Diego Tardelli

Early career

Born in Santa Bárbara d'Oeste, São Paulo, Tardelli began his career at a company club in Curitiba called Partner Football. He was loaned to Santos in 2000, but was released after trying to steal chocolate milk from the club's cafeteria. He subsequently joined hometown side União Barbarense, where he impressed enough to move to São Paulo in 2003. At the latter club, Tardelli was initially known as Dinei, a former forward of Corinthians, as he also painted his hair of a blond color.

São Paulo

Tardelli made his first team debut for São Paulo on 9 July 2003, coming on as a second-half substitute for Rico in a 2–0 Série A away win over Coritiba. He scored his first goal four days later, netting his team's second in a 3–1 win at Fluminense. Tardelli subsequently established himself as a regular starter but was separated from the squad in 2004 for 45 days after arriving late for a training session. He returned to the squad after manager Cuca was replaced by Émerson Leão, and started the 2005 season with ten goals in the first ten matches of the club. After Leão left for the Japanese football, Tardelli's form dropped and he was again separated from the squad in October 2005, after arriving drunk on a training session.

Loans to Betis, São Caetano and PSV

On 12 December 2005, Tardelli agreed to a loan move to La Liga side Real Betis for the remainder of the 2005–06 campaign. He made his debut abroad the following 11 January, starting in a 0–0…

Tardelli was called up by Brazilian coach Dunga on 28 July 2009 for a friendly match against Estonia in Tallinn on 12 August. This was his first ever call up to the Brazil national team. On 11 May 2010, he was called up to the 2010 FIFA World Cup squad as one of the seven backup players. In October 2013, in a great shape playing for Atlético Mineiro, Tardelli said on being left out from manager Luiz Felipe Scolari international squad, "Now, again, football professionals have asked my calling up. I did not give up yet, I keep working, who knows about Brazilian team is Felipão [Scolari] or who is inside there can watch my phase." On 11 October 2014, in the 2014 Superclásico de las Américas in Beijing, he scored both goals of a 2–0 victory against Argentina. On 28 May 2015, Tardelli was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América by coach Dunga. On 15 October 2017, he was called by manager Tite to games against Bolivia and Chile.

Club

As of 10 December 2021

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.

São Paulo

Campeonato Paulista: 2005 Copa Libertadores: 2005 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2007 PSV

Eredivisie: 2006–07 Flamengo

Taça Guanabara: 2008 Campeonato Carioca: 2008 Atlético Mineiro

Campeonato Mineiro: 2010, 2013, 2020, 2021 Copa Libertadores: 2013 Recopa Sudamericana: 2014 Copa do Brasil: 2014 Al-Gharafa

Emir of Qatar Cup: 2012 Shandong Luneng

Chinese FA Super Cup: 2015 Grêmio

Campeonato Gaúcho: 2019 Brazil

Superclásico de las Américas: 2014 Individual

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2009, 2014 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A top goalscorer: 2009 Arthur Friedenreich Award: 2009