Hulk

Early career

Born in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Hulk started playing professionally with Esporte Clube Vitória in Salvador, Bahia, where he signed his first professional contract with the club at age 16. While progressing through the Esporte Clube Vitória's youth system, Hulk played in a left winger, midfielder, forward and fullback. Hulk then went on loan to Japan to play for Kawasaki Frontale after catching the eye of a representative from Kawasaki Frontale. Despite having been purchased on 15 January 2006, Hulk was loaned to second division Consadole Sapporo, effective on 1 February, where he played all the 2006 season and scored 25 goals, one less than the top scorer. In 2007, he was loaned again to a second division team, Tokyo Verdy, where he was even more effective, scoring 37 goals in 42 matches and being the top goal scorer of the season. He briefly returned to Kawasaki in 2008 and rejoined Verdy after only 18 matches.

Porto

After Hulk's stay in Japan, he moved to Portugal to join defending champions Porto, who purchased 50% of his playing rights for €5.5 million from Uruguayan side Rentistas, with the transfer fee being received by an unnamed investor. When Moroccan teammate Tarik Sektioui suffered an injury, Hulk was given an opportunity to play forward and scored his first official domestic league goal for Porto in a 2–0 home win against C.F. Os Belenenses, later adding against F.C. Paços de Ferreira (same venue and result), both as a second-half…

Hulk made his debut for Brazil on 14 November 2009 in a friendly match against England in Doha, as the Seleção managed a 1–0 victory. On 26 May 2012, he scored his first three international goals in a 3–1 win against Denmark at the Imtech Arena, Hamburg. On 9 June 2012, in a friendly with Argentina, Hulk scored in a 3–4 loss. In July, he was named as one of three overaged players for Mano Menezes' Brazilian squad for the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, and he appeared in all but one of the matches during the tournament, netting in the 1–2 final loss against Mexico. In June 2013, Hulk represented Brazil at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in every match as the team's starting right-winger, including the final, where Brazil defeated world champions Spain to win its fourth Confederations Cup title. At the 2014 World Cup, in the round of 16 match against Chile in Belo Horizonte, Hulk had a goal disallowed for a handball. In the shootout, he had his penalty saved by Claudio Bravo, although Brazil nonetheless advanced. Hulk was called up for the Copa América Centenario in 2016, making one appearance as a substitute in Brazil's group stage campaign. In August 2021, Hulk received his first call up to the national team in five years for 2022 World Cup qualifiers; he appeared as a substitute in a 2–0 win over Peru on 9 September.

A predominantly left-footed forward who could operate either centrally or from wide areas, Hulk combined a powerful physique with pace, ball-carrying ability and direct running. During his early career at Porto, The Guardian described him as fast and brave, with "a hammer of a left foot", while David Pleat noted his ability to shield the ball, turn towards defenders and move inside onto his stronger left foot. FIFA later highlighted his powerful shooting, pace and technical ability, describing him as a centre-forward or winger who could be difficult for defenders to stop. His long-range shooting and set-piece power became among his most recognisable attributes; UEFA noted a 35-metre free kick for Porto against Shakhtar Donetsk in 2011 as a powerful, swerving effort, and in 2023 ge reported that one of his free-kick goals for Atlético Mineiro was measured at 119 km/h.

Born and raised in Campina Grande, Paraíba, Hulk was the fourth of seven children and the fourth son born to his parents. He began to play football at three years old, thanks to his father. Hulk was previously married to Iran Angelo de Souza, whom he met in Japan. The pair married in 2007 before separating in July 2019. They have two sons, Ian and Tiago, and a daughter, Alice. After splitting from Iran, Hulk began dating her niece, Camila Angelo in October 2019. It was reported in March 2020 that Hulk had married Camila, in part due to her needing a visa to stay in China with Hulk. In April 2022 Camila gave birth to their first baby together, daughter Zaya. This means that she is Hulk's fourth child.