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The secret is out. Juninho Pernambucano can no longer hide in the shadows. The Lyon and Brazil free-kick specialist is certain to feature in the World Cup this summer, and may yet fully emerge from the shadows cast by some more illustrious counterparts. For many years, the national team’s star Juninho was the Paulista one, formerly of Middlesbrough and Atlético Madrid. Even when he was still in Brazil, making his name at Vasco da Gama, Juninho Pernambucano suddenly found himself playing alongside his more famous colleague Juninho Paulista, back home for a loan spell.
Recife native Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Junior has not deserved his relative anonymity. After starting out with local club Sport, his move to Rio came in 1995, and the little playmaker played alongside Edmundo and Romário in Vasco’s 2000 Club World Championship campaign, as well as winning two Brasileiros in 1997 and 2000. The obvious abundance of attacking talent at Brazil’s disposal led to many years of him being no more than a bit-part player on the international stage.
This has all changed since his 2001 move to Lyon. Playing a major role in the French club’s record five consecutive ligue 1 triumphs alongside their impressive recent Champions League efforts has made ‘Pernambucano’ a word that trips off the tongue far more easily. Delicate skill, a fine range of passing and good leadership abilities have become trademarks of his midfield displays in Europe, but none of them can compare to his most famous gift: long-range shooting, particularly from free-kicks.
He has scored 26 direct free-kicks during his time in France, many of them spectacular – he is now arguably the world’s best in these situations. As and when he is on the pitch for Brazil, he offers far more than Roberto Carlos’ inconsistent howitzers, and more variation than the efforts of others like Ronaldinho. He also offers variety in midfield, capable of playing behind the strikers or slightly deeper alongside Émerson in Parreira’s preferred 4-2-2-2 formation.
At 31 this will surely be his only World Cup campaign, a pity given what a delight he can be to watch. Few players would be able to oust the likes of Kaká and Ronaldinho from Brazil’s starting line-up, but don’t rule out Lyon’s schemer having a major impact on the tournament at some point.
Position:Defensive or Attacking Midfield
Appearances: 36
Goals: 4
Club: Lyon (France)
Full Name: Antônio Augusto Ribeiro Reis Junior
Date of birth: 30 January 1975
Place of birth: Recife (PE)
International debut: South Korea 1-0 Brazil (28 March 1999)
World Cup Squads: 0
World Cup Appearances: 0
Sport Recife – 1993-94
Vasco – 1995-2001
Lyon (France) – since 2001
Sport Recife – Pernambuco State Championship (1994)
Vasco – Libertadores Cup (1998), Brazilian Championship (1997 & 2000), Mercosul Cup (2000), Rio de Janeiro State Championship (1998), Rio-São Paulo Tournament (1999)
Lyon – French Championship (2002, 03, 04 & 05), French Champions’ Trophy (2002, 03 & 04)
Confederations Cup (2005), Toulon Tournament (1995)
Brazilian Championship Team of the Season (2000)
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Bio written by: Chris Marks
Factfile compiled by: Mark Lowdon
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