World champion with Brazil in 2002, Kléberson turns 45

The midfielder was one of the main players in that World Cup
by
Josué Seixas
2024-06-20 14:28:24

On this Wednesday (19), the five-time champion Kléberson celebrates his 45th birthday. Born in Uraí (PR), the midfielder was a starter in the 2002 World Cup final and one of the main players on the team led by Luiz Felipe Scolari that won the Penta.

In total, he played 29 games for the Yellow jersey, scored two goals and won the 2004 Copa América and the 2009 Confederations Cup titles, in addition to the World Cup. Among his main moments is the shot on the crossbar in the final decision against Germany.

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At the time, he was at Athletico-PR, the club that revealed him and where he was a three-time Paraná state champion (2000, 2001 and 2002) and Brazilian champion (2001). With the world title on his resume, he was hired in 2003 by Manchester United (ENG). His stint with the Red Devils lasted until 2005 and included the titles of the English Supercup and the FA Cup in 2004.

The player’s next destination was Besiktas (TUR), being a two-time Turkish Cup champion in 2006 and 2007. After his experience in Europe, he returned to Brazil to play for Flamengo. He represented the Rubro-Negro between 2008 and 2012 and had the conquest of the 2009 Brazilian Championship as the high point of his trajectory with the team.

In the midst of his history at Flamengo, he was loaned to Athletico-PR in 2011. In 2012, he joined Bahia, before making a career in American football, playing for Philadelphia Union, Indy Eleven and Fort Lauderdale Strikers, retiring in 2016.