Robinho

Robson de Souza (born January 25, 1984 in São Vicente, Brazil), nicknamed Robinho (Little Rob), is a Brazilian professional footballer. He currently plays for Real Madrid ^*. He is known as the 'Wonder Boy' of the Brazilian team due to his amazing potential.

Career

He previously played for Santos, helping them win two Brazilian National Championships (2002 and 2004), and in two editions of the Copa Libertadores, helping that team finish runners-up to Boca Juniors in the 2003 tournament. Robinho's contributions to Santos attracted a great deal of attention from the top European football clubs.

Santos resisted his departure, foreseeing a possible decay of the club's playing strength. However, he was motivated to leave Brazil by the shocking kidnapping of his mother in late 2004. After that event, he expressed a desire to leave the country. He finally left Brazil in the summer of 2005 and started his European club career with Spanish La Liga giants Real Madrid.

On July 31, Real Madrid agreed to pay a fee of $30 million for him. Robinho joined the side on August 25, and teamed up with fellow Brazilian internationals Ronaldo, Roberto Carlos and Julio Baptista to make his debut against Cadiz, coming on as substitute in the second half for Thomas Gravesen.

2006 World Cup

His exclusion from Brazil's starting side for the World Cup games (except for Brazil's final group match against Japan) remains a mystery as he continued to prove himself as the most dangerous Brazilian player in his limited time on the pitch.

Ability

While Robinho is one of the smallest forwards physically, his low center of gravity plays to his strenghts. Among Robinho's strengths are his attacking instincts, his sheer speed, acceleration, agility and dribbling.

Fan Response

Robinho has been compared to the great footballer Pele by both fans and pundits and has been hailed by them as Pele's successor in Brazilian football.

As of late, fans have also begun to foment a potential rivalry between Robinho and Argentinian striker Lionel Messi, who has been hailed as a wonderkid of sorts in Argentinian football, and therefore a natural counterpart to Robinho.

Contrasts between the two include the fact that they each represent rival Latin American football powerhouses (Brazil and Argentina); they play opposite each other in the premiere rival clubs of La Liga (Robinho for Real Madrid and Messi for FC Barcelona); and interestingly, there are the comparisons to the greatest living footballers in the world (Messi has been hailed by Argetinian fans and media as "the new Maradona" and Robinho with Pele).

External links

Gourt Home::Gourt :: Robinho

Career

2006 World Cup

Ability

Fan Response

External links