Juninho Pernambucano

Born in Recife, Juninho started his professional career at Sport Recife and quickly established himself as a rising star in Brazilian football. He won two regional titles with the club. According to Juninho, it was as a 13-year-old that he started to take free-kicks and began to develop his knuckleball technique, telling FourFourTwo magazine: “I started by copying free-kicks taken by Marcelinho, who played for Corinthians. He was one of my inspirations, and the first player I had ever seen hit the ball head on and make it dance in the air. Didi, who won the World Cup with Brazil in 1958 and 1962, was doing it back then, too. Everyone since has just been tweaking the formula.” It was when he got to France that Juninho says he mastered it.{{cite news |title=The best free-kick taker EVER: Juninho Pernambucano on how he got so good |url=https://www.fourfourtwo.com/features/best-free-kick-taker-ever-juninho-pernambucano-how-he-got-so-good |access-date=14 October 2020 |magazine=Four Four Two}}

Juninho Pernambucano joined Vasco da Gama in 1995.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Arquivo/0,,AA1138149-5187,00.html |title=Raio-X de Juninho Pernambucano |publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt|date=22 February 2006|first=Thiago|last=Lavinas |access-date=7 July 2010}} He won several trophies during his first stint with the club, including the Brazilian Championship in 1997 and 2000, the Copa Libertadores in 1998, the Copa Mercosur in 2000, as well as the 2000 Brazilian Silver Ball award as one of the best Brazilian midfielders of the season.{{Cite news|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/placar/bola-de-prata-placar-2000/|title=Bola de Prata Placar 2000|language=pt|publisher=Veja|date=7 August 2015|access-date=20 January 2018|archive-date=8 May 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200508132002/https://veja.abril.com.br/placar/bola-de-prata-placar-2000/|url-status=dead}} At that time, he was playing with Romário, Edmundo, and Juninho Paulista, and he became a favourite of the Vasco fans. Since that time he has been known as Reizinho de São Januário (The Little King of São Januário), a reference to Vasco da Gama's stadium, as well as Reizinho da Colina (The Little King of the Hill).{{cite web |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/ESP/Noticia/Futebol/Campeonatos/0,,MUL148167-4276,00.html |title=Juninho quer homenagear o Vasco | language=pt|publisher=Globo Esporte|date=10 October 2007}}

In 2001, the player won a preliminary injunction against Vasco da Gama, after which he became a free agent.{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/folha/esporte/ult92u15250.shtml|title=Juninho Pernambucano obtém passe livre na Justiça|language=pt|publisher=Folha de São Paulo|date=12 March 2001|access-date=15 June 2019}} Although he left Vasco for Lyon after a judicial fight, he is still considered a favourite of Vasco fans. Juninho has been cited in a classic chorus sung by the fans remembering his free-kick goal against River Plate at River Plate Stadium, during the 1998 Libertadores which helped the club reach the finals against Barcelona de Guayaquil, which they won.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/vasco/noticia/2015/08/pe-direito-juninho-iniciava-reinado-ha-20-anos-com-gol-e-vitoria-na-vila.html|title=Pé direito: Juninho iniciava reinado há 20 anos com gol e vitória na Vila|language=pt|date=26 August 2015|accessdate=6 April 2021|publisher=Globo Esporte|first1=Gustavo |last1=Rotstein |first2=Raphael |last2=Zarko}} Juninho played 295 games for Vasco from 1995 to 2001.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/vasco/noticia/2011/04/juninho-esta-oficialmente-de-volta-ao-vasco-o-torcedor-pode-confiar.html |title=Com 'salário mínimo', Juninho está oficialmente de volta ao Vasco |publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt|date=27 April 2011|first=Rafael|last=Cavalieri |access-date=8 May 2020}}

