Falcão (futsal player)

{{short description|Brazilian futsal player (born 1977)}}

{{BLP primary sources|date=October 2010}}

{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2020}}

{{Portuguese name|Rosa|Vieira}}

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Falcão

| image = Falcao Rio 2007.jpg

| caption = Falcão in 2007

| fullname = Alessandro Rosa Vieira

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1977|6|8|df=y}}

| birth_place = Santa Cruz do Rio Pardo, Brazil

| height = 1.78 m

| position = Winger

| currentclub =

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 =

| years1 = 1989–1991

| clubs1 = Guarapira

| caps1 = 47

| goals1 = 50

| years2 = 1992–1996

| clubs2 = Corinthians

| caps2 = 132

| goals2 = 189

| years3 = 1997–1998

| clubs3 = GM-Chevrolet

| caps3 = 38

| goals3 = 45

| years4 = 1999

| clubs4 = Atlético Mineiro

| caps4 = 30

| goals4 = 38

| years5 = 1999

| clubs5 = Rio de Janeiro

| caps5 = 29

| goals5 = 38

| years6 = 2000

| clubs6 = São Paulo

| caps6 = 32

| goals6 = 39

| years7 = 2000–2002

| clubs7 = Banespa

| caps7 = 51

| goals7 = 70

| years8 = 2003–2005

| clubs8 = Malwee/Jaraguá

| caps8 = 62

| goals8 = 97

| years9 = 2005

| clubs9 = São Paulo (football)

| caps9 = 2

| goals9 = 0

| years10 = 2005–2010

| clubs10 = Malwee/Jaraguá

| caps10 = 168

| goals10 = 220

| years11 = 2011

| clubs11 = Cortiana/Santos

| caps11 = 28

| goals11 = 36

| years12 = 2012–2014

| clubs12 = Intelli

| caps12 = 48

| goals12 = 66

| years13 = 2014

| clubs13 = Madureira

| caps13 =

| goals13 =

| years14 = 2015

| clubs14 = Magnus Futsal

| caps14 =

| goals14 =

| years15 = 2015

| clubs15 = Vasco da Gama (futsal)

| caps15 =

| goals15 =

| years16 = 2016

| clubs16 = Chennai 5s

| caps16 = 4

| goals16 = 5

| years17 = 2020

| clubs17 = Grêmio Futebol 7

| caps17 = 1

| goals17 = 3

| totalcaps = 701

| totalgoals = 1005

| nationalyears1 = 1998–2018

| nationalteam1 = Brazil

| nationalcaps1 = 258

| nationalgoals1 = 401

| pcupdate = 15 March 2011

| ntupdate = 1 November 2018

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's futsal}}

{{MedalCountry|{{Futsal|BRA}}}}

{{MedalCompetition|FIFA Futsal World Cup}}

{{Medal|W|2008 Brazil|}}

{{Medal|W|2012 Thailand|}}

{{Medal|RU|2000 Guatemala|}}

{{Medal|3rd|2004 Chinese Taipei|}}

{{MedalCompetition|Copa América – FIFA Futsal}}

{{Medal|W|2000 Brazil|}}

{{Medal|W|2008 Uruguay|}}

{{Medal|W|2011 Argentina|}}

{{Medal|RU|2003 Paraguay|}}

{{MedalCompetition|Pan American Games}}

{{MedalGold|2007 Rio de Janeiro|}}

}}

Alessandro Rosa Vieira (born 8 June 1977), known as Falcão, is a Brazilian retired professional futsal player, often regarded as the greatest futsal player of all time and its biggest icon. He is known for his flashy and potent dribbling skills and a powerful and accurate left foot.{{Cite web|date=2020-05-17|title=VIDEO: Best of Falcão at Santos, the king of futsal|url=https://www.besoccer.com/new/best-of-falcao-at-santos-the-king-of-futsal-835477|access-date=2021-01-20|website=BeSoccer|language=en-EN}}{{Cite web|date=2014-01-16|title=Where is the next futsal superstar?|url=http://www.dougreedfutsal.com/2014/01/where-is-the-next-futsal-superstar.html|access-date=2021-01-20|website=DougReedFutsal|language=en-GB}} He is also the world's all-time leading goalscorer in men's international matches. He was named as the Best Futsal Player in the World four times (2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012){{Cite web|url=http://www.futsalplanet.com/voting|title=Annual Futsal Awards|website=www.futsalplanet.com|access-date=2018-06-26|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161125095228/http://www.futsalplanet.com/voting|archive-date=25 November 2016|url-status=dead}} and won the FIFA Futsal World Cup Golden Shoe in 2004{{Cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=180039/index.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160213015439/http://www.fifa.com/fifa-tournaments/players-coaches/people=180039/index.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=13 February 2016|title=FIFA Tournaments - Players & Coaches - FALCAO|website=FIFA.com|language=en-GB|access-date=2018-06-26}} and the Golden Ball twice, in 2004 and 2008.

