Maximiliano Pereira
Encyclopedia
Victorio Maximiliano "Maxi" Pereira Páez (ˈmaksi peˈrejra; born 8 June 1984 in Montevideo
) is an Uruguay
an footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese first division. Mainly a right defender, he can occasionally appear as a midfielder
.
An Uruguayan international
on more than 60 occasions, Pereira represented the nation at the 2010 World Cup
and two Copa América
tournaments.
and Pereira went to Sport Lisboa e Benfica, accompanied by countryman Cristian Rodríguez
. The Lisbon
side signed the player for €
3 million and 70% of his rights.
In his first season, Pereira was initially played as a right midfielder
, failing to adjust to that position. He did net in two consecutive home games in November 2007, in a 6–1 league thrashing of Boavista FC, and in the Champions League 1–1 tie against A.C. Milan
, where he scored with his left foot from outside the box.
The following season, Pereira switched to right-back, after Nélson Marcos
moved to Real Betis
, and became an everpresent fixture during the Reds campaign. In 2009–10, as Benfica won the league after five years - adding the season's domestic League Cup - he appeared in a total of 40 games, scoring five goals in 2,932 minutes of action.
since 26 October 2005, in a friendly loss in Mexico
, Pereira quickly became a regular for the country, and represented it at the 2007 Copa América.
He was selected for the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
in South Africa
, playing all the matches and minutes for the eventual semfinalists: in the quarterfinals against Ghana
, he missed his penalty shootout attempt, but Uruguay eventually qualified for the next stage, where he scored his first goal as an international, in a 2–3 loss against Holland
, finding the net in the 91st minute.
Pereira was again an undisputed starter for Uruguay in the 2011 Copa América
held in Argentina, with the national team winning its 15th continental tournament.
| 1. || 6 July 2010 || Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
, South Africa || || 2–3 || 2–3 || 2010 FIFA World Cup
|}
Montevideo
Montevideo is the largest city, the capital, and the chief port of Uruguay. The settlement was established in 1726 by Bruno Mauricio de Zabala, as a strategic move amidst a Spanish-Portuguese dispute over the platine region, and as a counter to the Portuguese colony at Colonia del Sacramento...
) is an Uruguay
Uruguay
Uruguay ,officially the Oriental Republic of Uruguay,sometimes the Eastern Republic of Uruguay; ) is a country in the southeastern part of South America. It is home to some 3.5 million people, of whom 1.8 million live in the capital Montevideo and its metropolitan area...
an footballer who plays for S.L. Benfica in the Portuguese first division. Mainly a right defender, he can occasionally appear as a midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
.
An Uruguayan international
Uruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
on more than 60 occasions, Pereira represented the nation at the 2010 World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
and two Copa América
Copa América
The Copa América —previously known as South American Championship—is an international football competition contested between the men's national teams of CONMEBOL, the sport's continental governing body...
tournaments.
Club career
Pereira started playing professional football for Defensor Sporting, as a 18-year-old, early in the 2002–03 season. He took no time to adjust to the first team, being a crucial part alongside Álvaro González, and netting a career-best 16 goals in the first division in the 2005 season. After 2006–07, Defensor lost both gems, as González was transferred to Boca JuniorsBoca Juniors
Club Atlético Boca Juniors is an Argentine sports club based in La Boca neighborhood of Buenos Aires. It is best known for its professional football team, which currently plays in the Primera División....
and Pereira went to Sport Lisboa e Benfica, accompanied by countryman Cristian Rodríguez
Cristian Rodriguez
Cristian Gabriel Rodríguez Barotti is an Uruguayan footballer who plays for F.C. Porto in Portugal, mainly as a left winger....
. The Lisbon
Lisbon
Lisbon is the capital city and largest city of Portugal with a population of 545,245 within its administrative limits on a land area of . The urban area of Lisbon extends beyond the administrative city limits with a population of 3 million on an area of , making it the 9th most populous urban...
side signed the player for €
Euro
The euro is the official currency of the eurozone: 17 of the 27 member states of the European Union. It is also the currency used by the Institutions of the European Union. The eurozone consists of Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Luxembourg,...
3 million and 70% of his rights.
