Gilberto da Silva Melo

Born in Rio de Janeiro, Gilberto started his career in his native Brazil, playing for América-RJ, Flamengo and Cruzeiro. He moved for one season to Italian club Internazionale. However, he soon left for Vasco da Gama. He also played with Grêmio and São Caetano.

Hertha BSC

Gilberto returned to Europe in 2004 with Germany club Hertha BSC. He played four years at this club. Gilberto combined a successful defense with permanent participation in the attacks from the left winger position. He had fast speed and good shot, and often threatened the goal, scoring six goals at the first season as a left back. In his first two seasons in Germany, Hertha finished fourth in the 2004–05 season and finished sixth in the following season.

Tottenham Hotspur

Gilberto signed for Tottenham Hotspur from Hertha on 31 January 2008. After an initial period out injured, he made his Spurs debut against PSV in the UEFA Cup on 6 March 2008, but was replaced by Jamie O'Hara at half-time, after he had made a mistake that allowed PSV to score the game's only goal. Spurs manager Juande Ramos stated after the match that Gilberto was substituted not because of the error, but rather because he is still recovering from his calf injury. Nevertheless, in playing, he became the first Brazilian to play for Spurs at first-team level, with their previous Brazilian players Rodrigo Defendi and Diego Bortolozzo only featuring in the reserve team. In Spurs' next game, Gilberto came on as a substitute…

In 1998 was the first time that Gilberto had training with the national team, after a successful season. He played for Brazil in the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany and scored against Japan in the group stage, his first goal for the national side, having made his debut for the team against Nigeria on 11 June 2003. Gilberto also featured as Brazil's first choice left back in the Copa America 2007. Due to club performance, he lost his place on the national team to Kléber, and then to André Santos, which both of them selected to 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and left Gilberto out. However, he has been called up in February 2010 to a friendly match against Republic of Ireland since returned to Brazil. But he played as unused bench as Michel Bastos's backup. Moreover, most of the 22-men squad for the Ireland match (except Adriano and Carlos Eduardo), plus Elano, Luís Fabiano (who both pull out from the friendly by injury) and Heurelho Gomes, became the provisional 23-men squad for the 2010 FIFA World Cup. And 7 more players were call-up as backup players. He played twice for the Seleção at the tournament, both as sub, including the match losing to the Netherlands in the quarter-finals. After the dismiss of Dunga, he never received any call-up again, and one year later, in 2011 he retired from the international football.

International

Score and result list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Gilberto goal.

Flamengo

Campeonato Carioca: 1996 Copa de Oro: 1996 Cruzeiro

Minas Gerais State Championship: 1998, 2011 Vasco da Gama

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2000 Copa Mercosur: 2000 São Caetano

Campeonato Paulista: 2004 Brazil

FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005 Copa América: 2007 Lunar New Year Cup: 2005