Today he is a YouTuber{{Cite web|url=https://www.redbull.com/br-pt/falcao-youtuber |website=Red Bull }} teaching futsal tricks and showing different things about futsal culture.

Career

Falcão joined the Guarapira futsal club in the northern zone of the city at the age of 13. He joined Corinthians in 1993 and became professional in 1993. He debuted in the senior team in 1994. In 1997, he joined GM-Chevrolet, owned by the General Motors company. After leaving in 1999, he switched teams frequently until 2003, when he ended up in Jaraguá. After changing clubs again from 2011 to 2012, he joined Sorocaba in 2013, where he played until 2018.

In 2004, 2006, 2011 and 2012, he was recognised as the Best Futsal Player in the World. On 26 June 2015, Falcão joined Nottingham Forest's futsal team for a tournament in Kuwait.{{cite web|url=http://www.nottinghamforest.co.uk/news/article/falcao-signs-for-forest-2509267.aspx#Y9T6hqmq2kT1dhdL.99|title=Alessandro Rosa Vieira Falcão signs for Nottingham Forest Futsal|first=Nick|last=Richardson|website=www.nottinghamforest.co.uk}} He also played in the inaugural season of the Asian Premier Futsal Championship for Indian side Chennai 5s, scoring five goals in the tournament.

He also had a brief spell playing 11-a-side football with São Paulo Futebol Clube during the first half of 2005, including in the 2005 Copa Libertadores, but returned to futsal soon after.

Internationally, Falcão scored 401 goals in 258 appearances for the Brazil national futsal team. At the 2004 and 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cups, the latter on home soil, 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 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.{{Cite news|url=http://www.worldsoccer.com/blogs/falcao-pele-futsal-351602|title=Falcao, the 'Pelé of futsal'|date=2014-05-03|newspaper=World Soccer|language=en-US|access-date=2016-10-06}}

Besides being one of the greatest players in the sport's history,{{Cite web|url=https://futsalfeed.com/original-content/falco,-futsal-god|title=Falcão, Futsal God}} Falcão also participated on two of the most viewed futsal matches in history.{{Cite web|url=https://futsalfeed.com/original-content/most-attended-futsal-match-in-history-brazil-vs-argentina|title=The most attended futsal match in history: Brazil vs Argentina}}

