Falcão (futsal player)
![]() | This biography of a living person relies too much on references to primary sources. (October 2010) |
![]() Falcão in 2007 | |||
Personal information | |||
---|---|---|---|
Full name | Alessandro Rosa Vieira | ||
Date of birth | 8 June 1977 | ||
Place of birth | Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, Brazil | ||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
Position(s) | Winger | ||
Senior career* | |||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
1989–1991 | Guarapira | 47 | (50) |
1992–1996 | Corinthians | 132 | (189) |
1997–1998 | GMChevrolet | 38 | (45) |
1999 | Atlético Mineiro | 30 | (38) |
1999 | Rio de Janeiro | 29 | (38) |
2000 | São Paulo | 32 | (39) |
2000–2002 | Banespa | 51 | (70) |
2003–2005 | Malwee/Jaraguá | 62 | (97) |
2005 | São Paulo (football) | 2 | (0) |
2005–2010 | Malwee/Jaraguá | 168 | (220) |
2011 | Cortiana/Santos | 28 | (36) |
2012–2014 | Intelli | 48 | (66) |
2014 | Madureira (indoor football) | ||
2015 | Futsal Brasil Kirin | ||
2015 | Vasco da Gama (indoor football) | ||
2016 | Chennai 5s | 4 | (5) |
2020 | Grêmio Futebol 7 | 1 | (3) |
Total | 701 | (1005) | |
National team‡ | |||
1998–2018 | Brazil (futsal) | 258 | (401) |
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 March 2011 ‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 November 2018 |
Alessandro Rosa Vieira (born 8 June 1977), known as Falcão, is a Brazilian retired professional futsal player. He is known for his flashy and potent dribbling skills and a powerful and accurate left foot.[1][2] He is also the world's all-time leading goalscorer in men's international matches. He was named Best Player in the World four times (2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012)[3] and won the FIFA Futsal World Cup Golden Shoe in 2004[4] and the Golden Ball in 2004 and 2008.[4]
Career[]
Falcão joined the Guapira futsal club in the norththern zone of the city at the age of 13. He joined Corinthians in 1993 and became professional in 1993., and debuted in the senior team in 1994. In 1997 he joined the General Motors company team. From 1999 to 2002 he switched clubs frequently, until landing in Jaraguá in 2003. After changing clubs again from 2011 to 2012, he joined Sorocaba in 2013, where he played until 2018.
In 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012, he was recognized as the Best Futsal Player of the World. On 26 June 2015, Falcão joined Nottingham Forest's futsal team for a tournament in Kuwait.[5] He also played in the inaugural season of Premier Futsal for Chennai 5's. He scored five goals for his team in the tournament.
He also had a brief spell playing association football with São Paulo Futebol Clube during the first half of 2005, including in the 2005 Copa Libertadores, Falcão returned to futsal.
Internationally, Falcão scored 401 goals in 258 appearances for Brazil. In the 2004 and 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cups, he was recognised by FIFA as the Best Player of the tournaments. In 2008 and 2012, he helped Brazil win their 4th and 5th title in the FIFA Futsal World Cup. On 22 September 2016, Falcão retired from the Brazil national team after they were eliminated by Iran in the round of 16 at the 2016 World Cup. Despite the early exit, he managed to score 10 goals, winning the Bronze Shoe, and ultimately becoming the all-time top goalscorer in FIFA Futsal World Cup history, having scored 48 times. Falcão is considered by many football experts and players the greatest player in futsal history.[6]
Besides being one of the most dominant player in sport's history,[7] Falcão also participated on two of the most viewed futsal matches in history.[8]
Honours[]
Club[]
- South-American Championship: 2001, 2004
- Liga Futsal: 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
- Brazilian Club Cup: 1998, 2003, 2004
- São Paulo City Cup: 1995, 1998, 2002
- Paulista Championship: 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2014,2017
- Mineiro Championship: 1999
- Catarinense Championship: 2003
- Metropolitan Championship: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
- Topper São Paulo Cup: 1997, 2001
- Copa Libertadores: 2005
- Campeonato Paulista: 2005
National team[]
- Futsal Mundialito: 2001
- Nations Cup: 2001
- RJ International Cup: 1998
- American Cup: 1998, 1999, 2011
- South American Qualificacion: 2000, 2008
- Latin Cup: 2003
- Tigers 5 – Singapore: 1999
- Egypt Tournament: 2002
- Thailand Tournament: 2003
- Pan American Games: 2007
- Grand Prix de Futsal: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
- KL World 5's – Malaysia: 2008
- FIFA Futsal World Cup: 2008, 2012
- ODESUR games: 2002, 2010
Individual[]
- Best Futsal Player of the World: 2004, 2006, 2011, 2012
- FIFA Futsal World Cup Golden Shoe: 2004
- FIFA Futsal World Cup Golden Ball: 2004, 2008
- FIFA Futsal World Cup Silver Shoe: 2008
- FIFA Futsal World Cup Bronze Shoe: 2016
- The FIFA Award for an Outstanding Career: 2016
References[]
- ^ "VIDEO: Best of Falcão at Santos, the king of futsal". BeSoccer. 17 May 2020. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Where is the next futsal superstar?". DougReedFutsal. 16 January 2014. Retrieved 20 January 2021.
- ^ "Annual Futsal Awards". www.futsalplanet.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ a b "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - FALCAO". FIFA.com. Archived from the original on 13 February 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
- ^ Richardson, Nick. "Alessandro Rosa Vieira Falcao signs for Nottingham Forest Futsal". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.
- ^ "Falcao, the 'Pelé of futsal'". World Soccer. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
- ^ "Falcão, Futsal God".
- ^ "The most attended futsal match in history: Brazil vs Argentina".
External links[]
- 1977 births
- Living people
- Brazilian men's futsal players
- Brazilian footballers
- Futsal players at the 2007 Pan American Games
- São Paulo FC players
- ADC Intelli players
- Pan American Games gold medalists for Brazil
- Pan American Games medalists in futsal
- Footballers from São Paulo (state)
- Association football forwards
- Medalists at the 2007 Pan American Games