Cléo

Born in Guarapuava, Cléo started out with local club Batel, before joining Comercial-PR. He was later spotted by Olivais e Moscavide, which brought him to Portugal in the summer of 2004. Six months later, Cléo returned to Brazil and signed for Atlético Paranaense, playing with them in the 2005 and 2006 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. He also made three appearances in the 2005 Copa Libertadores, scoring once against Paraguayan side Cerro Porteño.{{Cite web | url=http://furacao.com/2005/05/20/gol-foi-premio-para-o-atacante-cleo/ | title=Gol foi prêmio para o atacante Cléo | language=Portuguese | publisher=furacao.com | date=20 May 2005 | access-date=28 January 2015}} Meanwhile, Cléo spent some time on loan at Ferroviária and Figueirense in 2005.{{Cite web | url=http://furacao.com/2005/03/18/atletico-manda-quatro-para-a-ferroviaria/ | title=Atlético manda quatro para a Ferroviária | language=Portuguese | publisher=furacao.com | date=18 March 2005 | access-date=28 December 2013}}{{Cite web | url=http://furacao.com/2005/08/11/cleo-e-rodrigo-souto-podem-ir-para-o-figueirense/ | title=Cléo e Rodrigo Souto podem ir para o Figueirense | language=Portuguese | publisher=furacao.com | date=11 August 2005 | access-date=28 January 2015}} In the summer of 2006, Cléo returned to Olivais e Moscavide,{{Cite web | url=http://furacao.com/2006/09/16/atacante-cleo-retorna-ao-olivais-e-moscavide/ | title=Atacante Cléo retorna ao Olivais e Moscavide | language=Portuguese | publisher=furacao.com | date=16 September 2006 | access-date=28 December 2013}} staying there for the next two seasons.

In August 2008, Cléo moved to Serbian club Red Star Belgrade,{{Cite web | url=http://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2008&mm=08&dd=08&nav_id=312371 | title=Kleo novo pojačanje Zvezde | language=Serbian | publisher=b92.net | date=8 August 2008 | access-date=10 March 2012}} on a one-year loan with a view to a permanent move. He was given the number 17 shirt. During a turbulent period for the club, Cléo managed to score 12 goals in 24 appearances (league and cup) that season. He eventually left Red Star after the club was not able to pay a transfer fee of €800,000.{{Cite web | url=http://www.politika.rs/sr/clanak/96664/Zvezda-me-se-odrekla | title=Zvezda me se odrekla | language=Serbian | publisher=politika.rs | date=22 July 2009 | access-date=22 December 2014}}

On 19 June 2009, Cléo signed a four-year contract with Partizan, becoming the first player to join the club from arch-rivals Red Star in more than 20 years (the last was Goran Milojević in 1988).{{Cite web | url=http://sport.blic.rs/fudbal/kleo-u-crno-belom/42bhect | title=Kleo u crno-belom | language=Serbian | publisher=blic.rs | date=19 June 2009 | access-date=23 September 2010}} He scored on his official debut for Partizan on 14 July and helped his team to a 4–0 away win over Welsh champions Rhyl in the first match of the 2009–10 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round. Seven days later, Cléo netted a hat-trick in the return leg, opening his tally in an 8–0 victory with a bicycle kick.{{Cite web | url=http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=sr&IDV=536&akcija=show&prikaz1=2009&prikaz2=7&sec=2 | title=Silna pobeda i silan podstrek za ono što sledi! | language=Serbian | publisher=partizan.rs | date=21 July 2009 | access-date=23 September 2010 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2020 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} He also scored from a penalty in a 1–1 home draw with Slovak side MŠK Žilina in the first leg of the 2009–10 UEFA Europa League play-off round. On 28 November, Cléo scored a goal against his former club to help Partizan beat Red Star 2–1.{{Cite web | url=http://www.b92.net/sport/fudbal/vesti.php?yyyy=2009&mm=11&dd=28&nav_id=395235 | title=Dijara i Kleo za minus jedan | language=Serbian | publisher=b92.net | date=28 November 2009 | access-date=26 March 2012}} He appeared regularly in the second part of the 2009–10 Serbian SuperLiga, adding nine goals in 14 games, and helped Partizan clinch their third consecutive title. In total, Cléo was the club's top scorer with 22 goals in all competitions, one more than Senegalese striker Lamine Diarra, who left the club at the end of the season.

