Willian

At 36 years old, Willian has this physical status:

Willian Borges da Silva (born 9 August 1988), also known as Willian [Brazilian Portuguese: ['wili]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger or an attacking midfielder for Premier League clubs Chelsea and the Brazil national team. Willian began his career at Corinthians before joining Shakhtar Donetsk in August 2007 for a €14 million deposit.

He received awards including five Ukrainian Premier League titles and the UEFA Cup in 2009 during his six years with the club.

He played for Anzhachhachhi Makhachhachhachhachachhua in 2013 before joining Chelsea for £30 million, winning the Premier League and League Cup in his second season in England. Willian made his Brazilian debut in 2011 and has since represented his country at the 2014 and 2018 FIFA World Cups, the Copa América Centenario, and the 2019 Copa América.

Personal life

Willian Martins, an Afro-Brazilian, is married to Vanessa Martins. Valentina and Manuella have twin daughters. Willian is a devout Christian, like many Brazilian footballers.

In April 2016, Willian was listed in the Panama Papers.

Dona Zezé, Willian's mother, died on October 13th, 2016, at the age of 57. During a game against the Premier League champions, Leicester City, his teammates Diego Costa, and Eden Hazard dedicated their goals to Willian and his mother. Antonio Conte, his brother, and his coworkers, all pledged their support for Willian and his families.

In 2018, Willian and his colleague David Luiz acquired Babbo, an Italian restaurant located in Mayfair, London.

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Club career

In his hometown Ribeiro Pires, Willian started playing futsal at 6 years old. He joined the Corinthians youth system in 1998. He was already a member of the Copa S. Paulo de Futebol Jnior squad in 2005, aged 17. He was also one of the few Corinthians loanees to play briefly for Grêmio Mauaense in the 2005 Campeona Série A3.

Willian debuted on the Corinthians' first team in 2007, where he wore the number 10. During his first season with the senior team, he made five league appearances as Corinthians finished mid-table. In the following year, he made his name with Corinthians, playing in 11 league games, scoring twice, and made 29 appearances in all competitions for the club. Despite being 13th in the 2013 season, the club finished 17th in the Série A and were relegated for the first time in club history.

Willian signed a five-year deal with Shakhtar Donetsk for a €14 million transfer fee. In a 2–1 league victory over Chornomorets Odesa on September 15, Willian's debut for the club was made. He arrived at a 57th-minute replacement, swapping fellow Brazilian Jádson. In a 4–1 victory over Arsenal Kyiv in the Ukrainian Cup on October 31, the club's first goal was scored. In a 3–0 Champions League loss to Italian side A.C. Milan on 6 November, he made his European debut on Friday, arriving as a 73rd minute replacement for Răzvan Raţ. He had 28 total appearances, 20 of which were in the league, with one goal. He aided Shakhtar in winning the Vyshcha Liha and Ukrainian Cup double. They won the league by three points over Dynamo Kyiv and then defeated them 2–0 in the 2008 Ukrainian Cup Final.

On July 15, he was involved in the Super Cup penalty shoot-out victory over Dynamo Kyiv, before being replaced by Brando after 46 minutes. In a 3–1 victory over Dinamo Zagreb in the Champions League on August 27, he scored a goal. In a 3–1 victory over Zorya Luhansk on November 1st, he scored his first league goal for Shakhtar. He scored his only goal in a 1–0 victory over Dynamo Kyiv on November 16, 2009, at a 1–0 victory. In a 1–0 victory over Chornomorets Odesa on April 25, he scored the goal of the game.

Willian was playing in Shakhtar's UEFA Cup Final 2–1 extra time victory over Werder Bremen, assisting Shakhtar in lifting the last UEFA Cup title before being rebranded as the UEFA Europa League. In the 2008–09 season, he made 52 appearances, scoring eight goals. He was in just one league match, scoring five goals, and he also scored a goal against Zakarpattia Uzhorod, which Shakhakht defeated 4–1.

In a 6–1 Ukrainian Cup round of 32 victory over Dniester Ovidiopol on August 15, Willian's first goal of the season came in a 6–1 victory. On August 28, he made an appearance in Shakhtar's 1–0 extra time loss to Spanish side Barcelona in the UEFA Super Cup, before being replaced by Julius Aghahowa in the 90th minute of the match. In a group stage match in the Europa League, he scored his second goal in a 4–1 win over Belgian side Club Brugge on September 17th. He had seven goals in 39 appearances, including 22 appearances and five goals in the league, at the end of the season. He was a coach who coached Shakhtar to victory in the Ukrainian Premier League. They finished the season with 77 points, six ahead of their nearest rivals, Dynamo Kyiv.