In 2001, Juninho moved abroad to play for French club Lyon. Before his arrival at Lyon, the club had never won the French championship.{{cite web|url=https://www1.folha.uol.com.br/esporte/2009/05/571848-heptacampeao-frances-meia-juninho-pernambucano-deixa-o-lyon.shtml|title=Heptacampeão francês, meia Juninho Pernambucano deixa o Lyon|language=pt|publisher=Folha de São Paulo|date=26 May 2009|access-date=15 June 2019}} Starting out in his first season at the club, Lyon won seven league titles in a row.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1722/ligue-1/2017/02/05/32344712/from-ligue-1-to-superstardom-juninho-pernambucano|title=From Ligue 1 to superstardom: Juninho Pernambucano|publisher=Goal.com|date=5 February 2017|access-date=25 April 2017}} At Lyon, Juninho made himself especially noted for his accurate, powerful and varied set pieces. As well as often being ranked the world's greatest free kick exponent, Juninho was a noted passer, providing many assists, and his leadership abilities prompted Lyon manager Gérard Houllier to name him team captain.{{cite news |title=Juninho: Still The World's Best Free-Kick Taker |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/57967-juninho-still-the-worlds-best-free-kick-taker |access-date=14 October 2020 |magazine=Bleacher Report}}

Juninho Pernambucano scored 100 goals while at Lyon. Forty-four of those goals were scored from free-kicks, the last of which was a strike from long distance against Olympique de Marseille.{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.co.uk/bbcthree/article/7ff3d21d-6ff3-480b-b22c-3b198bad381f |title=Noughty Boys: No one hit a free-kick quite like Juninho Pernambucano |date=19 March 2019 |first=Carl |last=Anka |website=BBC |access-date=20 October 2019}} He scored his 100th goal on his last game for Lyon, through a penalty kick against Caen.{{cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2009/may/26/juninho-lyon|title=Tearful Juninho leaves Lyon|work=The Guardian|date=26 May 2009|access-date=15 June 2019}} Juninho was also a prolific goalscorer in the Champions League, and he matched Sonny Anderson as the club's top goalscorer in European competitions with 16 goals, on a match against Steaua Bucharest in November 2008.{{cite web|url=http://www.olweb.fr/index.php?lng=fr&m=1079&pid=105001 |title=L'OL fait le métier|language=fr |publisher=Olympique Lyonnais |date=5 November 2008|access-date=27 April 2010|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081204100616/http://www.olweb.fr/index.php?lng=fr&m=1079&pid=105001|archive-date=4 December 2008}} He later became Lyon's top goalscorer in the Champions League with 18 goals, while reaching three quarter-finals in the competition.

On 26 May 2009, Lyon chairman Jean-Michel Aulas announced in a press conference that the club had accepted Juninho's request to leave Lyon at the end of the season as a free agent, despite the fact that the player still had a year left in his contract.{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1062682.html |title=Legend Juninho leaving Lyon |publisher=Fifa.com |date=26 May 2009 |access-date=7 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090530051704/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/clubfootball/news/newsid=1062682.html |archive-date=30 May 2009}} During the press conference, Juninho sat next to Aulas and left without saying a word.{{cite web|url=http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=833637.html |title=Juninho bids emotional goodbye to Lyon |publisher=UEFA |date=26 May 2009 |access-date=7 July 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090528020725/http://www.uefa.com/footballeurope/news/kind=2/newsid=833637.html |archive-date=28 May 2009}}

On 17 June 2009, Juninho signed a €2.5 million, two-year contract with Qatari club Al-Gharafa.{{cite news|title=Soccer-Brazil's Juninho joins Qatari champions Al Gharafa|url=http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSP38684620090618|archive-url=https://archive.today/20120722135111/http://uk.reuters.com/article/idUKSP38684620090618|url-status=dead|archive-date=22 July 2012|work=Reuters|date=18 June 2009|access-date=4 October 2009}} In his first season with the club, Juninho captained the team to their seventh league title and wins in the Qatari Stars Cup and Qatar Crown Prince Cup, completing the treble. He finished the season with Player of the Year honours from the Qatar Football Association. Juninho played 66 games for Al-Gharafa and scored 25 goals.

