Leonardo Lourenço Bastos
Encyclopedia
Leonardo Lourenço Bastos (born 6 July 1975 in Rio de Janeiro
), commonly known as Léo, is a Brazilian footballer
who currently plays as a defender
for Brazilian club Santos FC.
-based Americano FC gave Léo his professional debut in 1996, and the next year he moved to São Paulo
state side União São João. Two seasons later, he was bought by Palmeiras
, but within six months, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
released him without an appearance. Santos FC snapped up Léo and from July 2000 he became an integral part of their side, winning the fans' hearts with his pace, dribbles, and assists and gaining a first Brazil
cap in 2001, playing at the FIFA Confederations Cup
. In 2002, Léo and teammates Robinho
, Diego
, Elano, and Renato
helped Santos to the Brazil
ian title. A year later, they lost in the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Championship finals, but they regained the national title in 2004.
He began 2005 with Santos, helping them to the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. By then, he had played 201 games for Santos. During the summer transfer period, Léo was snapped up by Benfica, who brought him to Portugal
for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. Having made a Seleção comeback, helping them win the Confederations Cup – though he then dropped out of international reckoning – he was an immediate success in Portugal, helping them to the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League
quarter-finals. During the 2006–07 season, Léo was elected by Benfica fans as the best player of the squad, a fair MVP award, due to all his great plays and enormous performances.
He left Benfica on 14 January 2009 and went back to Brazil to rejoin Santos.
Léo earned his first cap for Brazil against Cameroon
.
Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
), commonly known as Léo, is a Brazilian footballer
Football in Brazil
Football is the most popular sport in Brazil. The Brazilian national football team has won the FIFA World Cup tournament a record 5 times, in 1958, 1962, 1970, 1994 and 2002, and is the only team to succeed in qualifying for every World Cup competition ever held. It is among the favourites to win...
who currently plays as a defender
Defender (football)
Within the sport of association football, a defender is an outfield player whose primary role is to prevent the opposition from attacking....
for Brazilian club Santos FC.
Career
Léo is a pacy left wing-back who is equally at home in attack and is best known for his incredible stamina. Rio de JaneiroRio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro , commonly referred to simply as Rio, is the capital city of the State of Rio de Janeiro, the second largest city of Brazil, and the third largest metropolitan area and agglomeration in South America, boasting approximately 6.3 million people within the city proper, making it the 6th...
-based Americano FC gave Léo his professional debut in 1996, and the next year he moved to São Paulo
São Paulo
São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil, the largest city in the southern hemisphere and South America, and the world's seventh largest city by population. The metropolis is anchor to the São Paulo metropolitan area, ranked as the second-most populous metropolitan area in the Americas and among...
state side União São João. Two seasons later, he was bought by Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras
Sociedade Esportiva Palmeiras is a Brazilian football club from São Paulo. The club was founded on August 26, 1914, as Palestra Italia but changed to the current name on September 14, 1942...
, but within six months, coach Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari
Luiz Felipe Scolari , ComIH , also known as Felipão in Brazil and Phil Scolari in the United Kingdom, is a World Cup-winning Brazilian football manager. He is currently the manager of Palmeiras. He served as the manager of the Portuguese national team from July 12, 2003 to June 30, 2008...
released him without an appearance. Santos FC snapped up Léo and from July 2000 he became an integral part of their side, winning the fans' hearts with his pace, dribbles, and assists and gaining a first Brazil
Brazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
cap in 2001, playing at the FIFA Confederations Cup
FIFA Confederations Cup
The FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
. In 2002, Léo and teammates Robinho
Robinho
Robson de Souza , more commonly known as Robinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who currently plays as second striker and winger for Serie A club AC Milan...
, Diego
Diego Ribas da Cunha
Diego Ribas da Cunha , commonly known as just Diego, is an international Brazilian footballer who plays for Atlético Madrid on loan from VfL Wolfsburg, as an attacking midfielder.-Santos:...
, Elano, and Renato
Renato Dirnei Florêncio
Renato Dirnei Florêncio Santos , simply Renato, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for Botafogo de Futebol e Regatas....
helped Santos to the Brazil
Brazil
Brazil , officially the Federative Republic of Brazil , is the largest country in South America. It is the world's fifth largest country, both by geographical area and by population with over 192 million people...
ian title. A year later, they lost in the Copa Libertadores and Brazilian Championship finals, but they regained the national title in 2004.
