Clubs: SC Internacional, AC Milan

• Born in Pato Branco, Alexandre Pato supported top Porto Alegre club Grêmio FBPA as a boy but, rejected by them, joined local rivals Internacional instead.

Made a stunning debut in a 4-1 win against SE Palmeiras in November 2006, and helped Internacional beat FC Barcelona in the FIFA Club World Cup final the following month.

• Moved to Milan in summer 2007 but, because of Italian age-restriction rules, he was ineligible to play competitively until the following January, when he scored on his Serie A debut in a 5-2 home win against SSC Napoli; ended that first half-season with nine league goals.

• Also scored on his senior debut for Brazil – with a spectacular lob in a March 2008 friendly versus Sweden at the Arsenal Stadium in London; he won bronze at the 2008 Olympics and lifted the FIFA Confederations Cup in 2009 but was overlooked by Dunga for the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa.

• Struck 15 goals in his first full Serie A campaign, plus three in the UEFA Cup; played in seven 2009/10 UEFA Champions League encounters, his first two strikes in the competition coming in a 3-2 win against Real Madrid CF at the Santiago Bernabéu.