Lucas Leiva
Lucas Leiva was born in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil on January 9th, 1987 and is the Soccer Player. At the age of 37, Lucas Leiva biography, profession, age, height, weight, eye color, hair color, build, measurements, education, career, dating/affair, family, news updates, and networth are available.
At 37 years old, Lucas Leiva has this physical status:
Club career
Lucas, a born in Dourados, Mato Grosso do Sul, began his career at Grêmio as a midfielder in 2005. Grêmio won the Rio Grande do Sul state championship (the Campeonato Gaecho) for the first time since 2001, and he came third in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. Lucas, an award won by Zico, Falcó, Careca, Alex, Romário, Kaká, and Carlos Tevez.
His form in 2006 sparked increased interest from several major European clubs, including top Spanish clubs and Internazionale. It was Liverpool that was most appealing to the player, but the club announced on May 13th that they had signed the player from Grêmio before the 2007–08 season began. The transfer fee was in the region of £6 million.
He was officially unveiled as a Liverpool player for a $5 million fee and was given international permission to participate in the Barclays Asia Trophy's final on July 26, 2007.
Lucas was given his chance to play in the Liverpool midfield by late November, according to manager Rafael Bentez, who easing him in during the first few months at the club. During an FA Cup match against Havant & Waterlooville on January 27, Lucas curled a 25-yard shot into the top corner, becoming the first Brazilian to score for Liverpool.
The 2008-09 season was a pivotal turning point in his career. Since finishing his first season with the Reds, many commentators expected him to step up to the next level. In a 2–1 friendly victory over Swiss side Lucerne in July, the Brazilian got off to a promising start with a well taken first goal. He played well in pre-season games but was unable to participate in the Brazilian Olympic Team in the Beijing Olympics.
Lucas earned a bronze medal and Bentez expressed concern about the Brazilian's future, saying, "This season, he will improve because he is a very, very good professional and has knowledge of the Olympic Games." Despite the increasing difficulty of winning a first-team spot, Lucas said Liverpool's squad was much improved from the previous season and relished the opportunity to compete for trophies. However, following a string of poor performances, both critics and fans raised concerns about Lucas' talent and his confidence, but the Liverpool fans booed him following a poor draw against Fulham. The criticism irked Ben, who defended him vehemently, saying that "people just don't know how good Lucas is." Bentez emphasized Lucas' reputation by stating that he had been captain for both Grêmio and his national youth team, as well as those competing for a spot against Javier Mascherano, Steven Gerrard, and Xabi Alonso was difficult. Lucas's performances for Liverpool in December 2008 brought him a lot of praise from pundits, the most notable being his role in Newcastle United's 5–1 thrashing, where he provided an assist for Gerrard. Lucas was suspended in a cup tie against Mersey rivals Everton, which Liverpool lost. After giving up a late penalty in Liverpool's last match, a 1–1 draw with Wigan Athletic, this compounded his growing unpopularity among Liverpool's followers.
Lucas was a key factor in Liverpool's 4–1 victory over Manchester United over Old Trafford on March 14th, starting in place of the injured Xabi Alonso. Lucas played against Chelsea in the Champions League on April 14th, replacing Steven Gerrard. With his long-range kick in the 81st minute, he scored a goal and dragged Michael Essien and past goalkeeper Petr ech to make the score 3–3. Dirk Kuyt's header a minute later gave Liverpool the lead, but Frank Lampard's 89th-minute strike level brought the total score to 4–4, with Chelsea beating 7–5 on aggregate to advance to the tournament's semi-finals.
Lucas scored his first Premier League goal, a header from a free-kick for Liverpool against Newcastle United in a 3–0 victory on May 3rd.
Lucas played well during the 2009-10 pre-season for Liverpool, scoring his first goal in a 2–1 loss against Atlético Madrid. Manager Rafael Bentez lauded his work, and he got off to a good start against Tottenham Hotspur in the 2009–10 season's inaugural game on August 16th. Liverpool lost 2–1, but Lucas was praised for a solid showing all round.
Lucas scored in a 4–1 (5–3 aggregate) quarter-final win over Benfica on Sunday, his second European goal for Liverpool.
Lucas was appointed captain of a youth Liverpool team against Grasshopper in pre-season games before the 2010-11 season. Lucas scored his sixth goal for Liverpool following the club's first Europa League group stage match against Steaua București on September 16th. Liverpool defeated Liverpool 4–1 on a 4–1 victory, with the goal coming from 22 yards. Lucas was dismissed for the second time in his Liverpool career after being given his second yellow card in injury time in Liverpool's 2–0 loss to Stoke City on November 13. Lucas was voted Man of the Match by a fan on the official Liverpool website on December 6th. Lucas scored in a 3–0 victory over Aston Villa with Ryan Babel's help.
In May 2011, Lucas was named Liverpool Player of the Year Award. Lucas signed a new long-term deal with Liverpool on March 30.
