He wasn’t a great player in the Selecao, but Frederico Chaves Guedes, known as Fred, made history in domestic football.
Just under three months before he turned 39, the classic center forward ended a career in Brazil’s top flight on Saturday, in which he was the second-best striker with 158 goals behind Roberto Dinamite (190), but ahead of Romario (154) and Pele (101).
“Highest respect,” wrote superstar Neymar on his Instagram profile. Fred, who won the 2007 Copa America as a reserve player in the Selecao and was the protagonist in the 2013 Confederation Cup triumph with five goals, became one of the scapegoats for the 1 a year later with just one goal in the World Cup tournament at home: 7-disgrace against Germany and the disappointed fourth place stamped.
At club level, on the other hand, things went well: three French champions (2006-2008) and cup winners (2008) with Olympique Lyon, national champions in Brazil with Fluminense FC (2010, 2012) and cup winners with Cruzeiro EC (2018).
With 37 goals, he is even the record scorer in the domestic cup. On Saturday, Fred ended his playing career in the 2-1 Fluminenses in the Maracana against Ceara SC to the applause of 63,707 spectators.