Honours

=Club=

;Futsal

;Football

=National team=

=Individual=

International goals

class="wikitable"
No.DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
1.rowspan=6| 5 October 2000rowspan=7| Rio de Janeiro, Brazilrowspan=6| {{futsal|CAN}}align=center|2–0rowspan=6 align=center| 22–0rowspan=7| Friendly
2.align=center|4–0
3.align=center|5–0
4.align=center|9–0
5.align=center|18–0
6.align=center|19–0
7.6 October 2000{{futsal|IRN}}align=center|?–?align=center| 8–1
8.17 June 2004rowspan=4| Fortaleza, Brazil{{futsal|IRN}}align=center|6–0align=center| 8–2rowspan=4| Friendly
9.rowspan=3| 20 June 2004rowspan=3| {{futsal|IRN}}align=center|2–0rowspan=3 align=center| 10–4
10.align=center|8–3
11.align=center|10–3
12.21 September 2005rowspan=3| Brusque, Brazil{{futsal|URU}}align=center|1–0align=center| 5–1rowspan=3| 2005 Grand Prix de Futsal
13.23 September 2005{{futsal|ARG}}align=center|1–0align=center| 2–0
14.24 September 2005{{futsal|COL}}align=center|4–2align=center| 7–3
15.October 2006rowspan=7| Caxias do Sul, Brazilalign=center|align=center|rowspan=7| 2006 Grand Prix de Futsal
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.rowspan=2| 21 October 2006rowspan=2| {{futsal|ITA}}align=center|4–2rowspan=2 align=center| 5–3 {{aet}}
21.align=center|5–2
22.23 July 2007rowspan=7| Rio de Janeiro, Brazil{{futsal|GUA}}align=center|4–1align=center| 4–1rowspan=7| 2007 Pan American Games
23.rowspan=3| 24 July 2007rowspan=3| {{futsal|CUB}}align=center|1–0rowspan=3 align=center| 8–0
24.align=center|4–0
25.align=center|7–0
26.27 July 2007{{futsal|CRC}}align=center|6–0align=center| 8–1
27.rowspan=2| 28 July 2007rowspan=2| {{futsal|ARG}}align=center|1–0rowspan=2 align=center| 4–1
28.align=center|2–0
29.rowspan=2| 22 October 2007rowspan=2| Joinville, Brazilrowspan=2| {{futsal|BEL}}align=center|1–0rowspan=2 align=center| 7–0rowspan=7| 2007 Grand Prix de Futsal
30.align=center|2–0
31.rowspan=3| 24 October 2007rowspan=5| Jaraguá do Sul, Brazilrowspan=3| {{futsal|EGY}}align=center|3–1rowspan=3 align=center| 7–3
32.align=center|4–1
33.align=center|6–1
34.rowspan=2| 27 October 2007rowspan=2| {{futsal|IRN}}align=center|1–0rowspan=2 align=center| 4–0
35.align=center|3–0
36.rowspan=2| 30 September 2008rowspan=11| Brasília, Brazilrowspan=2| {{futsal|JPN}}align=center|3–0rowspan=2 align=center| 12–1rowspan=15| 2008 FIFA Futsal World Cup
37.align=center|10–1
38.rowspan=6| 2 October 2008rowspan=6| {{futsal|SOL}}align=center|4–0rowspan=6 align=center| 21–0
39.align=center|7–0
40.align=center|9–0
41.align=center|15–0
42.align=center|20–0
43.align=center|21–0
44.4 October 2008{{futsal|RUS}}align=center|6–0align=center| 7–0
45.rowspan=2| 8 October 2008rowspan=2| {{futsal|CUB}}align=center|3–0rowspan=2 align=center| 9–0
46.align=center|7–0
47.rowspan=3| 14 October 2008rowspan=4| Rio de Janeiro, Brazilrowspan=3| {{fbw|UKR}}align=center|1–1rowspan=3 align=center| 5–3
48.align=center|2–1
49.align=center|4–2
50.16 October 2008{{futsal|RUS}}align=center|2–0align=center| 4–2
51.rowspan=2| 17 October 2010rowspan=2| Anápolis, Brazilrowspan=2| {{futsal|CZE}}align=center|5–1rowspan=2 align=center| 9–2rowspan=2| 2010 Grand Prix de Futsal
52.align=center|8–2
53.rowspan=3| 12 September 2011rowspan=7| Buenos Aires, Argentinarowspan=3| {{futsal|CHI}}align=center|7–1rowspan=3 align=center| 14–2rowspan=7| 2011 Copa América de Futsal
54.align=center|9–1
55.align=center|10–1
56.13 September 2011{{futsal|PER}}align=center|3–0align=center| 8–1
57.rowspan=2| 16 September 2011rowspan=2| {{futsal|PAR}}align=center|3–1rowspan=2 align=center| 6–2
58.align=center|5–1
59.17 September 2011{{futsal|ARG}}align=center|3–1align=center| 5–1
60.rowspan=3| 15 April 2012rowspan=8| Gramado, Brazilrowspan=3| {{futsal|BOL}}align=center|4–0rowspan=3 align=center| 15–1rowspan=8| 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup qualification
61.align=center|7–0
62.align=center|8–0
63.rowspan=3| 16 April 2012rowspan=3| {{futsal|PER}}align=center|1–0rowspan=3 align=center| 9–0
64.align=center|5–0
65.align=center|6–0
66.17 April 2012{{futsal|ARG}}align=center|1–0align=center| 3–0
67.22 April 2012{{futsal|COL}}align=center|3–0align=center| 5–1
68.12 November 2012Nakhon Ratchasima, Thailand{{futsal|PAN}}align=center|14–0align=center| 16–0rowspan=4| 2012 FIFA Futsal World Cup
69.rowspan=2| 14 November 2012rowspan=3| Bangkok, Thailandrowspan=2| {{futsal|ARG}}align=center|2–2rowspan=2 align=center| 3–2 {{aet}}
70.align=center|3–2
71.18 November 2012{{futsal|ESP}}align=center|3–2align=center| 3–2 {{aet}}
72.12 November 2014rowspan=6| São Bernardo do Campo, Brazil{{futsal|VIE}}align=center|8–1align=center| 8–1rowspan=6| 2014 Grand Prix de Futsal
73.13 November 2014{{futsal|COL}}align=center|3–0align=center| 4–0
74.rowspan=3| 15 November 2014rowspan=3| {{futsal|GUA}}align=center|5–1rowspan=3 align=center| 8–2
75.align=center|6–2
76.align=center|7–2
77.16 November 2014{{futsal|COL}}align=center|7–2align=center| 7–2
78.11 September 2016rowspan=4| Bucaramanga, Colombia{{futsal|UKR}}align=center|2–0align=center| 3–1rowspan=10| 2016 FIFA Futsal World Cup
79.rowspan=3| 14 September 2016rowspan=3| {{futsal|AUS}}align=center|3–1rowspan=3 align=center| 11–1
80.align=center|4–1
81.align=center|11–1
82.rowspan=3| 17 September 2016rowspan=3| Cali, Colombiarowspan=3| {{futsal|MOZ}}align=center|13–2rowspan=3 align=center| 15–3
83.align=center|14–2
84.align=center|15–3
85.rowspan=3| 21 September 2016rowspan=3| Bucaramanga, Colombiarowspan=3| {{futsal|IRN}}align=center|1–0rowspan=3 align=center| 4–4 {{aet}} (2–3 p)
86.align=center|2–0
87.align=center|4–3

References

{{Reflist}}