Michael (footballer, born March 1996)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Delgado and the second or paternal family name is de Oliveira.

Michael Richard Delgado de Oliveira (born 12 March 1996), simply known as Michael, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Flamengo.

Michael

Michael with Flamengo in 2021
Personal information
Full name	Michael Richard Delgado de Oliveira[1]
Date of birth	(1996-03-12) 12 March 1996 (age 28)[1]
Place of birth	Poxoréu, Brazil
Height	1.66 m (5 ft 5 in)[1]
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Flamengo
Number	30
Youth career
	Diamante Verde
2016	Goiânia
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2015	Monte Cristo	6	(0)
2016	Goiânia	7	(1)
2017	Goianésia	13	(5)
2017–2019	Goiás	118	(24)
2020–2021	Flamengo	78	(19)
2022–2024	Al Hilal	68	(13)
2024–	Flamengo	12	(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 29 July 2024

Club career

Early career

Born in Poxoréu, Mato Grosso, Michael started his career with hometown side Escolinha Diamante Verde. In 2012 he moved to Goiânia, having failed trials at Atlético Goianiense, Goiás, Vila Nova and Goiânia.^[2]

In 2015, after spending a period representing amateur side Euro Brasil, Michael joined Monte Cristo in the third division of the Campeonato Goiano.^[3] He made his senior debut on 29 August of that year, starting in a 0–5 away loss against Caldas.

In 2016 Michael signed a contract with Goiânia; initially assigned to the under-20s, he was promoted to the first team ahead of the year's second division of the Campeonato Goiano. He scored his first senior goal on 14 August, netting the game's only in a home success over Evangélica.

On 26 December 2016, Michael joined Goianésia in the state league first division.^[4] A regular starter, he scored a hat-trick in a 5–1 home routing of Vila Nova the following 12 March.^[5]

Goiás

Michael during an interview in 2019 as a player of Goiás

On 13 April 2017, after being named the breakthrough player of the 2017 Goianão, Michael was presented at Goiás.^[6] He made his debut for the club on 13 May, coming on as a half-time substitute for Jean Carlos in a 1–0 home defeat to Figueirense for the Série B championship.^[7]

Michael scored his first professional goal on 7 July 2017, netting his team's second in a 3–1 home win against Luverdense.^[8] He was mainly utilized as a substitute during his first season, as his side narrowly avoided relegation.

Michael became a regular starter during the 2018 campaign,^[9] contributing with seven goals in 33 appearances as his side achieved promotion to Série A. He made his top tier debut on 28 April 2019, starting in a 1–0 away defeat of Fluminense.^[10]

Michael scored his first goal in the first division on 5 May 2019, but in a 2–1 loss at Cruzeiro.^[11] During the months of October and November, he scored six goals in 12 appearances.

Flamengo

On 10 January 2020, Goiás announced the transfer of Michael to Flamengo for a fee of €7.5 million.^[12][13][14]

Al Hilal

Michael arrived at Al-Hilal in January 2022, when he was bought for around 7.6 million euros from Flamengo.^[15]

In his third at Al-Hilal, Michael enjoyed his best season in Saudi Arabia. He participated in 50 games, contributing 11 goals and 10 assists, won the Saudi Pro League, King's Cup and Super Cup, and helped the club set a new world record of 34 consecutive victories.^[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 18 January 2025^[17]

Club	Season	League			State league[a]		National cup[b]		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Monte Cristo	2015[18]	Goiano 3ª Divisão	—		6	0	—		—		—		6	0
Goiânia	2016[18]	Goiano 2ª Divisão	—		7	1	—		—		—		7	1
Goianésia	2017[18]	Goiano	—		13	5	—		—		—		13	5
Goiás	2017	Série B	23	1	2	0	—		—		—		25	1
	2018	Série B	33	7	11	0	6	0	—		—		50	7
	2019	Série A	35	9	16	7	2	0	—		1[c]	1	54	17
	Total		91	17	27	7	10	0	—		1	1	129	25
Flamengo	2020	Série A	20	0	13	3	3	1	5[d]	0	2[e]	0	43	4
	2021	Série A	35	14	10	2	8	2	8[d]	1	1[f]	0	62	19
	Total		55	14	23	5	11	3	13	1	3	0	105	23
Al Hilal	2021–22	Saudi Pro League	11	2	—		3	0	3[g]	1	3[h]	0	20	3
	2022–23	Saudi Pro League	24	6	—		4	2	3[g]	0	4[i]	0	36	8
	2023–24	Saudi Pro League	33	5	—		4	2	7[g]	2	6[j]	2	50	11
	Total		68	13	—		11	4	13	3	13	2	105	22
Flamengo	2024	Série A	12	4	—		4	0	0	0	—		16	4
Career total			225	48	86	18	37	7	25	3	17	3	347	80

1. Includes Campeonato Goiano Terceira Divisão, Campeonato Goiano Segunda Divisão, Campeonato Goiano, Campeonato Carioca
2. Includes Copa do Brasil, King Cup
3. Appearance in Copa Verde
4. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
5. One appearance in Recopa Sudamericana, one appearance in Supercopa do Brasil
6. Appearance in Supercopa do Brasil
7. Appearances in AFC Champions League
8. Appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
9. One appearance in Saudi Super Cup, three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup
10. Appearances in Arab Club Champions Cup