After an excellent run of form for Liverpool, his season was cut short on December 1, 2011 after he collided with Juan Mata in the quarter-finals of the League Cup.
Lucas agreed to a new long-term contract with the club on April 10, 2013. He was a consistent starter in the first few months of the 2013–14 season as Liverpool put up an unexpected title challenge, but his campaign was cut short due to injury. Due to his form, he made a return to the Brazilian national team's squad.
Lucas was rotated in and out of the squad in the first run of games in the 2014–15 Premier League and other cup competitions, sparking rumors surrounding a departure from Anfield. He made his comeback against Ludogorets in the Champions League, but he didn't disappoint. His fine form soared, and he started playing against Stoke City, Leicester City, and Sunderland. Liverpool continued to play against Manchester United, Burnley, Swansea City, Leicester, and Sunderland, all of whom Liverpool lost to United, Arsenal, Burnley, Swansea City, Leicester, and Sunderland, a good cause that has since been suspended in five games with Lucas as a key participant. Lucas was on the ersatz bench in a 2–1 loss to Manchester United on March 22, after coming back from a six-week injury layoff.
Despite rumors that Lucas would leave Anfield, he was recalled to the starting lineup. Lucas under new manager Jürgen Klopp was praised for his outstanding play in the club's 11-game unbeaten run following manager Brendan Rodgers' ouster. Lucas made his 300th appearance for Liverpool against Stoke City in the Football League Cup semi-finals at Anfield on January 26, 2016. Lucas captained the team in the Premier League match against Crystal Palace on September 8th, a 2–1 loss for Liverpool.
Lucas started for Liverpool in central defense in the 2016 Football League Cup Final on February 28, 2016. He was one of three Liverpool players who failed to kick a single ball as the team lost 3–1 in a penalty shootout to Manchester City.
Lucas scored his first goal for the club since September 16, 2010, a first-half header in the FA Cup 3rd round replay against Plymouth Argyle on January 18, 2017. Lucas's tenth year as a Liverpool player came to an end at the end of the season. Lucas's dinner party was held in his honor and was given a Special Recognition Award by club legend Kenny Dalglish at Liverpool's postseason award ceremony.
Lucas made the switch to Lazio, a Serie A club, on July 18, 2017, capping his 10-year association with Liverpool.
Lucas made his official debut for the Rome club in a 3–2 victory over league champions Juventus in the Supercoppa Italiana on August 13th. In the final group game of the UEFA Europa League, he scored his first goal for the club, defeating Zulte Waregem 23-0. Lucas missed a penalty during Lazio's match against Milan in the Coppa Italia semi-finals on February 28, 2018, which Lazio lost 4–5.
Lucas scored the first goal in a 2–0 away victory over Dynamo Kyiv in the UEFA Europa League's second leg's second leg on March 15th, securing a 4–2 aggregate victory and progressing to the tournament's quarterfinals. Lucas scored his first league goal for the club in a 1–1 draw with Bologna on March 18, and he defeated Benevento 6–2.
He made 50 appearances in all sports and was named team Player of the Year in the year's Best Player of the Year.
Lucas was back to Grêmio on a student visa until December 2023, on June 27, 2022.
International career
Lucas is the former captain of the Brazilian under-20 team. He led the team to victory in the 2007 South American Youth Championship, scoring four goals in the process. He was supposed to lead the team again in the 2007 FIFA U-20 World Cup held in Canada in July 2007 and was selected in their squad, but a lack of training prevented him from playing for three weeks, resulting in his departure from the squad.
Lucas was named in the senior Brazilian squad for friendlies against Kuwaiti club Al-Kuwait and Ecuador in October 2006. Lucas was both the youngest player and one of the few non-Europe based players in a good squad. On October 7, 2006, he made his Brazil debut against Al-Kuwait as a second-half replacement against Al-Kuwait. Brazil defeated the game 4–0, but his appearance did not count as his first cap because the match was not deemed a FIFA official friendly match.
Lucas made his first official Brazil international debut in a friendly against Algeria on August 22nd. Lucas was selected in the Brazil squad for an Olympics warm-up match later this month.
Lucas was given a red card in the 2008 Olympics semi-final match between Brazil and Argentina, after a fight with then Liverpool teammate Javier Mascherano, who lost 3–0 as Argentina defeated Argentina 3–0. Lucas was called back to the senior Brazil squad in August 2009 in place of Flamengo's Kléberson, who was hospitalized due to injury. Lucas played the full 90 minutes in a friendly against the United States on August 10, 2010 after being left out on the Brazil world cup squad in South Africa.
Lucas was presented with a straight red card in the 2011 Copa América play-off quarter final against Paraguay after an extra time altercation with Antoln Alcaraz on July 17. Since the match had ended all square after 90 minutes, Brazil continued to lose the match on penalties.