On 14 July 2010, Cléo opened the season by scoring the third goal in his team's 3–1 victory over Armenian champions Pyunik in the first leg of the 2010–11 UEFA Champions League second qualifying round.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e7-0ea189b3f5e5-efc3879f4db4-1000--profligate-partizan-survive-pyunik-test/ | title=Profligate Partizan survive Pyunik test | publisher=UEFA | date=14 July 2010 | access-date=22 August 2010}} A week later in Yerevan in the second meeting, Cléo scored a goal from the edge of the penalty area in the fifth minute of injury time in the first half, thus leading his team to the next round with a total score of 4–1 on aggregate.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e7-0ea18ca4f479-012dba8928c3-1000--cleo-completes-the-job-for-partizan/ | title=Cléo completes the job for Partizan | publisher=UEFA | date=21 July 2010 | access-date=22 August 2010}} In the first match of the third qualifying round, Cléo scored in the 90th minute for his team's 3–0 win against Finland's HJK.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e7-0e74face3e28-8e5479e566c2-1000--partizan-leave-hjk-on-the-brink/ | title=Partizan leave HJK on the brink | publisher=UEFA | date=28 July 2010 | access-date=22 August 2010}} Subsequently, Cléo netted both goals in the team's 2–1 return leg victory.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e8-0ea18f2fca41-dcb88294dbee-1000--partizan-confirm-play-off-place/ | title=Partizan confirm play-off place | publisher=UEFA | date=4 August 2010 | access-date=22 August 2010}} He also scored a goal in the first round of the 2010–11 Serbian SuperLiga against Inđija at home, thus continued his series of goals. On 18 August, in the play-off round first leg against Anderlecht, a game which ended 2–2, Cléo scored his seventh goal in six matches.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/0252-0cdc17e1bab7-a5b50a1beb8f-1000--honours-even-for-partizan-and-anderlecht/ | title=Honours even for Partizan and Anderlecht | publisher=UEFA | date=18 August 2010 | access-date=22 August 2010}} Six days later, on 24 August, Cléo scored twice against Anderlecht in the return tie, bringing his tally to nine goals in seven matches in the season. He was also accurate in the penalty shoot-out, and so helped Partizan reach the Champions League for the first time in seven years.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e8-0e753b40bfd8-bc6673200f2e-1000--spot-on-partizan-keep-their-composure/ | title=Spot-on Partizan keep their composure | publisher=UEFA | date=24 August 2010 | access-date=25 August 2010}} On 4 September, Cléo scored his 10th goal in the season with an overhead bicycle kick in the match against Hajduk Kula.{{Cite web | url=http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=sr&IDV=681&akcija=&prikaz1=2010&prikaz2=9&sec=2 | title=Zaseli na mesto koje im pripada | language=Serbian | publisher=partizan.rs | date=4 September 2010 | access-date=4 September 2010}} On 28 September, in the second round of the Champions League group stage, Cléo completed one of two penalties in a 3–1 defeat versus Arsenal.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01e9-0e75a335a6a9-9adfe73f6395-1000--late-goals-earn-arsenal-the-points-at-partizan/ | title=Late goals earn Arsenal the points at Partizan | publisher=UEFA | date=28 September 2010 | access-date=28 September 2010}} On 8 December, again in a match against Arsenal, Cléo scored an equalizer at Emirates Stadium, however Partizan lost the game 3–1.{{Cite web | url=https://www.uefa.com/uefachampionsleague/news/01ec-0e769268117c-2e010ec8edb2-1000--walcott-settles-arsenal-nerves-to-seal-passage/ | title=Walcott settles Arsenal nerves to seal passage | publisher=UEFA | date=8 December 2010 | access-date=8 December 2010}} He was voted as the club's Player of the Year in 2010 by the fans.{{Cite web | url=http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=sr&IDV=1002&akcija=&prikaz1=2010&prikaz2=12&sec=2 | title=Kleo najbolji u 2010. godini | language=Serbian | publisher=partizan.rs | date=27 December 2010 | access-date=22 December 2014}}

