Maxi Pereira

Defensor

Born in Montevideo, Pereira was known by the nickname "Mono" (Monkey) in his homeland. He began playing football as a forward at C.A. Bella Vista before moving to Defensor Sporting where he re-adapted as a midfielder; he dealt in his early years with homesickness and the death of his father. Pereira made his professional debut as an 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 scoring a career-best 12 goals in the Primera División of 2005–06. After the 2006–07 campaign, Defensor lost both gems as González was transferred to Boca Juniors and Pereira went to S.L. Benfica, accompanied by countryman Cristian Rodríguez; the Primeira Liga club signed the player for €3 million and 70% of his rights.

Benfica

In his first year in Portugal, Pereira was initially played as a right midfielder, failing to adjust to that position. He did score in two consecutive home games in November 2007, in a 6–1 league thrashing of Boavista F.C. and in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League 1–1 draw against AC Milan, with his left foot from outside the box. Pereira switched to right-back the following campaign after Nélson Marcos moved to Real Betis, and became ever-present. In 2009–10, as Benfica won the league after five years – adding the Taça da Liga – he appeared in 37 competitive matches, scoring four goals in 2,932 minutes of action. On 17 December 2011, Pereira renewed…

A Uruguayan international since making his debut on 26 October 2005 in a friendly loss, away against Mexico, Pereira quickly became a regular for his 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 games and minutes for the eventual semi-finalists. In the quarter-finals against Ghana, he missed his penalty shootout attempt but the side eventually advanced to the next stage, where he scored his first goal as an international in a 3–2 loss to the Netherlands, 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 their 15th continental tournament. He played 14 times in qualification for the 2014 World Cup, scoring once in a 4–2 victory over Peru on 10 June 2012 and opening the scoring as his team won 5–0 away to Jordan in a play-off to qualify for the tournament, on 13 November of the following year. Pereira was the first player sent off in the finals in Brazil, receiving his marching orders in injury time of the opening 3–1 defeat to Costa Rica in Fortaleza after kicking Joel Campbell. He played a further two matches in the tournament, which ended for the Charrúas at the last-16 stage. On 28 March 2015, Pereira earned his 100th cap in a 1–0 friendly defeat of Morocco in Agadir, becoming only the second Uruguayan after Diego Forlán to reach the milestone. He played every…

Club

International

International goals

Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pereira goal.

Benfica

Primeira Liga: 2009–10, 2013–14, 2014–15 Taça de Portugal: 2013–14 Taça da Liga: 2008–09, 2009–10, 2010–11, 2011–12, 2013–14, 2014–15 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2014 UEFA Europa League runner-up: 2012–13, 2013–14 Porto

Primeira Liga: 2017–18 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2018 Taça de Portugal runner-up: 2015–16, 2018–19 Peñarol

Uruguayan Primera División: 2021 Uruguay

Copa América: 2011 Individual

Cosme Damião Awards – Footballer of the Year: 2012