Maikon Leite

A professional football player from Brazil, Maikon Fernando Souza Leite plays as a midfielder on the right flank or right wing. Maikon has also been known to play up front, sometimes, as a second striker in support to the main striker. Maikon began his playing career at Santo Andre, in 2005, after playing through the youth academy.

He broke into the first team with a lot of promise and when on the pitch, Maikon delivered! Between 2006 and 2008, he scored 11 goals with 56 games and became a regular part of the first team over three seasons. He helped the club with the 2006 Serie A2 title and almost led the team from the front.

In 2008, Maikon moved to Santos where he failed to make a similar impact. After starting off brightly, he faded away and was even sent out on loan to Clube Atletico Paranaense in 2010. During his loan move, Maikon played around 21 games and scored 4 times.

Although he was part of the 2010 and 2011 Campeonato Paulista title winning Palmeiras teams, he never really got a regular place in the side. His performance for Santos never really hit the heights expected from him and over a period of 3 years, one of which was a loan season, Maikon went out onto the pitch just 36 times, scoring 9 goals in those games. He would, however, be a part of the team that won the 2010 Copa do Brasil title and the famous 2011 Copa Libertadores.

In 2011, he moved to Palmeiras and quickly regained the form of old. He has, since his move, become an essential part of the first team line-up, scoring 11 goals from his 57 league games so far. He has already helped the side win the 2012 Copa do Brasil title – another feather in his silverware-laden cap.