Thiago Augusto

Thiago Neves Augusto began playing professional football in 2005, with Parana Clube. He moved up the ranks from the youth division of the same club, which he was part of since 2000. The football midfielder was loaned out to Vegalta Sendai in 2006, where he scored 8 goals in 35 league appearances. In 2007, Augusto left Parana to join Fluminense, where he remained for one season, during which time he scored an impressive 31 goals in 83 appearances.

The talented youngster moved to Hamburger SV in 2008, but left to join Al-Hilal, for a fee of 7 million Euros, in 2009. Immediately after the transfer, Augusto was transferred to Fluminense where he currently plays, and has already scored twice in 4 appearances. In the 2007-08 season, Augusto was called to join the Brazil Under-23 national team, with whom he made 5 appearances and scored twice. In 2008, Augusto was called to join the senior national team, and he played 6 matches with the team, though he could not score.

During the 2008 Copa Libertadores final, Augusto scored a hat-trick, even though the team was unable to bag the title. But his great talent has been widely noticed and there are many rumors of Augusto making a move to Europe. One of the most popular teams to be aggressively pursuing the youngster is Manchester City, and others in 2008 were Atletico Madrid and Hamburger SV.

Augusto has also won numerous individual honors which include the Bola de Ouro in 2007, and the Best Player of Parana State Championship, Under-20 title in 2004. Apart from this, Augusto was also a part of the winning team of Fluminense which bagged the 2007 Brazilian Cup. For his participation with the national team in the Beijing Olympics, Augusto also won the Bronze medal with the team.