In Shakhtar's elbig 8–1 victory over Tavriya Simferopol in the Super Cup on July 4th, Willian started the season with a goal. He finished up on 10 July with his second goal in the first league match of the season, a 2–0 win over Kryvyi Rih. He scored in the first half of a 1–0 win over Karpaty Lviv on August 15th, scoring in the first half stoppage time. In a 1–0 victory over Illichivets Mariupol on August 29, he scored his first goal. He scored two goals in a Champions League last 16 tie against Roma on March 8th, with Shakhtar winning 3–0 on the night and progressing to the quarter-final after winning 6–2 on aggregate. On the 25th of May, he dominated Dynamo Kyiv in the Ukrainian Cup Final, being replaced by Alex Teixeira after 77 minutes. He had eight goals from 43 appearances, including 23 league appearances and three league goals. Shakhtar won their league with a score of 72 points, seven points ahead of second place, Dynamo Kyiv. To clinch a domestic treble, they added the Ukrainian Cup and Super Cup titles.

Willian played the full 90 minutes in the Super Cup match against Dynamo Kyiv on July 5th, but Shakhtar lost the match 3–1. In a 2–2 draw with Zenit Saint Petersburg in the Champions League, he scored the opening goal on October 19th. In a 2–1 win over Illichivets Mariupol on March 10, he scored his second goal in a 2–1 victory. In the Ukrainian Cup Final on May 6, he played the whole match against Metalurh Donetsk in a 2–1 extra time victory. From 37 appearances, five of which were in the league, he ended the season with six goals, five in the league, five of which were in the league. For the third year in a row, Shakhtar has been champion of the Ukrainian Premier League and the Ukrainian Cup for the second year in a row.

Shakhtar opened the season with a 2–0 victory over Metalurh Donetsk in the Super Cup, but Willian did not make the squad for the match. He had to wait until his fourth league game of the season on August 6th before defeating Volyn Lutsk in 4–0. After 46 minutes, Alex Teixeira, the goalcorer, was called off. In a landslide victory over Chornomorets Odesa on 19 August, he scored his first goal and gave two assists. In Shakhtar's 3–2 loss to Chelsea in the Champions League group stage, Willian scored both of Shakhtar's goals.

On the 31st of January 2013, Willian moved to Anzhachhachhachhachhu, Ukraine, for a fee that was estimated to be in the region of €35 million. He had intended to wear the number 10, but due to UEFA restrictions requiring players to wear a number used in the Champions League for the remainder of the season, he was forced to wear the number 88 he had selected at Shakhtar. After heading to Russia, Willian expressed his delight in joining Anzhi and wished Shakhtar Donetsk a great future. In a Europa League match against Newcastle United, Willian sustained an injury on his debut. In a 3–0 victory over Volga Nizhny Novgorod, he scored his first Anzhi goal on April 14, 2013.

Following financial restructuring, Anzhi decided to sell their entire team, including the new signing of Willian.

Chelsea and Willian agreed an agreement on a £30 million transfer, subject to a work permit hearing on August 25, 2013. The agreement was signed on August 28, 2013 and Willian signed a five-year contract, with the number 22 shirt on. Despite the fact that rules generally state that non-EU players must be regular internationals, Willian was granted a work permit despite only having two caps at the time, as an FA panel determined that if he not Brazilian, he would have been a regular international and therefore would have more caps.

Willian had piqued interest from Chelsea's London rivals Tottenham Hotspur prior to signing for Chelsea. He completed a medical at Tottenham Hotspur before meeting Chelsea, which caused a little confusion over which team he would sign for. Chelsea was his first choice, and if the Chelsea transfer went wrong, Willian says he would have only signed with Tottenham Hotspur.

In a 2–1 home loss, Willian made his debut against Basel in the Champions League on September 18th. He made his league debut on October 6th in a 3-1 victory after appearing in victories against Swindon Town and Steaua București in the League Cup and Champions League respectively. In a 3–0 victory over Southampton on January 1, he scored his second Chelsea goal. Willian scored in Chelsea's 2–0 away victory over Liverpool on April 27, 2014.

In a 3–0 win over Aston Villa on September 27, Willian scored his first goal of the new Premier League season. In a group stage match against Schalke 04 in Gelsenkirchen on November 25, he scored his first Champions League goal for the club.

He took the free-kick, who had been headed by Branislav Ivanovia, to put Chelsea into the final in extra time in a League Cup semi-final against Liverpool on January 28, 2015. Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur in the 2015 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium on March 1st. Willian was selected to start against Tottenham in the 2015 League Cup Final at Wembley Stadium, where Chelsea defeated 2–0 to win the trophy for the fifth time.

Willian played in 36 of Chelsea's 38 league games as the club's fourth league champion in 2014.

