Grafite

Edinaldo Batista Libânio (born 2 April 1979), commonly known as Grafite (pronounced [ɡɾaˈfit͡ɕ]) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a striker.[1] He currently works as a pundit.

Not to be confused with Graphite.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Batista and the second or paternal family name is Libânio.
Grafite
Grafite playing for Santa Cruz in 2016
Personal information
Full name Edinaldo Batista Libânio
Date of birth (1979-04-02) 2 April 1979
Place of birth Jundiaí, São Paulo, Brazil
Height 1.89 m (6 ft 2 in)
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
1999–2000 Matonense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2001 Ferroviária 0 (0)
2001–2002 Santa Cruz 22 (5)
2002–2003 Grêmio 6 (0)
2003 Anyang LG Cheetahs 9 (0)
2003–2004 Goiás 20 (12)
2004–2006 São Paulo 44 (17)
2006–2007 Le Mans 51 (17)
2007–2011 VfL Wolfsburg 107 (59)
2011–2015 Al-Ahli 79 (63)
2015 Al Sadd 9 (4)
2015–2016 Santa Cruz 46 (20)
2017 Atlético Paranaense 9 (0)
2017–2018 Santa Cruz 9 (0)
Total 411 (197)
National team
2005–2010 Brazil 4 (1)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

In 2005, Grafite won the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Championship with São Paulo FC. With German club VfL Wolfsburg he won the 2008–09 Bundesliga, and was the league's top scorer as well as Germany's Player of the Year.

Club career

Beginnings

Born in Jundiaí, Edinaldo Libânio grew up in modest circumstances in the hinterland of the State of São Paulo. He made his first money with the door to door sales of rubbish bags. His talent as football player however earned him his first professional contract in 1999 with the Matão based club SE Matonense with which he played in the first division of the State Championship. In the beginning of 2000 he moved from there for a brief period to the fourth division club Ferroviária in the neighboring town of Araraquara – a club that actually had seen some quite gifted players in its teams in better seasons.

In the middle of the year he signed on with the first division club Santa Cruz FC of the north-eastern Brazilian city Recife. There he scored 5 goals in 22 league matches, which did not aid in preventing relegation to Série B.

However, he attracted the attention of Grêmio Porto Alegre, another first division club, which hired him for a transfer fee of one million Real[2][3] – of this sum Santa Cruz had to forward about 700,000 real to Matonense.[3][4]

Luck was not with him in Porto Alegre. Right at the beginning of the year he incurred a severe knee injury, which saw him sidelined for several months. In July 2002, at one of his first matches for the Rio Grande do Sul club the team was eliminated by Paraguay's Club Olimpia in the semi-finals of the Libertadores. He played six more Série A matches for Grêmio, without scoring, before being returned in September to Santa Cruz on a loan.

With his old club he failed in the Série B semifinals against Criciúma EC to attain promotion to the national top flight. Altogether he scored three second division goals for the Recife club in this phase.

Right at the beginning of 2003 Grafite was forwarded to the FC Seoul of the South Korean K League, then known as Anyang LG Cheetahs. This remained a brief, undistinguished stint and both, player and club, were happy to part ways by mid-year.

Success with Goiás and São Paulo

Back in Brazil Grafite joined first division club Goiás EC in the city of Goiânia. This move soon led to legal differences as to who owned the rights to the player, where Grêmio made claims. Another matter in the case were outstanding wage payments by Santa Cruz FC until the end of the previous year. Matters found a resolution in the best interest of Grafite and his new club.[5]

Grafite considered the time in the capital of the state of Goiás as his "rebirth as a footballer".[6] In the course of the season he developed together with Dimba, who became the league's top scorer with 31 goals, and Araújo, who, like Grafite, hit the goal 12 times, into the outstanding attack formation of the club's history. Goiás finished the season ninth, which was considered a success for the club from Brazil's central-west. Grafite himself was awarded with a Bola de Prata as best player on his position over the season.

At the beginning of 2004 Grafite was signed by Brazilian top-side São Paulo FC, where he won the 2005 São Paulo State Championship, his first title.

In the same month Grafite made it worldwide into the headlines. In the Libertadores group match against the Argentine club Quilmes AC in the Morumbi Stadium he had a hefty encounter with defender Leandro Desábato whom he accused of racial slurs. Together with the Argentine midfielder Carlos Arano, who tried to intervene, he was sent off. Still during the match, Grafite reported the incident to the police, which arrested Desábato after the final whistle on his way to the locker room for racial insults and moved him to a police station for a further interview. After two days in police arrest Desábato was released against a bond and was allowed to return to Argentina.[7]

Another exciting event for Grafite in this month was an invitation by the coach of the Brazil national football team, Carlos Alberto Parreira to join the Seleção for the first time when it lined up for a friendly against Guatemala on 27 April in São Paulo's Pacaembú Stadium. Grafite contributed with one goal to the 3–0 score.

Until the end of the year Grafite could collect two more titles, winning the Copa Libertadores and the Club World Championship. Whilst he was not in the line-ups of any of the two Libertadores finals against Atlético Paranaense, he played in the last 15 minutes of the Club World Championship final in November in Tokyo against Liverpool, which São Paulo won 1–0.