On 12 February 2011, Cléo completed his move to Chinese Super League side Guangzhou Evergrande, signing a four-year deal.{{Cite web | url=http://staraarhiva.partizan.rs/vest.php?Jezik=en&IDV=98&akcija=show&prikaz1=2011&prikaz2=2&sec=2 | title=Cleo signed | publisher=partizan.rs | date=12 February 2011 | access-date=28 February 2011 }}{{Dead link|date=July 2021 |bot=InternetArchiveBot |fix-attempted=yes }} At the time, this move set a new record of Chinese football with €3.2 million ($4.5 million) transfer fee.{{Cite web | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/cndy/2011-04/01/content_12260230.htm | title=Foreign players, coaches flock to join the CSL | work=China Daily| date=1 April 2011 | access-date=4 July 2011}} He made his league debut for Guangzhou against Dalian Shide on 2 April and scored the winning goal in the match. Cléo started the season by scoring five goals in his first five league appearances. However, Cléo suffered a muscular strain in leg during a FA Cup match against Guizhou Zhicheng on 4 May, ruling him out for two months.{{Cite web | url=http://sports.163.com/11/0507/19/73FP9U3800051C89.html | script-title=zh:克莱奥杨昊伤停缺战深足 欧冠锋霸恢复恐需三周 | language=Chinese | publisher=sports.163.com | date=7 May 2011 | access-date=22 February 2012 | archive-date=4 October 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181004171615/http://sports.163.com/11/0507/19/73FP9U3800051C89.html | url-status=dead }} On 26 June, after recovering from injury, Cléo entered from the bench at the half and scored a penalty in the 60th minute against Jiangsu Sainty.{{Cite web | url=http://www.srpskifudbal.rs/2011/06/26/kleo-opet-u-metu-video/ | title=Kleo opet u metu (video) | language=Serbian | publisher=srpskifudbal.rs | date=26 June 2011 | access-date=10 March 2012}} He scored another four goals in the next four matches, but the recurrence of a leg strain in a match against Nanchang Hengyuan on 14 July ruled him out for a further two months.{{Cite web | url=http://sports.sohu.com/20110804/n315375935.shtml | script-title=zh:克莱奥回巴西治疗肌肉拉伤 恢复顺利将过招鲁能 | language=Chinese | publisher=sports.sohu.com | date=4 August 2011 | access-date=22 February 2012}} Cléo returned to training in late August but got injured again in early September.{{Cite web | url=http://sports.sohu.com/20110910/n318993322.shtml | script-title=zh:面对强敌克莱奥再次受伤 李章洙称不会轻易换将 | language=Chinese | publisher=sports.sohu.com | date=10 September 2011 | access-date=22 February 2012}} The lingering injury kept him out of the field for the second half of the year. He managed to score 10 times in 10 appearances during the 2011 league season.

After the end of the 2011 season, it was reported that Guangzhou had decided to give up Cléo for his lingering injury.{{Cite web | url=http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/sunday/2011-11/06/content_14044063.htm | title=China isn't big enough | work=China Daily| date=6 November 2011 | access-date=12 June 2012}} He was linked with France's Ligue 1 side Marseille and another Super League club Guizhou Renhe.{{Cite web | url=http://www.footransferts.com/index.php/2011/11/cleo-propose-a-marseille/ | title=Cleo proposé à Marseille | language=French | publisher=footransferts.com | date=8 November 2011 | access-date=12 June 2012 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111211065831/http://www.footransferts.com/index.php/2011/11/cleo-propose-a-marseille/ | archive-date=11 December 2011 | url-status=dead }} However, Cléo eventually stayed in Guangzhou for the 2012 season.