On 27 April 2011, Juninho rejoined his former club Vasco da Gama. He scored his first goal for them in his first game back, via a freekick against Corinthians. He scored another 2 free kicks and a penalty during the course of the Brazilian top flight season. On 28 March 2012, he played and scored a goal for a 4–1 lead in Edmundo's farewell game against Barcelona Sporting Club. Vasco went on to win this game 9–1.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/vasco/noticia/2012/03/adeus-animal-edmundo-marca-duas-vezes-e-vasco-massacra-9-1.html|title=Edmundo marca duas vezes, ouve gritos de 'fica', e Vasco goleia: 9 a 1|publisher=Globo Esporte |language=pt |date=28 March 2012 |access-date=20 October 2019}} Juninho then scored a trademark free kick against Esporte Clube Bahia in the fourth round of the Campeonato Brasileiro; that goal was to be his 16th since returning to Vasco from Al-Gharafa.

In July 2012, Juninho extended his contract with Vasco for 6 months. On 18 July 2012, he made his 350th appearance for the club against São Paulo FC. In August 2012 he played against his youth team Sport Club do Recife and scored a free kick goal, which was his fourth goal from free kicks in Campeonato Brasileiro Série A 2012.

On 17 December 2012, Juninho signed for Major League Soccer team New York Red Bulls.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/noticia/2012/12/new-york-rb-anuncia-oficialmente-acerto-com-juninho-pernambucano.html|title='Joo-neen-yoh': New York RB anuncia acerto com Juninho Pernambucano|language=pt|date=17 December 2012|publisher=Globo Esporte|access-date=15 June 2019}}{{cite web |url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/12/red-bulls-sign-brazilian-star-midfielder-juninho |title=Red Bulls Sign Brazilian Star Midfielder Juninho |publisher=New York Red Bulls |date=17 December 2012 |access-date=17 December 2012 |archive-date=19 December 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121219191500/http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2012/12/red-bulls-sign-brazilian-star-midfielder-juninho |url-status=dead }} He made his first appearance for the team on a friendly match against Malmö, in which he was a starter.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/2013/02/juninho-e-titular-mas-joga-apenas-36-minutos-em-estreia-pelo-new-york-rb.html|title=Juninho é titular, mas joga apenas 36 minutos em estreia pelo New York RB|language=pt|date=8 February 2013|publisher=Globo Esporte|access-date=15 June 2019}} On 3 March 2013, Juninho made his official debut for the Red Bulls, playing the full time in a 3–3 draw against the Portland Timbers.{{cite news |url= http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/2013/03/juninho-pernambucano-ajuda-new-york-conseguir-empate-fora-de-casa.html |title= Juninho Pernambucano ajuda New York a conseguir empate fora de casa |language=pt |date= 4 March 2013| publisher= Globo Esporte |access-date= 16 June 2019}} On 17 April, during a 1-0 defeat while playing Sporting Kansas City, Juninho toe-poked the ball at opposition goalkeeper Jimmy Nielsen as he was time wasting and received a straight red card and suspended for two matches. On 3 July, the club announced that they reached an agreement with Juninho for the cancelation of his contract.{{cite news |url=http://www.newyorkredbulls.com/news/2013/07/red-bulls-reach-mutual-agreement-cancel-contract-midfielder-juninho |title= Red Bulls Reach Mutual Agreement to Cancel Contract for Midfielder Juninho |date= 3 July 2013| publisher= New York Red Bulls }} The midfielder featured in 13 games for the New York Red Bulls, providing the team with four assists.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2013/07/04/sports/soccer/red-bulls-and-juninho-part-ways.html|title=Red Bulls and Juninho Part Ways|first=Jack |last=Bell|work=The New York Times|date=3 July 2013|access-date=16 June 2019}}

