Leozinho (footballer, born 1998)

Leonardo Caetano Silva (born 5 December 1998), commonly known as Leozinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Ituano. He is a former futsal player who played as a winger.

Leozinho
Personal information
Full name Leonardo Caetano Silva
Date of birth (1998-12-05) 5 December 1998 (age 25)
Place of birth Petrópolis, Brazil
Height 1.73 m (5 ft 8 in)
Position(s) Forward
Team information
Current team
Ituano
Youth career
2017 Magnus Futsal (futsal)
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2017–2022 Magnus Futsal (futsal)
2023 Hercílio Luz 18 (3)
2024– Ituano 19 (1)
International career
2017–2018 Brazil U20 (futsal)
2018–2022 Brazil (futsal)
Medal record
Men's futsal
Representing  Brazil
South American U-20 Futsal Championship
Winner 2018 Peru
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 03:08, 13 September 2024 (UTC)

Early life

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Born in Petrópolis, Rio de Janeiro, Leozinho began his career with several futsal sides in his hometown.[1] In 2016, he spent a trial period at Flamengo and was approved at Tigres do Brasil, but the move fell through.[2] In the beginning of 2017, he was approved on a trial at Magnus Futsal.[3]

Futsal career

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After making his senior debut with Magnus in the later months of 2017,[2] Leozinho started to feature regularly for the club in the following years, being named Best Young Player in the World by Futsal Awards in 2019[4] and 2020.[5] He also started to play in the Brazil national futsal team in 2018.

In July 2022, Leozinho was separated from the squad,[6] later having his contract rescinded on 5 August.[7] In November, he announced in a podcast that he would leave futsal to play 11-a-side football.[8]

Football career

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Shortly after announcing his departure from futsal, Leozinho agreed to a deal with Mexican side Atlético San Luis,[9] but the move fell through. On 13 February 2023, he was announced at Hercílio Luz.[10]

Leozinho scored his first goal in football on 7 June 2023, netting the opener in a 2–2 Série D home draw against Caxias.[11] He left Hercílio on 3 November, after three goals in 22 matches.[12]

On 2 February 2024, Leozinho signed a one-year contract with Série B side Ituano, after a trial period.[13] After featuring in just one match in the 2024 Campeonato Paulista as the club suffered relegation, he subsequently started to feature more regularly under new head coach Alberto Valentim,[14] and scored his first goal for the club on 7 September, netting the winner in a 3–2 home success over Mirassol.[15]

Career statistics

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As of 12 September 2024[16]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State League National Cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Hercílio Luz 2023 Série D 13 3 5 0 4[a] 0 22 3
Ituano 2024 Série B 18 1 1 0 1 0 20 1
Career total 31 4 6 0 1 0 0 0 4 0 42 4
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Santa Catarina

Honours

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Magnus Futsal

Brazil U20 (futsal)

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Conheça Leozinho, o petropolitano eleito duas vezes como melhor do mundo no futsal" [Know Leozinho, the petropolitano chosen twice as best of the world in futsal] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Sou Petrópolis. 8 April 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  2. ^ a b "Corinthians x Magnus: Leozinho já jogou com Pedro, do Flamengo, e virou 'novo fenômeno' até para Falcão" [Corinthians v Magnus: Leozinho already played with Pedro, from Flamengo, and became a 'new phenomenom' even for Falcão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 13 December 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  3. ^ "Jogador de Petrópolis é aposta de time da Liga Nacional de Futsal" [Player from Petrópolis is a bet from a Liga Nacional de Futsal team] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Tribuna de Petrópolis. 10 May 2017. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  4. ^ "Petropolitano eleito melhor jovem jogador de futsal do mundo faz alerta: "Fiquem em casa"" [Petropolitano chosen the best young futsal player in the world warns: "Stay at home"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 31 March 2020. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  5. ^ "Leozinho, do Sorocaba, vence pela segunda vez prêmio de melhor jogador jovem de futsal do mundo" [Leozinho, from Sorocaba, wins for the second time the award of best young futsal player in the world] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 26 January 2021. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  6. ^ "Sorocaba afasta craque da seleção por suposta indisciplina" [Sorocaba put aside baller from the national team due to alleged indiscipline] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 27 July 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  7. ^ "Sorocaba Futsal rescinde contrato com Leozinho, da Seleção, por "divergência de atitudes e comportamentos"" [Sorocaba Futsal rescind contract with Leozinho, from the national team, due to "divergence of attitudes and behaviors"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 5 August 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Leozinho, ex-Magnus, anuncia saída do futsal para atuar no futebol de campo" [Leozinho, formerly of Magnus, announces departure from futsal to play in 11-a-side football] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Rádio Itatiaia. 15 November 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  9. ^ "El mejor jugador de fútbol sala del mundo ficha por la franquicia mexicana del Atlético" [The best futsal player of the world signs for the Atlético's Mexican affiliate] (in Spanish). Marca. 17 November 2022. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  10. ^ "Leozinho é anunciado por novo clube em 1ª aventura nos gramados após polêmicas no futsal; veja o destino" [Leozinho is announced by new club in 1st adventure on the fields after controversies in futsal; see the destination] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 13 February 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  11. ^ "Astro do futsal, Leozinho marca seu primeiro gol no campo pelo Hercílio Luz" [Futsal star, Leozinho scores his first goal in the fields for Hercílio Luz] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Sul Agora. 8 June 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  12. ^ "Ex-melhor do mundo de futsal, Leozinho anuncia saída do Hercílio Luz, de futebol de campo" [Former best futsal player in the world, Leozinho announces departure from Hercílio Luz, from 11-a-side football] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 3 November 2023. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  13. ^ "Ex-melhor do mundo sub-23 de futsal, Leozinho é oficializado como reforço do Ituano até o fim de 2024" [Former best under-23 futsal player in the world, Leozinho is officially announced as an addition of Ituano until the end of 2024] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 2 February 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  14. ^ "A evolução de Leozinho" [The evolution of Leozino] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Ituano FC. 2 May 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  15. ^ "Ex-craque do futsal, Leozinho marca primeiro gol na Série B e dá vitória ao Ituano: "Estava ansioso"" [Former futsal star, Leozinho scores first goal in the Série B and gives the win to Ituano: "I was anxious"] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge. 8 September 2024. Retrieved 12 September 2024.
  16. ^ Leozinho at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 September 2024.