Clubs: Cruzeiro EC, AFC Ajax, Empoli FC, FC Internazionale Milano, FC Barcelona

UEFA honours
UEFA Super Cup: winner 2009

• Started out in Brazil with Cruzeiro but moved to Europe aged 19, joining Ajax after impressing in an international youth tournament.

• Left-back won the Dutch double in his first season and played a starring role in Ajax's 2003/04 Eredivisie title triumph, making 31 appearances, scoring twice and winning the Golden Shoe as the Netherlands' footballer of the year.

• Ajax career ended prematurely after sustaining a serious knee injury in a Dutch Cup semi-final against Willem II in April 2005. Made no further appearances for the club before departing in 2006, initially to Empoli then Inter.

• Won the Scudetto in each of his three seasons with Inter, accumulating 79 Serie A appearances and scoring two goals; periodically deployed as a midfielder/winger by Roberto Mancini and José Mourinho.

• Joined European champions Barça in July 2009 on a five-year contract for a fee which could amount to €5m − scored his first goal for the Azulgrana in a Copa del Rey encounter with AD Ceuta (2-0) on 26 October 2010.