On 11 July 2013, Vasco da Gama announced Juninho's return to the club.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/times/vasco/noticia/2013/07/o-reizinho-voltou-juninho-acerta-com-vasco-ate-o-fim-da-temporada.html| title=O Reizinho voltou: Juninho acerta com Vasco até o fim da temporada|language=pt|publisher=Globo Esporte|date=11 July 2013|first1=André| last1=Casado |first2=Raphael |last2=Zarko|access-date=16 June 2019}} The player scored and assisted in his third debut for Vasco, in a 3–1 victory against rivals Fluminense.{{cite web|url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/jogo/brasileirao2013/21-07-2013/fluminense-vasco.html|title=Juninho reina na volta ao Maracanã, Vasco derrota o Flu e sobe na tabela|publisher=Globo Esporte|language=pt|date=21 July 2013| access-date=16 June 2019}} He scored his first home goal of the season against Criciúma with a 32-metre free kick, also assisting Edmílson for the third goal of the game.{{cite web|url=http://www.espn.com.br/noticia/345100_no-retorno-a-sao-januario-juninho-decide-outra-vez-e-vasco-retro-vence-o-criciuma|title=No retorno a São Januário, Juninho decide outra vez, e Vasco 'retrô' vence o Criciúma|language=pt|publisher=ESPN Brasil|first=Tiago |last=Leme|date=27 July 2013|access-date=16 June 2019}} He played his third game for Vasco da Gama against another rival team Botafogo, setting up Andre for Vasco's first goal, in a 3–2 defeat. He played his sixth game against Grêmio and made another assist. It was his fourth assist in Campeonato Brasileiro. Juninho made his fifth assist against Sport Club Corinthians Paulista; the game ended in a 1–1 draw. He played his 16th game against Vasco rivals Botafogo and made two assists; the game ended with a 2–2 draw after Botafogo had led 2–0. Juninho played 16 games for Vasco in his third stint with the club, scoring 2 goals and making 7 assists in the Campeonato Brasileiro.

He retired from playing professional football on 2 February 2014.{{cite web|url=http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas-noticias/2014/02/03/juninho-chora-em-despedida-do-futebol-e-revela-convite-para-comentar-a-copa.htm|title=Juninho chora no adeus e diz que já estuda convite da Globo para Copa|publisher=UOL Esporte|language=pt|last=Ribeiro|first=Luiz Gabriel|date=3 February 2014}} During his years at Vasco da Gama, Juninho won six titles: the Brazilian Championship in 1997 and 2000, the Campeonato Carioca in 1998, the Rio-São Paulo Tournament in 1999, the Copa Libertadores in 1998, and the Copa Mercosur in 2000. He played in 393 games in total for the club, scoring 76 goals.

Following his retirement, Juninho worked as a football commentator for Brazilian sports network Rede Globo, a stint that ended up in 2018.{{cite web|url=http://uolesportevetv.blogosfera.uol.com.br/2014/12/08/comentarista-da-globo-juninho-pernambucano-corneta-premio-da-espn/|title=Comentarista da Globo, Juninho Pernambucano "corneta" prêmio da ESPN|publisher=UOL Esporte|language=pt|date=8 December 2014}}{{cite web|url=https://veja.abril.com.br/placar/juninho-pernambucano-deixa-a-globo-apos-critica-a-jornalistas/|title=Juninho Pernambucano deixa a Globo após crítica a jornalistas|publisher=Veja|language=pt|date=7 May 2018|access-date=15 June 2019|archive-date=15 June 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190615125028/https://veja.abril.com.br/placar/juninho-pernambucano-deixa-a-globo-apos-critica-a-jornalistas/|url-status=dead}}

On 7 September 1999, Juninho played two top-level matches in two different countries in the same day. He represented his country in the second half of the friendly match between Brazil and Argentina in Porto Alegre, which Brazil won 4–2, playing about fifteen minutes. In spite of a delayed flight to Montevideo, he managed to arrive in Uruguay in time to feature in the second half of the Copa Mercosur match between Vasco and Nacional. He took part at the 2001 Copa América with Brazil.

Although Juninho had a period of prolonged domestic success during the 2000s, that contributed to him being considered one of the best Brazilian players in the world at the time, he was not selected for the Brazilian squad that featured at the 2002 FIFA World Cup and the 2004 Copa América, missing both because of a recurring knee injury. Brazil would win both tournaments. He was however a member of the Brazil squad that won the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup, scoring a free kick against Euro 2004 champions Greece.

