Ricardo Oliveira

Portuguesa

Born in São Paulo, Oliveira joined Corinthians' youth setup in 1997. After being released by the club in 1999, he moved to Portuguesa, being promoted to the first team in the following year. Oliveira made his professional debut on 24 September 2000, coming on as a second-half substitute and scoring the game's only in a Copa João Havelange home win against Sport Club do Recife. He scored 23 goals over the course of three seasons in the Série A and, in March 2001, equalled a club record by netting in seven consecutive matches.

Santos

In early 2003, Oliveira moved to Santos, although this was disputed in a sports court. He scored in the group and knockout stages of the 2003 Copa Libertadores, and he appeared in both legs of the final, although his team lost to Boca Juniors.

Valencia

On 31 July 2003, Oliveira moved to Spain and joined Valencia CF, signing a five-year contract with Santos retaining part-ownership. Under the guidance of Rafael Benítez he scored eight La Liga goals in 21 games, including a fantastic long-range effort at FC Barcelona in a 1–0 win in October, netting a hat-trick the following month at RCD Mallorca (5–0 victory). The Che were eventually crowned national champions, adding that season's UEFA Cup.

Betis

After one season, Oliveira joined Real Betis for a reported fee of €4 million. He scored a career-best 22 league goals in 37 appearances as the club reached the UEFA Champions League for the first time ever…

Oliveira made his debut for the Brazil national team against the Catalan XI on 25 May 2004, scoring in a 5–1 win. The game was not considered an official friendly match by FIFA. He was subsequently included in the squad for the 2004 Copa América, winning his first cap on 8 July 2004 against Paraguay. During the event he also scored his first international goal, in the quarter-final match against Mexico on the 18th, as Brazil went on to win the cup. Subsequently, Oliveira became a regular as a cover for Adriano, Robinho and Ronaldo. He was also included in the squad for the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, only missing out on the 2006 FIFA World Cup due to injury with Betis. After a one-year absence from the national team, new national coach Dunga recalled Oliveira for a friendly match with Switzerland on 15 November 2006. On 24 September 2015, exactly 15 years after his professional debut and eight after his last cap, he was called up as a replacement to injured Roberto Firmino for the first two matches of the 2018 World Cup qualification campaign against Chile and Venezuela, starting in the latter and scoring his side's last in a 3–1 win in Fortaleza. Oliveira scored again on 29 March 2016, netting his side's first in a 2–2 2018 World Cup qualification draw with Paraguay. On 5 May he was named among the 23-man list for the Copa América Centenario to be held in the United States, but was replaced by Jonas on 21 May due to injury.

Club

International

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

Valencia

La Liga: 2003–04 UEFA Cup: 2003–04 Betis

Copa del Rey: 2004–05 São Paulo

Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2006 AC Milan

UEFA Champions League: 2006–07 Al Jazira

UAE Pro League: 2010–11 UAE President's Cup: 2010–11, 2011–12 UAE League Cup: 2009–10 Santos

Campeonato Paulista: 2015, 2016 Brazil

Copa América: 2004 FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005 Individual

Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2015 Campeonato Paulista Best Player: 2015 Chuteira de Ouro: 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Top scorer: 2015 Best Forward in Brazil: 2015, 2016