Clubs: EC Cruzeiro, AS Monaco FC, FC Internazionale Milano

UEFA honours
UEFA Champions League: winner 2010
UEFA Club Defender of the Year: 2010
UEFA.com users' Team of the Year: 2010

• Learned his trade at Cruzeiro, where he won the Brazilian league and cup double in 2003 and was first capped by Brazil at that year's CONCACAF Gold Cup.

• A Copa América winner with Brazil in 2004, he left for Europe after that tournament in Peru, joining Monaco; scored five goals in 59 Ligue 1 games and also made UEFA Champions League bow in 2004/05, scoring his first goal in 5-0 win at RC Deportivo La Coruña.

• Arrived at Inter in summer 2006 and helped Roberto Mancini's team to Serie A triumphs in 2007 and 2008.

• Even more prominent under José Mourinho in 2008/09, making 29 appearances, scoring four goals and setting up many others; maintained a high level in 2009/10, scoring six league goals as Inter not only won the Scudetto but also the Coppa Italia and UEFA Champions League.

• Left out of Brazil's 2006 FIFA World Cup squad, he was a Copa América winner again in 2007 and also played a prominent role in their 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup triumph, where he was named in team of the tournament; won his 50th cap as Brazil beat Argentina 3-1 in Rosario to seal qualification for 2010 World Cup.

• Helped Brazil reach the quarter-finals of that tournament, where he will be remembered for an extraordinary goal from the tightest of angles against Korea DPR: named in the tournament's All-Star Team.