In the 2006 FIFA World Cup Juninho scored a knuckleball goal in open play against Japan in a group stage match. Following Brazil's defeat to eventual runners-up France in the quarter-finals of the tournament, he announced his international retirement,{{cite web|url=https://esporte.uol.com.br/copa/2006/ultnot/brasil/2006/07/01/ult3505u659.jhtm|title=Decepcionado, Juninho se despede da seleção brasileira|language=pt|date=1 July 2006|publisher=UOL Esporte|first1=Daniel|last1= Tozzi |first2=João Henrique |last2=Medice|access-date=15 June 2019}} so as to make way for younger talents coming through the ranks in Brazil, in order to build for the 2010 FIFA World Cup.{{cite web|url=http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport2/hi/football/world_cup_2006/teams/brazil/5138986.stm|title=Juninho quits international scene|date=2 July 2006|publisher=BBC Sport|access-date=8 May 2020}}

In May 2019, Juninho was appointed as the director of football of his former club Lyon. His first decision was to name former Brazilian international teammate Sylvinho as the head coach of the French Ligue 1 team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2019/may/20/lyon-gamble-juninho-sylvinho-psg-mbappe-monaco|title=Lyon are taking a big gamble on Juninho and Sylvinho|website=theguardian.com|first1=Adam |last1=White |first2=Eric |last2=Devin |date=20 May 2019 |access-date=20 May 2019}}

{{Quote box|width=30%|align=right|quote="Say Juninho Pernambucano's name, and the first response is likely to be, "Great free kicks." He was the greatest and most versatile free-kick taker there has ever been. Through his early years at Vasco da Gama and his eight-year stint at Lyon, Juninho developed his knuckleball technique. Whether 20, 30 or 40 yards from goal, the hits were often so pure, of such quality and ferocity, that goalkeepers simply couldn't do anything about them."|source=— Alex Richards in Bleacher Report ranking Juninho the greatest free-kick exponent of all time.}}

Juninho has been described as "one of the world's most feared strikers of a static ball".{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=625416.html |title=Who is the free-kick master? |publisher=FIFA.com |date=30 October 2007 |access-date=27 April 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080418062530/http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid%3D625416.html |archive-date=18 April 2008 }} Frequently ranked the greatest free-kick exponent, the method he used for long-range free kicks is "knuckle balling", where the ball has almost no spinning motion during flight.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/blog/2009/feb/26/juninho-pernambucano-lyon-barcelona |title=Juninho still knuckling down and shining brightly in Europe |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Amy |last=Lawrence|date=26 February 2006 |access-date=8 May 2020 }} A successful knuckle ball will "move" or "wobble" in the air unpredictably, veering in a number of different directions (making it difficult to save) before finding the net. He first made his name as a free kick taker with a long range strike against Bayern Munich in the 2003–04 Champions League group stage in which the ball dipped viciously at the end of travel that deceived Bayern keeper Oliver Kahn, who was considered one of the best goalkeepers in the world at the time.{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/blog/2014/oct/31/golden-goal-juninho-pernambucano-lyon-bayern-munich |title=Golden goal: Juninho Pernambucano for Lyon v Bayern Munich (2003) |newspaper=The Guardian |first=Paul |last=Doyle|date=31 October 2014 |access-date=8 May 2020 }}

