João Paulo

Bari

João Paulo joined Italian club Bari in 1989, and formed a formidable striking partnership with Pietro Maiellaro and later with Romanian Florin Raducioiu. After scoring six goals in 33 Serie A matches in the 1989–90 season, he would score 12 times in the 1990–1991 season, the most memorable of which was a double against A.C. Milan on the penultimate round of the season, thus sealing the title for another club, Sampdoria, which won its first ever (and so far the only) Serie A title in that club's history. He started the following season brightly and was on his usually excellent form. But in their third match at home to Sampdoria, in torrential rain, his leg was broken by defender Marco Lanna in a tackle along the sidelines which ended his season. It took him an entire year to recover and he stayed on with Bari after its relegation to Serie B for two more seasons until 1994.

João Paulo also played for the Brazil national team, scoring twice (one goal apiece against Uruguay, and in the notorious match against Argentina) in the Copa América in 1991. He also competed for Brazil at the 1988 Summer Olympics.

Club

International

Born in Francisco Beltrão, Paraná, João Paulo graduated from São Caetano's youth setup. A versatile two-footed central midfielder, he signed with the Japanese club Albirex Niigata in August 2010. After an unsuccessful stint in Japan, João Paulo returned to Brazil and signed for Ponte Preta in March 2011. After appearing regularly for Macaca he moved to Atlético Paranaense on 6 July 2012.

Honnors

Bari Mitropa Cup: 1989-90 Guarani Campeonato Brasileiro Série A runner-up: 1986 Campeonato Paulista runner-up: 1988 Brazil Pan American Games: 1987 Summer Olympics silver medal: 1988 Copa América runner-up : 1991