Clubs: Santos FC, Chelsea FC, PSV Eindhoven (loan)

UEFA honours
UEFA Champions League: runner-up 2008

• Born in the Brazilian seaside resort of Niteroi, he was a prominent figure for his first club, Santos, winning the Brazilian title in 2002 and becoming a Brazilian international the following year, making his debut in the CONCACAF Gold Cup in Mexico.

• Signed for Chelsea in 2004 after scoring 20 goals in 103 games for Santos (who also went on to win 2004 Brazilian title), but work permit issues prevented him from playing in England so he was loaned to PSV.

• Proved to be a cult figure at the Dutch club, helping PSV to the double in his first season and league titles in each of the next two before returning to Chelsea; made 28 UEFA Champions League appearances for PSV, scoring four goals including a header that eliminated Arsenal FC in 2006/07.

• Enjoyed successful trip to Venezuela in summer 2007, helping Brazil to Copa América glory with a 3-0 victory against Argentina in the final.

• Enjoyed a lengthy run in the team in each of his first two seasons, particularly during ex-PSV boss Guus Hiddink's spell as temporary manager, which ended with a 90-minute appearance in the 2009 FA Cup final defeat of Everton FC at Wembley.

• A hernia operation meant it was not until late October that he made his first outing of a 2009/10 campaign which ended with Chelsea winning the Premier League and FA Cup double.

• Became first-choice centre-back for 2010/11 alongside John Terry following Ricardo Carvalho's departure to Real Madrid CF, though a combination of thigh and knee injuries restricted his progress in the first half of the campaign.