Honours

Goiás

• Campeonato Goiano: 2018

Flamengo

• Recopa Sudamericana: 2020^[19]
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2020
• Copa do Brasil: 2024
• Supercopa do Brasil: 2020, 2021,^[20] 2025^[21]
• Campeonato Carioca: 2020, 2021

Al-Hilal

• Saudi Pro League: 2021–22, 2023–24
• King Cup: 2022–23, 2023–24
• Saudi Super Cup: 2023,^[22] 2024^[23]

Individual

• Best Right Winger in Brazil: 2019^[24]
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Newcomer: 2019
• Bola de Prata Best Newcomer: 2019^[25]
• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2021

References

1. "FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2022™: List of Players: Al Hilal SFC" (PDF). FIFA. 7 February 2023. p. 2. Archived (PDF) from the original on 12 February 2023. Retrieved 18 February 2023.
2. "Saga do jovem Michael mostra a dureza de encontrar lugar ao sol no mundo do futebol" [Saga of young Michael shows the toughness of finding a place under the sun in the world of football] (in Portuguese). Jornal Opção. 18 March 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
3. "Do amador ao Corinthians… Atacante Michael destaque do Goiás, pode ser vendido por mais de 20 milhões" [From the amateur to Corinthians... Forward Michael spotlight of Goiás, may be sold for more than 20 million] (in Portuguese). Futebol Goiano. 28 September 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
4. "Goianésia anuncia contratação de destaque do Goiânia" [Goianésia announce signing of Goiânia's spotlight] (in Portuguese). Futebol Goiano. 26 December 2016. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
5. "Comandado por Nonato e Michael, Goianésia humilha o Vila Nova: 5 a 1" [Led by Nonato and Michael, Goianésia thrash Vila Nova: 5–1] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 12 March 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
6. "Michael e Tony são oficialmente apresentados" [Michael and Tony are officially presented] (in Portuguese). Goiás EC. 13 April 2017. Archived from the original on 20 December 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
7. "Goiás cai para o Figueirense e perde a primeira no ano no estádio Serra Dourada" [Goiás fall against Figueirense and lose the first of the year at the Serra Dourada stadium] (in Portuguese). O Estado de S. Paulo. 13 May 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
8. "Promessa se emociona com primeiro gol pelo Goiás e revela que passava fome" [Prospect gets emotional with first goal by Goiás and reveals that he starved] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 7 July 2017. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
9. "Destemido, Michael se firma no Goiás e chama atenção pelas jogadas de efeito" [Fearless, Michael establishes himself at Goiás and draws attention due to his stunts] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 17 July 2018. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
10. "Flu perde pênalti, sofre gol do Goiás aos 44 e inicia Brasileiro com derrota" [Flu miss penalty, suffer a goal from Goiás in the 89' and start the Brasileiro with a defeat] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Lance!. 28 April 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
11. "Em jogo movimentado, Cruzeiro bate o Goiás no Mineirão" [In an active match, Cruzeiro defeat Goiás at the Mineirão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 5 May 2019. Retrieved 29 November 2019.
12. "Acabou a novela! Goiás oficializa venda de Michael ao Flamengo" (in Portuguese). Globoesporte.com. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 10 January 2020.
13. "Michael se despede do Goiás" [Michael leaves Goiás] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Goiás EC. 10 January 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2020.
14. "Revelação do Brasileirão 2019, Michael é o novo jogador do Flamengo - Flamengo". flamengo.com (in Portuguese). 20 January 2020. Retrieved 21 January 2020.
15. https://tntsports.com.br/futebolbrasileiro/Michael-fica-no-Al-Hilal-a-pedido-de-Jorge-Jesus-e-frusta-o-Cruzeiro-20240618-0016.html ^{[bare URL]}
16. "Após melhor temporada na Arábia, Michael ganha prestígio e deixa futuro nas mãos do Al-Hilal". 19 June 2024.
17. Michael at Soccerway. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
18. "Michael" (in Portuguese). Futebol de Goyaz. Retrieved 19 December 2018.
19. Vickery, Tim (27 February 2020). "Flamengo's Recopa win over Independiente a stepping stone to more glory". ESPN. Retrieved 27 February 2020.
20. "Supercopa: em jogo doido, Flamengo vence o Palmeiras nos pênaltis". One Football (in Portuguese). 11 April 2021. Retrieved 11 April 2021.
21. "Flamengo domina o Botafogo e é campeão da Supercopa Rei" (in Brazilian Portuguese). ge.globo. 2 February 2025. Retrieved 2 February 2025.
22. "Al Hilal thrash Al Ittihad to win Saudi Super Cup". ESPN. 11 April 2024. Retrieved 11 April 2024.
23. "Cristiano Ronaldo, Al Nassr routed by Al Hilal in Saudi Super Cup final". ESPN. 17 August 2024. Retrieved 17 August 2024.
24. "Acompanhe os melhores momentos do Troféu Mesa Redonda - Gazeta Esportiva". www.gazetaesportiva.com. 16 December 2019. Retrieved 7 September 2023.
25. "Bola de Prata: veja como ficou a seleção do Campeonato Brasileiro 2019" (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 9 December 2019. Retrieved 9 December 2019.

External links

• Goiás EC profile (in Portuguese)
• Michael at Soccerway