Move to Europe

In January 2006 French club Le Mans UC 72, promoted to the first division in 2005, hired the Brazilian striker. Grafite debuted in February, and until the end of the season he had scored three times in eleven league matches. 2006–07 he was in the league line-up of MUC in 34 of 38 matches and scored 12 goals, which made him the top goal-getter of the club – which finished the season 12th – and third in France over all. At the beginning of the 2007–08 season he played six more league matches for Le Mans, scoring a further two goals, before being transferred to German Bundesliga club VfL Wolfsburg on 31 August, the last day of the transfer period, for a fee of about €5.6 million.[8]

VfL Wolfsburg
Grafite training with Wolfsburg in 2009

With Wolfsburg he signed a four-year contract, which he extended in 2009 until 2012. In his first season, he scored 11 times in 24 matches, and was also his team's top scorer. At the end of the following season the Felix Magath-managed Wolves were champions of Germany for the first time, and Grafite contributed with 28 goals in 25 matches, making him the league's top striker. Alongside his partner in the attack, Edin Džeko, who scored 26 goals, he formed the most prolific strike partnership in Bundesliga history, together totalling 54 goals, topping the achievements of Gerd Müller and Uli Hoeneß, who scored 53 goals in the 1971–72 season.[9][10]

One of the goals of Wolfsburg's 5–1 against FC Bayern Munich, when he dribbled past several defenders and then finished with a slow shot with his heel,[11] even brought him international attention.[12] In Germany it was voted Goal of the Year. In October 2009, FIFA announced the introduction of the FIFA Puskás Award, awarded to the player who has scored the "most beautiful goal" over the past year. The inaugural Puskás Award went to Cristiano Ronaldo and Grafite's effort was rated third.[13] Grafite, however, was rewarded with the highest individual honour German football has to bestow, and was voted Footballer of the Year, and became only the third foreigner to achieve this.[14]

By ESPN Brasil he also received the Prêmio Futebol no Mundo award as the promising discovery of the 2008–09 season, as well as the top goalscorer award of the same season.[15]

In Wolfsburg's first ever Champions League match against CSKA Moscow on 15 September 2009, Grafite scored a hat-trick to beat the Russian side 3–1 at the Volkswagen Arena in Wolfsburg,[16] becoming only the sixth player to score a hat-trick on his Champions League debut.[17][18] In 107 German top-flight matches Grafite he netted 59 times.[19]

Al-Ahli Dubai

On 19 June 2011, Grafite announced he had signed with Al Ahli in the UAE Pro-League on a two-year contract.[20]

Grafite was honored as the International Player of the Year for the 2012–13 UAE Pro-League on 26 May 2013, edging out top goalscorer Asamoah Gyan.[21] On 28 May, he scored Al-Ahli's second goal in their 4–3 victory over Al Shabab Al Arabi in the final of the 2013 President's Cup.[22]

Grafite scored a total of 63 goals in 79 matches for Al Ahli.

Santa Cruz

On 1 July 2015, Grafite was signed once again by Brazilian Série B club Santa Cruz, on a year-long contract. The club announced that he would wear shirt number 23.[23][24] He arrived in the middle of the competition and scored 7 times in 15 matches, which helped promote Santa Cruz to the first division after 10 years without playing in it.[25]

In August 2017, after a spell at Atlético Paranaense, he rejoined Santa Cruz.[26]

In January 2018, Grafite announced his retirement.[27][28]

International career

On 2 March 2010, after almost five years since his debut for the national team, he made his second appearance, coming on as a substitution for Adriano in the game against Republic of Ireland at the Emirates Stadium in London. He was called up to the squad after Luís Fabiano was injured. On 11 May, Dunga named Grafite among his 23-man 2010 FIFA World Cup squad.[29][30][31] Grafite made one appearance at the tournament, replacing Luís Fabiano for the last five minutes of the 0–0 draw with Portugal in the last Group match.[32]

Career statistics

Club
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition[33][34][35][36]
Club Season League Cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Santa Cruz 2001 Brasileirão 225——225
Grêmio 2002 Brasileirão 6030—90
Anyang LG Cheetahs 2003 K League 9000——90
Goiás 2003 Brasileirão 2012——2012
São Paulo 2004 Brasileirão 381700155—5322
2005 60009420174
Total 441700249207026
Le Mans 2005–06 Ligue 1 11300—10123
2006–07 341211—323815
2007–08 6200——62
Total 51171100425620
VfL Wolfsburg 2007–08 Bundesliga 241141——2812
2008–09 25283433—3135
2009–10 30112186—4018
2010–11 28931——3110
Total 10759127119—13075
Al Ahli 2011–12 UAE Pro-League 2116——12133329
2012–13 2024——202224
2013–14 2519—63843926
2014–15 134——63197
Total 7963—63282011386
Al Sadd 2014–15 Qatar Stars League 94—81—175
Santa Cruz 2015 Brasileirão Série B 15700——157
2016 Brasileirão 31130043—3516
Total 46200043005023
Paranaense 2017 Brasileirão 000091—91
Santa Cruz 2017 Brasileirão Série B 15300——153
Career total 40820013865263422520256

