Luís Fabiano

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Lore & Background

Luís Fabiano transferred to Sevilla ahead of the 2005–06 season, replacing his compatriot and former São Paulo teammate Júlio Baptista. On 10 May 2006, he scored a header during Sevilla's 4–0 victory over Middlesbrough in the UEFA Cup Final. The success continued in the 2007–08 season, as Luís Fabiano finished runner-up in the Pichichi Trophy with 24 goals (including two from the penalty spot), second only to Daniel Güiza's 27 goals. This led to Luís Fabiano being recalled to the Brazilian Seleção. On 29 November, Luís Fabiano was sent off for elbowing Barcelona's Sergio Busquets. He had to be restrained by the Sevilla staff. In 2008, Luís Fabiano extended his contract with Sevilla to 2011.

In Their Own Story

The atmosphere at the Ramón Sánchez-Pizjuán was electric on 10 May 2006 as Luís Fabiano rose above Middlesbrough's defense. With the ball floating into the box, he connected with a powerful header that flew past the goalkeeper, sparking a celebration that capped a 4–0 UEFA Cup Final victory. That moment cemented his status as a European hero for the Andalusian club. His form did not wane in domestic league play; by the 2007–08 season, he had become La Liga's second-highest scorer with 24 goals, including two from penalties, narrowly missing out on the Pichichi Trophy to Daniel Güiza. Even amidst controversy, such as his red card against Sergio Busquets in late 2008, Fabiano remained a central figure. On 30 August 2010, silencing transfer rumors about a move to Milan or elsewhere, he signed a new deal until 2013, stating simply that Sevilla was his home and he intended to keep making history there.

Reader's Guide

Luís Fabiano was a prolific goalscorer, with excellent creativity, dribbling skills, and technical ability; he also had a strong physical presence against defenders and goalkeepers. Nonetheless, he had a poor disciplinary record, despite playing as a forward. Even as the top goalscorer in the 2013 season with 16 goals by June, he had received several red cards, hindering São Paulo in important games.

Did You Know?

• Luís Fabiano scored his first international hat-trick in a 6–2 friendly win over Portugal in Brasília on 19 November 2008.
• He won the golden boot as the top scorer of the 2009 FIFA Confederations Cup with five goals.
• Luís Fabiano was labeled the 'bad boy' of Brazilian football after a brawl during a 2003 Copa Sudamericana match, where he kicked a River Plate player below the neck and said he 'would rather fight than take a penalty.'