Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato, a Brazilian former professional footballer, was born on September 2, 1989. Known simply as Pato, he made his mark as a striker, showcasing his talent from a young age. He began his football journey with Internacional, where he joined the youth ranks in 2000 and made his professional debut in 2006 at just sixteen years old. During his time with Internacional, he scored twelve goals in twenty-seven appearances and played a pivotal role in their victory at the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup.

In August 2007, Pato took a significant step in his career by signing with the prestigious Italian club AC Milan. His time in Italy was marked by impressive performances, particularly in 2009 when he netted eighteen goals in forty-two matches across all competitions. This remarkable achievement earned him the coveted Golden Boy award and the title of Serie A Young Footballer of the Year. Pato's contributions were instrumental in Milan's success during the 2010–11 season, where he emerged as the club's joint top scorer with fourteen goals in twenty-five games, helping them secure the Serie A title.

After a successful stint in Europe, Pato returned to Brazil in January 2013, signing with Corinthians for a transfer fee of fifteen million euros. His time at Corinthians was fruitful, culminating in a Campeonato Paulista title. In 2014, he joined São Paulo on a two-year loan, where he made a significant impact by scoring thirty-eight goals in ninety-five appearances. Pato's journey continued with a loan to Chelsea in January 2016, followed by a move to Villarreal later that year. In 2017, he signed with Chinese club Tianjin Tianhai, before returning to São Paulo in 2019.

On the international stage, Pato has been a full international for Brazil since 2008. He was part of the national team that triumphed in the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup and represented Brazil in the 2011 Copa América. Additionally, Pato achieved remarkable success at the Olympic Games, winning a bronze medal in 2008 and a silver medal in 2012, further solidifying his legacy in Brazilian football.