Chelsea defeated Maccabi Tel Aviv 1-0 in the club's first game of the Champions League group stage on September 16th, with Willian scoring immediately from a free kick to open the scoring. In the team's next three games, he scored from free kicks; Premier League matches against Newcastle United and Southampton; and a 2–1 loss at Porto in the Champions League. Willian's fifth free-kick of the season on November 4th and his sixth in a 4–0 win over Maccabi, making him Europe's best free-kick scorer of the season.

In a 2–0 victory over Porto in Chelsea's final group match on Sunday, Willian scored his fifth Champions League goal of the season, guaranteeing the squad qualified for the knockout stage as group champions. He was later selected by UEFA as one of the top XI players of the Champions League group stage.

Willian was named Chelsea's Fans' Player of the Year and Players' Player of the Year for 2015-2016 on May 13, 2016.

Willian began a new four-year contract on July 12, 2016. In a 3–0 victory over newly promoted Burnley on August 27, he scored his first goal of the season.

Chelsea defeated Tottenham Hotspur 2-0 at Wembley Stadium on April 22, 2017 and Willian scored twice.

As the Blues defeated Qaraba 4–0 at Baku National Stadium on Sunday, Willian scored twice and won two penalties on his 200th appearance for Chelsea. The victory guaranteed that the team would advance to the knockout stages of the Champions League. Willian came off the bench to score his first Premier League goal of the season, helping Chelsea win a point against Liverpool in a 1–1 draw at Anfield.

Willian scored his first goal of the season on Sunday, leading to a 4–1 victory at Cardiff City. He had won a penalty that Eden Hazard converted for his hat trick prior to this. Willian's 3–0 home win over Sheffield Wednesday in the fourth round of the FA Cup on Tuesday, on his 550th club appearance. Chelsea's first goal was his 50th on record.

Willian took over Chelsea's new number 10 for the 2019-20 season in August 2019, taking over from Eden Hazard. In a 2–0 home league victory over Brighton & Hove Albion on September 28, he scored his first goal of the season. In the upcoming match against Lille in the Champions League, Willian scored the winning goal on his 300th Chelsea appearance, a 2–1 away win. On December 22, he scored a double to defeat Tottenham 2–0 away from home.

In a 2–3 league loss to West Ham United on July 1, 2020, Willian scored twice. Willian was the first player to score a Premier League goal in any calendar month. In Chelsea's next league match, a 3–0 victory over Watford, he scored in his third game from the penalty spot; the goal meant he had scored nine league goals, his highest league total in a Chelsea shirt.

On August 9, Willian published an open letter announcing his release from the club on Twitter.

Willian signed for Arsenal's Premier League on a three-year deal on August 14, 2020. Arsenal beat Fulham 3-0 on September 12th, with Willian making his debut for the club against Fulham, two assists. In a 3-1 victory over Leicester City in the Premier League on February 28, 2021, Willian had an assist, his first goal/assist performance in the Premier League since November 2020. In a 3–1 home league victory over West Bromwich Albion, Willian scored his only goal for Arsenal, securing the Baggies' relegation to the EFL Championship.

Arsenal announced on August 30th, 2021, a year at the club, which Willian described as "the worst time he had lived as a professional," and announced that Willian would return to his boyhood club, Corinthians.

Willian's return to the club on August 3021, the club's longest-serving contract until December 2023, according to the club's president. He rescinded his deal in mid-August 2022 after complaining about virtual assaults during his last months in the club.

Willian signed for Fulham on a one-year deal on September 1, 2022.

International career

Willian made his debut in the 2007 South American Youth Championship against Chile, which Brazil went on to win on January 7. He was also selected for the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2007, but Brazil was disqualified in the quarterfinals by Spain.

In a friendly match against Gabon on October 10, 2011, Willian made his senior debut for Brazil. In a 5–0 victory over Honduras in Miami, Florida, he scored his first international goal on November 16, 2013.

Willian was selected as part of the 23-man squad for the 2014 FIFA World Cup on May 7th. He came on at halftime in extra time of his Chelsea teammates Oscar's game against Chile in Belo Horizonte, and scored a penalty in the shootout that was wide of the goal, but Brazil nonetheless advanced.

Willian contributed to Roberto Firmino's decisive goal in the 2–1 win over Venezuela in Santiago, a result that puts Brazil and Brazil into the quarter-finals as group champions at the 2015 Copa América.

He was selected by Brazil's Dunga among the 23-man list for the Copa América Centenario in the United States on May 5th, 2016.

In May 2018, he was selected in Tite's final 23-man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.

He was given a late call-up for the 2019 Copa América to replace the injured Neymar on June 7, 2019.

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