On 25 February 2012, Cléo scored both goals for Guangzhou in the 2012 Chinese FA Super Cup, a 2–1 victory over Tianjin Teda, which ensured Guangzhou win this trophy for the first time in the club's history. He continued his goalscoring form into the AFC Champions League, netting a brace in the first match of the group stage, as Guangzhou trashed K League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5–1 on 7 March.{{Cite web | url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/935-afc-champions-league-2012/38227-jeonbuk-hyundai-motors-v-guangzhou-evergrande | title=Jeonbuk Motors 1–5 Guangzhou Evergrande | publisher=the-afc.com | date=7 March 2012 | access-date=8 March 2012}} On 15 May, during Guangzhou's last group stage match of the Champions League against Buriram United, Cléo earned a penalty in the 90th minute, which Darío Conca converted into the winning goal. Guangzhou beat Buriram United 2–1 and sealed a place in the knockout phase for the Chinese Super League side.{{Cite web | url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/935-afc-champions-league-2012/39136-buriram-united-v-guangzhou-evergrande | title=Buriram United 1–2 Guangzhou Evergrande | publisher=the-afc.com | date=15 May 2012 | access-date=16 May 2012}} On 30 May, Cléo scored the winning goal during the round of 16 in the AFC Champions League, as Guangzhou beat J1 League side FC Tokyo 1–0 and became the first Chinese club to reach the quarter-finals of the competition since 2006.{{Cite web | url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/tournaments/clubs/afc-champions-league/935-afc-champions-league-2012/39320-guangzhou-vs-fc-tokyo | title=Guangzhou Evergrande 1–0 FC Tokyo | publisher=the-afc.com | date=30 May 2012 | access-date=30 May 2012}} Although scoring four goals in seven matches, Cléo was replaced by newcomer Lucas Barrios in the 30-man squad which was submitted for the next stage of the Champions League. On 18 August, in an interview after a league match against Changchun Yatai, in which Cléo scored a goal and made an assist to help Guangzhou to a 2–1 win, Cléo stated his disappointment with the club's decision to exclude him from the Champions League squad and would seek a transfer at the end of the season.{{Cite web | url=https://sports.qq.com/a/20120820/000365.htm | script-title=zh:体坛专访克莱奥：年底转会 未来留中超也可以 | language=Chinese | publisher=sports.qq.com | date=20 August 2012 | access-date=21 October 2019}} Cléo played as a regular starter in the domestic competitions and helped Guangzhou Evergrande win their second Super League championship and first FA Cup title.

On 25 January 2013, Cléo moved to Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol on a one-year loan deal.{{Cite web | url=https://www.reysol.co.jp/news/topteam/031159.html | script-title=ja:クレオ選手が期限付き移籍加入 | language=Japanese | publisher=blog.reysol.co.jp | date=25 January 2013 | access-date=25 January 2013}} He made 27 appearances and scored nine goals in the 2013 J.League Division 1. In November, Cléo was diagnosed with appendicitis and his loan spell was cut short by the Japanese club.{{Cite web | url=https://www.reysol.co.jp/news/topteam/031134.html | script-title=ja:クレオ選手 期限付き移籍契約終了のお知らせ | language=Japanese | publisher=blog.reysol.co.jp | date=28 November 2013 | access-date=22 May 2014}} He then returned to Guangzhou Evergrande and was released in early 2014.{{Cite web | url=http://sports.qq.com/a/20140206/004718.htm | script-title=zh:恒大前国门离队转战中甲 另一年轻锋将同加盟 | language=Chinese | publisher=sports.qq.com | date=6 February 2014 | access-date=5 June 2014}}

After leaving Asia, Cléo returned to his homeland and started training with his former club Atlético Paranaense in May 2014.{{Cite web | url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/atletico-pr/noticia/2014/05/cleo-treina-com-grupo-do-atletico-pr-mas-aguarda-definicao-sobre-futuro.html | title=Cléo treina com grupo do Atlético-PR, mas aguarda definição sobre futuro | language=Portuguese | publisher=globoesporte.globo.com | date=1 May 2014 | access-date=5 June 2014}} He signed a permanent contract shortly after.{{Cite web | url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/atletico-pr/noticia/2014/05/atletico-pr-confirma-contratacao-do-atacante-cleo-que-estava-no-japao.html | title=Atlético-PR confirma contratação do atacante Cléo, que estava no Japão | language=Portuguese | publisher=globoesporte.globo.com | date=7 May 2014 | access-date=5 June 2014}} On 29 May, Cléo made his second debut for the club in a 2–2 home draw with São Paulo. He stepped on the pitch in the 77th minute and managed to score little more than 10 minutes later with a volley kick.{{Cite web | url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/brasileirao-serie-a/noticia/2014/05/em-final-eletrizante-atletico-pr-e-sao-paulo-empatam-em-uberlandia.html | title=Com dois gols no fim, Atlético-PR e São Paulo empatam em Uberlândia | language=Portuguese | publisher=globoesporte.globo.com | date=29 May 2014 | access-date=30 May 2014}} Throughout the 2014 Brasileirão, Cléo appeared in 20 games and scored nine times, making him the team's highest scorer that year.

