Diego Souza

As of 23 February 2016

Early career

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Souza began playing club football for Fluminense in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. In May 2005, he signed a five-year deal with Portugal's Benfica. That July he was loaned to Fluminense's rivals Flamengo – the club he supported as a child – until May 2006, with his wages to be split between Benfica and Flamengo. Souza was loaned for the year 2007 to Grêmio. In May that year, Benfica set a fee of €4 million (R$11 million) if the move were to be made permanent. In that year's Copa Libertadores, he scored in wins over compatriots São Paulo (quarter-final) and Santos (semi-final) as his team finished runners-up.

Palmeiras

In 2008, he moved to Palmeiras (and partner) for €3.75 million total fee. He signed a contract until December 2011. Co-currently, along with Lenny, Fluminense transferred its shares on both players' economic rights to Desportivo Brasil (owned by Traffic Group) as part of the deal, made Fluminense gained a profit of R$ 1,320 thousand and R$1,500 thousand respectively. Both players were signed by Palmeiras as part of R$40 million partnership with Traffic, which Palmeiras only owned 10~20% of the rights of Diego. On 18 April 2009, he received a red card after an argument with Domingos during the state semi finals match against Santos. He later took Domingos down after coming back to the field.

Atlético Mineiro

On 30 June 2010, Atlético Mineiro's president Alexandre Kalil announced the signing of…

Souza was part of the Brazil U-23 side in 2007 under coach Dunga. He was in the winning squad of Brazil U-17 at the 2001 South American Under 17 Football Championship in Peru. He played twice in 2005 FIFA World Youth Championship. In September 2009, Souza was called up for the first time to the senior national team, by coach Dunga for a game against Chile in 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification. He made his debut against Bolivia on 11 October in another qualifier, being replaced at half time by Alex Raphael Meschini in a 2–1 loss in La Paz; it was the nation's first defeat in 16 months. He did not return to the team until 28 September 2011, when he came on as a 68th-minute substitute for Lucas Moura in a 2–0 win over Argentina in the Superclásico de las Américas. Following his first two caps, Souza had to wait over five years for another opportunity in January 2017, when Tite selected him for a friendly against Colombia based on his form for Sport Recife, and he retained his place for World Cup qualifiers that year. On 13 June that year he scored his first international goals in a 4–0 win over Australia at the Melbourne Cricket Ground, in the eleventh second and in added time.

Club

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Diego Souza goal.

Palmeiras

Brazilian Série B: 2003

Fluminense

Campeonato Carioca: 2005 Primeira Liga: 2016 Flamengo

Copa do Brasil: 2006 Grêmio

Campeonato Gaúcho: 2007, 2020, 2021, 2022, 2023 Recopa Gaúcha: 2021, 2022, 2023 Copa do Brasil runner-up: 2020 Palmeiras

Campeonato Paulista: 2008 Vasco da Gama

Copa do Brasil: 2011 Sport

Ariano Suassuna Trophy: 2017 Campeonato Pernambucano: 2017 International

Superclásico de las Américas: 2011 Individual

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2008, 2009, 2011 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Player: 2009 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top scorer: 2016