State League

SeasonClubLeagueAppsGoals
2004 São Paulo Paulista 95
2005 178
2006 21

International
Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after Grafite goal.
International goal scored by Grafite
#DateVenueOpponentScoreResultCompetition
127 April 2005Estádio do Pacaembu, São Paulo Guatemala3–03–0Friendly

Honours

Club

São Paulo[37]

Wolfsburg[37]

Al Ahli'[37]

Individual

References
  1. "Santa Cruz anuncia retorno do atacante Grafite após 13 anos". ESPN Brasil. 30 June 2015. Retrieved 30 June 2015.
  2. "Conheçam o histórico das maiores negociações do futebol pernambucano!" (in Portuguese). meusport.com. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  3. Exchange Rate 2007: 1 BRL = ca. EUR 0,33
  4. "Santa tenta segurar Everaldo e Grafite" (in Portuguese). Esportes. 11 December 2009. Retrieved 17 June 2010.
  5. Goiás garante regularidade de Grafite Estadao.com.br, 24 September 2003
  6. Official website Grafite
  7. "Desabato granted bail after arrest for racist abuse". kickitout.org. 15 April 2005. Archived from the original on 16 July 2011. Retrieved 18 June 2010.
  8. France Football. 4 September 2007. p. 20. Missing or empty |title= (help)
  9. "McLeish abandons hopes of signing Dzeko & Grafite". ESPNFC. 22 October 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  10. "Bundesliga Comment: Grafite And Dzeko – A Match Made In Heaven". Goal.com. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  11. "Grafite Football Heel Kick Goal". youtube.com. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  12. "What is your European goal of the season?". London: guardian.co.uk. 26 May 2009. Retrieved 10 August 2009.
  13. "FIFA introduces new FIFA Puskás Award to honour the "goal of the year"". FIFA. 20 October 2009. Archived from the original on 29 August 2011. Retrieved 23 April 2011.
  14. "BRIEF-Grafite voted Germany's footballer of the year". ESPN. 2 August 2009. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  15. "VÍDEO: Grafite recebe Prêmio Futebol no Mundo pela temporada 2008/2009" (in Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 24 August 2009. Retrieved 21 October 2009.
  16. "Grafite hat-trick sinks CSKA". ESPNsoccernet. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 16 September 2009.
  17. "Goalscorers grab the headlines". FIFA.com. 16 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  18. "Tuesday's Champions League review". BBC Sport. 15 September 2009. Retrieved 17 September 2009.
  19. Arnhold, Matthias (14 March 2019). "GRAFITE Edinaldo Batista Libânio - Matches and Goals in Bundesliga". RSSSF. Retrieved 22 March 2019.
  20. "Grafite heads to Dubai". ESPN Soccernet. 19 June 2011. Retrieved 20 June 2011.
  21. "Pro League awards: Grafite edges out top scorer Gyan for International Player of the Year". thenational.ae. The National. 26 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  22. "Al Ahli Dubai 4 – 3 Al Shabab Al Arabi". EuroSport. 28 May 2013. Retrieved 7 October 2013.
  23. "AGORA É OFICIAL" (in Portuguese). Santa Cruz official site. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  24. "Santa Cruz colocará camisas oficiais e de passeio de Grafite para vender durante apresentação" (in Portuguese). Superesportes. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
  25. "Santa Cruz vence o Mogi Mirim em Itu e volta à Série A após dez anos" (in Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. Retrieved 27 April 2016.
  26. "Grafite (ex-Le Mans) revient à Santa Cruz". L'ÉQUIPE (in French). 12 August 2017. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  27. Liausu, Lucas (22 January 2018). "Vinte dias após renovar, Grafite se despede do Santa e diretor crava aposentadoria". Globoesporte (in Portuguese). Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  28. "VfL-Legende Grafite beendet seine Karriere". NDR (in German). 23 January 2018. Retrieved 18 March 2018.
  29. "Dunga names his Seleção". PA. 11 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  30. "Dunga convocou para a Copa do Mundo 22 jogadores relacionados para o último amistoso, contra a Irlanda, em março". CBF.com.br (in Portuguese). 11 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  31. "Comissão técnica da Seleção Brasileira divulga a lista complementar enviada à FIFA". CBF.com.br (in Portuguese). 11 May 2010. Archived from the original on 15 May 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
  32. Dawkes, Phil (15 June 2010). "Portugal 0–0 Brazil". BBC Sport. Retrieved 23 April 2014.
  33. "Grafite". Soccerway. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  34. "Grafite » Club matches". Worldfootball. Retrieved 3 July 2016.
  35. "K League". K League. Archived from the original on 11 June 2016. Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  36. "La fiche de GRAFITE (Le Mans FC)". Ligue de Football Professionnel (in French). Retrieved 18 May 2016.
  37. "Grafite". Soccerway. Retrieved 13 September 2019.
  38. "Bundesliga Historie 2008/09" (in German). kicker.
  39. "April 2009 - Grafite" (in German). Sportschau. 12 July 2013. Retrieved 11 December 2018.
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