In his first season, Pereira was initially played as a right midfielder
Midfielder
A midfielder is an association football position. Some midfielders play a more defensive role, while others blur the boundaries between midfielders and forwards. The number of midfielders a team uses during a match may vary, depending on the team's formation and each individual player's role...
, failing to adjust to that position. He did net in two consecutive home games in November 2007, in a 6–1 league thrashing of Boavista FC, and in the Champions League 1–1 tie against A.C. Milan
A.C. Milan
Associazione Calcio Milan, commonly referred to as A.C. Milan or simply Milan , is a professional Italian football club based in Milan, Lombardy, that plays in the Serie A. Milan was founded in 1899 by English lace-maker Herbert Kilpin and businessman Alfred Edwards among others...
, where he scored with his left foot from outside the box.
The following season, Pereira switched to right-back, after Nélson Marcos
Nélson Marcos
Nélson Augusto Tomar Marcos , simply Nélson, is a Portuguese footballer of Cape Verdean descent who plays for Real Betis in Spain, as a right defender.-Early years:...
moved to Real Betis
Real Betis
Real Betis Balompié S.A.D. is a Spanish football club based in Seville, in the autonomous community of Andalusia. Founded on 12 September 1907, it currently plays in La Liga, holding home games at Estadio Benito Villamarín....
, and became an everpresent fixture during the Reds campaign. In 2009–10, as Benfica won the league after five years - adding the season's domestic League Cup - he appeared in a total of 40 games, scoring five goals in 2,932 minutes of action.
International career
An Uruguayan internationalUruguay national football team
The Uruguayan national football team represents Uruguay in international association football and is controlled by the Uruguayan Football Association, the governing body for football in Uruguay. The current head coach is Óscar Tabárez...
since 26 October 2005, in a friendly loss in Mexico
Mexico national football team
The Mexican national football team represents Mexico in association football and is governed by the Mexican Football Federation , the governing body for football in Mexico. Mexico's home stadium is the Estadio Azteca and their head coach is José Manuel de la Torre...
, Pereira quickly became a regular for the country, and represented it at the 2007 Copa América.
He was selected for the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
in South Africa
South Africa
The Republic of South Africa is a country in southern Africa. Located at the southern tip of Africa, it is divided into nine provinces, with of coastline on the Atlantic and Indian oceans...
, playing all the matches and minutes for the eventual semfinalists: in the quarterfinals against Ghana
Ghana national football team
The Ghana national football team, popularly known as the Black Stars, is the national association football team of Ghana and is controlled by the Ghana Football Association...
, he missed his penalty shootout attempt, but Uruguay eventually qualified for the next stage, where he scored his first goal as an international, in a 2–3 loss against Holland
Netherlands national football team
The Netherlands National Football Team represents the Netherlands in association football and is controlled by the Royal Dutch Football Association , the governing body for football in the Netherlands...
, finding the net in the 91st minute.
Pereira was again an undisputed starter for Uruguay in the 2011 Copa América
2011 Copa América
The 2011 Campeonato Sudamericano Copa América, better known as the 2011 Copa América or the Copa América Argentina 2011, was the 43rd edition of the Copa América, the main international football tournament for national teams in South America...
held in Argentina, with the national team winning its 15th continental tournament.
International goals
|-| 1. || 6 July 2010 || Cape Town Stadium, Cape Town
Cape Town
Cape Town is the second-most populous city in South Africa, and the provincial capital and primate city of the Western Cape. As the seat of the National Parliament, it is also the legislative capital of the country. It forms part of the City of Cape Town metropolitan municipality...
, South Africa || || 2–3 || 2–3 || 2010 FIFA World Cup
2010 FIFA World Cup
The 2010 FIFA World Cup was the 19th FIFA World Cup, the world championship for men's national association football teams. It took place in South Africa from 11 June to 11 July 2010...
|}
Club
- Benfica:
- Portuguese League: 2009–10
- Portuguese League Cup: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–112010–11 Taça da LigaThe 2010–11 Taça da Liga was the fourth edition of the portuguese Taça da Liga. The first matches were played on August 8, 2010. The final was scheduled on April 23, 2011 where Benfica beat Paços de Ferreira 2-1, and won their third title. The final was played at the Estadio Cidade de Coimbra,...