File:juninho-free-kick 2.jpg

Juninho has scored from free-kicks beyond 40 yards on a number of occasions: including against AC Ajaccio in 2006, against Barcelona in 2007, against OGC Nice in 2008, and a strike against Marseille in 2009—his final free kick goal for Lyon. Even before Lyon, he displayed his talent at Vasco da Gama, scoring several free kick goals for the club. Juninho has also scored memorable goals for Brazil, the most famous being a curling freekick from 30 yards against Greece in the 2005 FIFA Confederations Cup. Brazil would go on to win the match 3–0. At the 2006 World Cup, during a group stage match against Japan, he scored a long-range knuckleball from open play. Brazil won the match 4-1. Juninho's free-kick style has been adapted by several other players, such as Andrea Pirlo,{{cite web|url=http://copadomundo.uol.com.br/noticias/redacao/2014/06/11/mestre-de-pirlo-juninho-pernambucano-ensinou-italiano-a-bater-falta.htm#fotoNav=21|title=Mestre de Pirlo, Juninho Pernambucano ensinou italiano a bater falta |publisher=UOL |language=pt|first=Mauricio|last=Stycer|date=11 June 2014}}{{cite web |url=http://contropiede.ilgiornale.it/juninho-pernambucano-il-maestro-di-pirlo/ |title=Juninho Pernambucano, il "maestro" di Pirlo |newspaper=Il Giornale |language=it |first=Alberto |last=Coghi |date=1 February 2014 |access-date=13 December 2018 }} Cristiano Ronaldo, Didier Drogba,{{cite news |title=The Top 15 Best Shooters in World Football |url=https://bleacherreport.com/articles/748074-the-top-15-best-shooters-in-world-football |access-date=15 October 2020 |agency=Bleacher Report}} and Gareth Bale.{{cite web |url=https://as.com/diarioas/2013/09/14/english/1379173980_744863.html |title=Set-piece dilemma: CR7 Tomahawk vs Bale Knuckleball |publisher=as.com |first=Pedro P. |last=San Martín |date=14 September 2013 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131201142301/https://as.com/diarioas/2013/09/14/english/1379173980_744863.html |archive-date=1 December 2013}} The knuckle ball free-kick technique takes a significant amount of skill to replicate and strike accurately. In total, Juninho scored at least 75 goals from direct free kicks throughout his professional football career, which spanned from 1993 to 2013.{{cite web |url=https://www.squawka.com/en/news/10-players-that-have-somehow-scored-more-free-kicks-than-lionel-messi-so-far/1058608#lGk6rdEI6Q3PYKjP.97 |title=10 players that have somehow scored more free-kicks than Lionel Messi… so far |publisher=www.squawka.com |author1=Butt, Muhammad|date=12 September 2018 |access-date=13 December 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180915124910/https://www.squawka.com/en/news/10-players-that-have-somehow-scored-more-free-kicks-than-lionel-messi-so-far/1058608|archive-date=15 September 2018}}

File:Chaussures de Juninho Pernambucano avec les prénoms de ses filles inscrits dessus.jpg boots in the Lyon museum]]

{{blockquote|Much like King Arthur had Excalibur and William Tell his crossbow, the folk hero Juninho possessed his own special weapon to save the day — his legendary free-kicks. No one hit a free-kick quite like Juninho. No one.|Carl Anka of the BBC.}}

A talented right-footed midfielder, beyond his qualities as a set-piece specialist, Juninho was also known for his skill as an offensive playmaker, and for his ability to produce effective passes, which led him to getting assists on many of his teammates' goals throughout his career.{{cite web|url=http://www.goal.com/en/news/1717/editorial/2008/12/22/1024067/the-goalcom-50-juninho-pernambucano-47|title=Countdown to the greatest player of 2008 : Juninho Pernambucano (47)|publisher=Goal.com|first=Robin |last=Bairner|date=22 December 2008}} He was also gifted with good technical ability and intelligence, as well as excellent vision and passing range, and powerful and accurate striking ability from distance; furthermore, he drew praise in the media for his tenacity, work-rate, composure under pressure,{{cite web|url=https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2006/m=2/news=juninho-cool-head-and-hot-shot-103064.html|title=Juninho: a cool head and a hot shot|date=23 February 2006|publisher=FIFA.com|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180120182147/https://www.fifa.com/live-scores/news/y=2006/m=2/news=juninho-cool-head-and-hot-shot-103064.html|archive-date=20 January 2018}} strong character, and leadership, which saw him serve as club captain both at Lyon and Al-Gharafa.{{cite web |url=https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=4/news=juninho-made-history-two-clubs-1420346.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181216032100/https://www.fifa.com/news/y=2011/m=4/news=juninho-made-history-two-clubs-1420346.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=16 December 2018 |title=Juninho: I've made history at two clubs |publisher=FIFA.com |date=18 April 2011 |access-date=13 December 2018 }} A versatile player, although he usually played as an attacking midfielder, he was also capable of playing as a winger or as a central midfielder.