On 29 February 2016, Cléo signed a contract with Série B club Goiás,{{Cite web | url=https://www.opopular.com.br/editorias/esporte/goi%C3%A1s-assina-contrato-com-atacante-cl%C3%A9o-1.1045113 | title=Goiás assina contrato com atacante Cléo | language=Portuguese | publisher=opopular.com.br | date=29 February 2016 | access-date=16 July 2018}} being officially presented two days later.{{Cite web | url=http://www.goiasec.com.br/interativo/atacante-cleo-e-oficialmente-apresentado-no-verdao/noticia | title=Atacante Cléo é oficialmente apresentado no Verdão | language=Portuguese | publisher=goiasec.com.br | date=2 March 2016 | access-date=16 July 2018}} He scored a hat-trick in his team's 5–3 success against Trindade, helping the side win the Campeonato Goiano the same year.

In August 2017, Cléo returned to Portugal and signed with newly promoted LigaPro club Cova da Piedade on a one-year deal.{{Cite web | url=https://www.ojogo.pt/futebol/2a-liga/noticias/interior/cleo-chegou-finalmente-ao-cova-da-piedade-8685947.html | title=Cléo chegou finalmente ao Cova da Piedade | language=Portuguese | publisher=ojogo.pt | date=4 August 2017 | access-date=5 August 2017}} He was the team's top scorer in the 2017–18 season with 12 goals in all competitions.

In July 2018, Cléo signed with China League One club Qingdao Huanghai, returning to Chinese football after six years.{{Cite web | url=http://www.planetabrazuka.com/2018/07/ex-goias-e-atletico-pr-cleo-e-anunciado.html | title=Ex-Goiás e Atlético-PR, Cléo é anunciado pelo Qingdao Huanghai, da China | language=Portuguese | publisher=planetabrazuka.com | date=14 July 2018 | access-date=16 July 2018 | archive-date=16 July 2018 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180716054158/http://www.planetabrazuka.com/2018/07/ex-goias-e-atletico-pr-cleo-e-anunciado.html | url-status=dead }} He was the team's top scorer over the next two seasons, helping them win the 2019 China League One and get promotion to the Chinese Super League for the first time in history.

In August 2010, Cléo expressed his desire to play for the Serbia national team.{{Cite web | url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/kleo-voleo-bih-da-igram-za-srbiju/ | title=Kleo: Voleo bih da igram za Srbiju! | language=Serbian | publisher=reprezentacija.rs | date=21 August 2010 | access-date=4 September 2010}} He applied for Serbian citizenship the following month after meeting with Ivica Dačić, the Minister of Internal Affairs.{{Cite web | url=http://sport.blic.rs/Fudbal/Domaci-fudbal/184161/Kleo-kod-Dacica-ceka-se-drzavljanstvo | title=Kleo kod Dačića, čeka se državljanstvo | language=Serbian | publisher=blic.rs | date=4 September 2010 | access-date=4 September 2010}} On 23 September 2010, Cléo became a citizen of Serbia.{{Cite web | url=http://sport.blic.rs/Fudbal/Domaci-fudbal/185158/Kleo-dobio-drzavljanstvo-Srbije | title=Kleo dobio državljanstvo Srbije | language=Serbian | publisher=blic.rs | date=23 September 2010 | access-date=23 September 2010}}

However, Cléo never received a call-up for the Serbia national team, failing to satisfy a 5-year residency requirement.{{Cite web | url=http://www.reprezentacija.rs/fifa-kleo-ne-moze-da-igra-za-orlove/ | title=FIFA: Kleo ne može da igra za Srbiju | language=Serbian | publisher=reprezentacija.rs | date=24 September 2010 | access-date=21 October 2019}}

{{Updated|1 December 2020}}{{Soccerway|cleo/68562}}

{{Notelist}}

;Partizan

• Serbian SuperLiga: 2009–10

;Guangzhou Evergrande

• Chinese Super League: 2011, 2012
• Chinese FA Cup: 2012
• Chinese FA Super Cup: 2012

;Kashiwa Reysol

• J.League Cup: 2013

;Goiás

• Campeonato Goiano: 2016

;Qingdao Huanghai

• China League One: 2019

Individual

• Serbian Cup Top Scorer: 2008–09
• FK Partizan Player of the Year: 2010
• Chinese FA Super Cup Most Valuable Player: 2012

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Sambafoot|6826_cleo}}
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{{Serbian Cup top scorers}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Cleo}}

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