Falcão (futsal player)

Alessandro Rosa Vieira (born 8 June 1977), known as Falcão, is a Brazilian retired professional futsal player. He is known for his flashy and potent dribbling skills and a powerful and accurate left foot. He is also the world's all-time leading goalscorer in men's international matches. He has named Best Player in the World four times (2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012)[1] and won the FIFA Futsal World Cup Golden Shoe in 2004[2] and the Golden Ball in 2004 and 2008.[2]

Falcão
Falcão in 2007
Personal information
Full name Alessandro Rosa Vieira
Date of birth (1977-06-08) 8 June 1977
Place of birth Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, Brazil
Height 1.77 m (5 ft 10 in)
Playing position(s) Forward
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
1989–1991 Guarapira 47 (50)
1992–1996 Corinthians 132 (189)
1997–1998 GMChevrolet 38 (45)
1999 Atlético Mineiro 30 (38)
1999 Rio de Janeiro 29 (38)
2000 São Paulo 32 (39)
2000–2002 Banespa 51 (70)
2003–2005 Malwee/Jaraguá 62 (97)
2005 São Paulo (football) 2 (0)
2005–2010 Malwee/Jaraguá 168 (220)
2011 Cortiana/Santos 28 (36)
2012–2014 Intelli 48 (66)
2014 Madureira (indoor football)
2015 Futsal Brasil Kirin
2015 Vasco da Gama (indoor football)
2016 Chennai 5s 4 (5)
Total 701 (1005)
National team‡
1998–2018 Brazil (futsal) 258 (401)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 15 March 2011
‡ National team caps and goals correct as of 1 November 2018

Career

After a brief spell playing association football with São Paulo Futebol Clube during the first half of 2005, including in the 2005 Copa Libertadores, Falcão returned to futsal. He currently represents Futsal Brasil Kirin, AKA Sorocaba, a team from Sorocaba, São Paulo. In 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012, he was recognized as the Best Futsal Player of the World. On 26 June 2015, Falcão joined Nottingham Forest's futsal team for a tournament in Kuwait.[3] He also played in the inaugural season of Premier Futsal for Chennai 5's. He scored five goals for his team in the tournament.

Internationally, Falcão scored 393 goals in 201 appearances for Brazil. In the 2004 and 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cups, he was recognised by FIFA as the Best Player of the tournaments. In 2008 and 2012, he helped Brazil win their 4th and 5th title in the FIFA Futsal World Cup. On 22 September 2016, Falcão retired from the Brazil national team after they were eliminated by Iran in the round of 16 at the 2016 World Cup. Despite the early exit, he managed to score 10 goals, winning the Bronze Shoe, and ultimately becoming the all-time top goalscorer in FIFA Futsal World Cup history, having scored 48 times. Falcão is considered by many football experts and players the greatest player in futsal history.[4]

Honours

Club
  • South-American Championship: 2001, 2004
  • Liga Futsal: 1999, 2005, 2007, 2008, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014
  • Brazilian Club Cup: 1998, 2003, 2004
  • São Paulo City Cup: 1995, 1998, 2002
  • Paulista Championship: 1995, 1997, 2000, 2001, 2014
  • Mineiro Championship: 1999
  • Catarinense Championship: 2003
  • Metropolitan Championship: 1997, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001
  • Topper São Paulo Cup: 1997, 2001
  • Copa Libertadores: 2005
  • Campeonato Paulista: 2005

National team
  • Futsal Mundialito: 2001
  • Nations Cup: 2001
  • RJ International Cup: 1998
  • American Cup: 1998, 1999, 2011
  • South American Championship: 2000, 2008,
  • Latin Cup: 2003
  • Tigers 5 – Singapore: 1999
  • Egypt Tournament: 2002
  • Thailand Tournament: 2003
  • Pan American Games: 2007
  • Grand Prix de Futsal: 2005, 2006, 2007, 2008, 2009, 2011, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
  • KL World 5's – Malaysia: 2008
  • FIFA Futsal World Cup: 2008, 2012
  • ODESUR games: 2002, 2010

Individual

References
  1. "Annual Futsal Awards". www.futsalplanet.com. Archived from the original on 25 November 2016. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  2. "FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - FALCAO". FIFA.com. Retrieved 26 June 2018.
  3. Richardson, Nick. "Alessandro Rosa Vieira Falcao signs for Nottingham Forest Futsal". www.nottinghamforest.co.uk.
  4. "Falcao, the 'Pelé of futsal'". World Soccer. 3 May 2014. Retrieved 6 October 2016.
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