Juninho is one of the few footballers to publicly speak out against racism in the country, as well as criticize Jair Bolsonaro, the far-right former president of Brazil from 2019 to 2023.{{cite news|url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-45780176|title=Jair Bolsonaro: Far-right candidate wins first round of Brazil election|work=BBC|access-date=8 October 2018|date=2018-10-08}}{{cite journal|url=https://www.foreignaffairs.com/articles/brazil/2018-07-12/will-brazils-next-president-be-far-right-nationalist|title=Will Brazil's Next President be a Far-Right Nationalist?|journal=Foreign Affairs|access-date=30 September 2018|date=2018-07-12 |last1=Carazza |first1=Bruno }}{{cite news |last1=Phillips |first1=Dom |title=Jair Bolsonaro: Brazil's far-right presidential hopeful stabbed at campaign rally |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/sep/06/brazil-jair-bolsonaro-far-right-presidential-candidate-stabbed |access-date=6 September 2018 |work=the Guardian |date=6 September 2018 |language=en}}{{cite news|first=Anthony|last=Boadle|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-brazil-politics-bolsonaro-interview/far-right-presidential-hopeful-aims-to-be-brazils-trump-idUSKCN1C2384|title=Far-right presidential hopeful aims to be Brazil's Trump|work=Reuters|location=London, England|date=27 September 2017|access-date=24 April 2018}}{{cite web|first=Pedro Henrique|last=Leal|url=https://www.opendemocracy.net/democraciaabierta/pedro-henrique-leal/bolsonaro-and-brazilian-far-right|title=Bolsonaro and the Brazilian far right|website=opendemocracy.net|date=24 April 2017|access-date=24 April 2018|archive-date=13 February 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190213084134/https://www.opendemocracy.net/democraciaabierta/pedro-henrique-leal/bolsonaro-and-brazilian-far-right|url-status=dead}} He is a father and a grandfather.{{cite web|title=Juninho Pernambucano: 'There are thousands of George Floyds in Brazil'|url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/jul/07/juninho-pernambucano-there-are-thousands-of-george-floyds-in-brazil|date=7 July 2020|access-date=7 July 2020|work=The Guardian|first=Thiago|last=Rabelo}}

{{notelist}}

:Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Juninho goal.

Sport Recife

• Campeonato Pernambucano: 1994
• Copa do Nordeste: 1994

Vasco da Gama{{Cite news|url=https://www.eurosport.co.uk/football/juninho-pernambucano_prs17560/person.shtml|title=Juninho Pernambucano – PRIZE LIST|access-date=18 January 2018}}

• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 1997, 2000
• Campeonato Carioca: 1998
• Torneio Rio-São Paulo: 1999
• Copa Libertadores: 1998
• Copa Mercosur: 2000

Lyon

• Ligue 1 (7): 2001–02, 2002–03, 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06, 2006–07, 2007–08
• Coupe de France: 2007–08
• Trophée Des Champions (6) 2002, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007

Al-Gharafa

• Qatar Stars League: 2009–10
• Qatari Stars Cup: 2009
• Qatar Crown Prince Cup: 2010, 2011

Brazil

• FIFA Confederations Cup: 2005
• Toulon Tournament: 1995
• Lunar New Year Cup: 2005

Individual

• Revista Placar Bola de Prata: 2000
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: February 2005, March 2005, October 2006
• UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Year: 2005–06{{Cite news|url=https://nypost.com/2012/12/17/red-bulls-sign-juninho/|title=Red Bulls sign Juninho|access-date=20 January 2018|website=New York Post|date=17 December 2012|author=Lewis, Brian}}
• UNFP Ligue 1 Team of the Year: 2003–04, 2004–05, 2005–06
• ESM Team of the Year: 2005–06, 2006–07
• Qatar Football Association Player of the Year: 2010{{Cite news|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/red-bulls-land-brazilian-free-kick-specialist-article-1.1222114|title=NY Red Bulls sign Juninho Pernambucano, former Brazilian international and free kick specialist|access-date=18 January 2018|agency=Associated Press|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180118182435/http://www.nydailynews.com/sports/more-sports/red-bulls-land-brazilian-free-kick-specialist-article-1.1222114|archive-date=18 January 2018|url-status=live|date=17 December 2012|website=New York Daily News}}

Notes

{{reflist|group=note}}

Citations

{{Reflist}}

{{Commons category}}

• {{Lequipe|10000000000000000000012000}}
• {{LFP Ligue 1|antonio-augusto-ribeiro-reis}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20111126145517/http://www.vasco.com.br/site/index.php/elenco/interno/127 Juninho Pernambucano] at CR Vasco da Gama
• {{MLS player|juninho-pernambucano}}

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Category:1975 births

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