Carlos Rodrigo da Silva (born 21 November 1981), better known as Rodrigo Ninja, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a left back.

Rodrigo Ninja
Personal information
Full name Carlos Rodrigo da Silva
Date of birth (1981-11-21) 21 November 1981 (age 43)
Place of birth Campinas, Brazil
Height 1.71 m (5 ft 7 in)
Position(s) Left back
Youth career
Ponte Preta
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2002 Minaçu-GO
2002 Nacional-AM
2003–2004 Gama
2004 Novo Horizonte-GO
2005 Cianorte
2005 Vila Aurora
2005 CENE
2006 Joinville
2006–2007 Gama
2007 Çaykur Rizespor
2008 São Caetano
2008 Gama
2009 Ponte Preta
2009 América de Natal
2009 Bragantino
2010 Mixto
2010 Rio Branco-SP
2011 Veranópolis
2011 Ituiutaba
2011–2012 Metropolitano
2012–2013 Rio Claro
2013 Botafogo-PB
2013 Santo André
2014 Monte Azul
2015 Rio Claro
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 7 January 2024

Career

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Rodrigo Ninja gained national recognition in 2007, when he scored SE Gama's qualifying goal against CR Vasco da Gama in the 2007 Copa do Brasil, in a match where Romário was expected to score his thousandth goal.[1] After this feat, he ended up being hired by Çaykur Rizespor.

After an unsuccessful stay in Turkey, he suffered depression, became involved in marital problems with his wife and began to face problems with alcohol and drug use, frequently having shortened spells at clubs due to missing training or not being able to perform properly.[2][3] He ended his career definitively in 2015, after testing positive for cocaine in an anti-doping test.[4][5]

Post career

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He was admitted to a halfway house for addicts in Campinas after retiring. Currently plays in the city's amateur football.[6]

Honours

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Gama
Botafogo-PB

References

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  1. ^ "'Milésimo gol' fica entalado, e Vasco cai na Copa do Brasil". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 4 April 2007. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  2. ^ "Com meses de 'atraso', São Caetano contrata Rodrigo Ninja". UOL Esporte (in Portuguese). 1 April 2008. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  3. ^ "Sem Rodrigo Ninja, Ponte Preta promove outro destaque da Copinha". ESPN (in Portuguese). 17 February 2009. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  4. ^ "Lateral do Rio Claro, Rodrigo Ninja é flagrado no anti-doping por uso de cocaína". Futebol Interior (in Portuguese). 26 March 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  5. ^ "Atleta pego no antidoping por uso de cocaína some de clube do Paulistão". GloboEsporte (in Portuguese). 28 March 2015. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
  6. ^ "Ex-Ponte, Rodrigo Ninja veste camisa do Granada no domingo pela Série Ouro". Portal Porque (in Portuguese). 7 December 2023. Retrieved 7 January 2024.
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