He began 2005 with Santos, helping them to the Copa Libertadores quarter-finals. By then, he had played 201 games for Santos. During the summer transfer period, Léo was snapped up by Benfica, who brought him to Portugal
Portugal
Portugal , officially the Portuguese Republic is a country situated in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula. Portugal is the westernmost country of Europe, and is bordered by the Atlantic Ocean to the West and South and by Spain to the North and East. The Atlantic archipelagos of the...
for an undisclosed fee on a three-year contract. Having made a Seleção comeback, helping them win the Confederations Cup – though he then dropped out of international reckoning – he was an immediate success in Portugal, helping them to the 2005–06 UEFA Champions League
UEFA Champions League
The UEFA Champions League, known simply the Champions League and originally known as the European Champion Clubs' Cup or European Cup, is an annual international club football competition organised by the Union of European Football Associations since 1955 for the top football clubs in Europe. It...
quarter-finals. During the 2006–07 season, Léo was elected by Benfica fans as the best player of the squad, a fair MVP award, due to all his great plays and enormous performances.
He left Benfica on 14 January 2009 and went back to Brazil to rejoin Santos.
Léo earned his first cap for Brazil against Cameroon
Cameroon national football team
The Cameroon national football team, nicknamed Les Lions Indomptables , is controlled by the Fédération Camerounaise de Football and is Africa's most successful side in FIFA world cup; having qualified for the FIFA World Cup six times – in 1982, 1990, 1994, 1998, 2002 and 2010– more than any...
.
Club
Santos-
- Campeonato BrasileiroCampeonato Brasileiro Série AThe Campeonato Brasileiro de Clubes da Série A , popularly known as the Brasileirão , is a professional football league at the top of the Brazilian football league system held annually since 1959. Contested by twenty clubs, it operates a system of promotion and relegation with the Série B...
: 2002, 2004 - Campeonato PaulistaCampeonato PaulistaThe Campeonato Paulista de Futebol Profissional da Primeira Divisão - Série A1, simply known as the Campeonato Paulista, is the top-flight professional football league in the Brazilian state of São Paulo. The league is contested between 20 clubs and typically lasts from January to April...
: 20102010 Campeonato Paulista- First leg :----- Second leg :----- Finals :-----Campeonato do Interior:- First leg :----- Second leg :----- Finals :----- External links :*...
, 2011 - Copa do BrasilCopa do BrasilThe Copa Kia do Brasil, commonly known as Copa do Brasil , is a knockout competition played by 64 association football teams, representing all 26 Brazilian states plus the Federal District...
: 20102010 Copa do BrasilThe 2010 Copa do Brasil was the 22nd edition of the Copa do Brasil, starting on February 10 and ended on August 4. It was contested by 64 teams, either qualified through their respective state championships or by the CBF Rankings... - Copa LibertadoresCopa Libertadores de AméricaThe Copa Santander Libertadores de América , known simply as the Copa Libertadores and originally known as the Copa Campeones de América , is an annual international club football competition organized by CONMEBOL since 1960...
: 20112011 Copa LibertadoresThe 2011 Copa Libertadores de América was the 52nd edition of the Copa Libertadores, CONMEBOL's premier international club tournament. It was held from January 25 to June 22 of the same year...
- Campeonato Brasileiro
International
BrazilBrazil national football team
The Brazil national football team represents Brazil in international men's football and is controlled by the Brazilian Football Confederation , the governing body for football in Brazil. They are a member of the International Federation of Association Football since 1923 and also a member of the...
-
- FIFA Confederations CupFIFA Confederations CupThe FIFA Confederations Cup is an association football tournament for national teams, currently held every four years by FIFA. It is contested by the winners of each of the six FIFA confederation championships , along with the FIFA World Cup winner and the host nation, to bring the number of teams...
: 20052005 FIFA Confederations Cup-Group B:---------------------Knockout stage:-Semi-finals:-----Third place playoff:-Final:-Awards:-Goal scorers:5 goals Adriano4 goals Luciano Figueroa John Aloisi Michael Ballack...
- FIFA Confederations Cup
Individual
- Bola de Prata: 2001, 2003, 2004
- Best Campeonato Paulista's Left-back: 2011
External links
- UEFA.com short bios.