[24] On 26 August 2017, he made his debut for Barcelona in a❤️ 2–0 win over Alavés, coming on for Andrés Iniesta in the 87th minute.
[25] On 16 September 2017, he scored his❤️ first goal for Barcelona in a 2–1 win over Getafe, after coming on for Ivan Rakitić in the 77th minute.
[26]❤️ On 28 October, Paulinho scored in a 2–0 win against Athletic Bilbao with a 92nd-minute goal.
[27] His consistent performance earned❤️ him a place as a starter in the squad.
Paulinho ended the year with a brace against Deportivo de La Coruña.[28]
On❤️ 7 January, in Barcelona's first match of the year, Paulinho scored the third goal in a 3–0 win, scoring in❤️ injury time.
[29] On 15 January 2018, he scored the first goal in Barcelona's 4–2 win over Real Sociedad at the❤️ Anoeta Stadium that ended the club's 10-year long victory drought at the stadium.
[30][31] On 9 May, Paulinho scored the second❤️ goal in Barcelona's 5–1 win over Villarreal.
[32][33] Paulinho received praise for his performances throughout the season; becoming one of Barcelona's❤️ key players as they won the domestic double.
[34] He finished the season with 9 goals in 49 appearances.[35]
Return to Guangzhou❤️ Evergrande [ edit ]
On 8 July 2018, Guangzhou Evergrande re-signed Paulinho on a one-year loan deal.
[36] The club also agreed❤️ an option to purchase Paulinho after the loan expires.
[37] He made his return debut on 18 July, playing the whole❤️ match in a 4–0 home win over Guizhou Hengfeng.
[38] On 29 July, he scored on his second league match in❤️ a 5–0 home win over Chongqing Dangdai Lifan.[39]
On 4 January 2019, Guangzhou Evergrande exercised the purchase option and signed Paulinho❤️ for €42 million.[40]
On 21 June 2021, he was released from his contract after mutual agreement due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[41]
On❤️ 22 July 2021, Paulinho joined Saudi Professional League side Al-Ahli.[42]
On 18 September 2021, he terminated his contract with the club,❤️ citing "inability to provide the desired addition to the team" as the reason.[43]
Return to Corinthians [ edit ]
On 1 January❤️ 2022, Paulinho returned to Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Corinthians on a free transfer.
International career [ edit ]
Early career [❤️ edit ]
Paulinho made his debut for the Seleção on 14 September 2011 in the first leg of the 2011 Superclásico❤️ de las Américas against rivals Argentina in Córdoba, with the game ending in a goalless draw.
[44] His first goal for❤️ his international side came against Argentina a year later on 20 September 2012, when he netted Brazil's equalizing goal in❤️ an eventual 2–1 in the first leg of the 2012 Superclásico de las Américas.[45]
2013 Confederations Cup [ edit ]
Paulinho was❤️ selected by Luiz Felipe Scolari for the 23-man Brazil squad for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup held in his home❤️ country.
[46] In Brazil's final warm-up match for the competition against England at the Maracanã on 2 June 2013, Paulinho volleyed❤️ home Lucas Moura's cross to level the game late on at 2–2; the sides would finish level on this same❤️ scoreline.
[47] In the opening group match on 15 June against Japan, Paulinho scored Brazil's second goal in a 3–0 victory.
[48]❤️ In the semi-final round against Uruguay on 26 June, Paulinho netted in the 86th minute to give Brazil a 2–1❤️ win and book the host country a spot in the final.
[49] In the final, Brazil outclassed Spain, beating the World❤️ and two-time defending European champions by a score of 3–0.
For his efforts throughout the tournament, Paulinho received the Bronze Ball❤️ as the competition's third best player.[50]
2014 World Cup [ edit ]
Paulinho started in Brazil's 5–0 friendly win against South Africa❤️ on 5 March 2014.
[51] On 2 June, he was named in manager Scolari's 23-man squad that would participate at the❤️ 2014 World Cup on home soil.
[52] On 8 July, he appeared as a second-half substitute in the 7–1 semi-final defeat❤️ to eventual champions Germany.
[53] Four days later, he started in the bronze medal match against the Netherlands, which ended in❤️ a 3–0 loss.[54]
2018 World Cup [ edit ]
In the qualifiers for the 2018 World Cup Paulinho scored his first ever❤️ career hat-trick in a match away against Uruguay.
Brazil had initially gone behind but came back for their first time anyone❤️ had won in Uruguay since the qualifying round had started.
[55][56] In May 2018 he was named in Tite's final 23❤️ man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.
[57] On 27 June, he scored in Brazil's final group match,❤️ a 2–0 win over Serbia, to send his team through to the knock-out stages of the competition.[58]
Style of play [❤️ edit ]
A quick, hard-working, and energetic midfielder,[59][60] Paulinho has been described as a box-to-box midfielder, with powerful running and good❤️ movement into the box.
He also offers a useful presence in set piece situations at both ends of the pitch.
[61] Possessing❤️ good feet, physical strength, good ball-winning abilities, and an eye for goal from midfield, as well as a strong positional❤️ sense and an ability to start attacking plays after breaking down possession, he is a well-rounded player who is capable❤️ of playing in several midfield positions, and has also been used as a central or defensive midfielder.[59][60][62]
Career statistics [ edit❤️ ]Club [ edit ]
As of 23 March 2023[63][64]
International [ edit ]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
As of 20❤️ November 2018[65]
National team Year Apps Goals Brazil 2011 1 0 2012 7 2 2013 16 3 2014 8 0 2015❤️ 0 0 2016 5 1 2017 9 5 2018 10 2 Total 56 13
[65] Scores and results list Brazil's goal❤️ tally first.
Honours [ edit ]Corinthians
Guangzhou Evergrande[64]Barcelona[69]BrazilIndividual
