Lima (footballer)

Rodrigo José Lima dos Santos (born 11 May 1983), known as Lima, is a Brazilian former footballer who played as a striker.

This article is about the Brazilian footballer born in 1983. For the footballer born in 1942, see Antônio Lima dos Santos.

This name uses Portuguese naming customs: the first or maternal family name is Lima and the second or paternal family name is Santos.
Lima
Lima playing for Benfica in 2014
Personal information
Full name Rodrigo José Lima dos Santos[1]
Date of birth (1983-05-11) 11 May 1983[2][1]
Place of birth Monte Alegre, Brazil[1]
Height 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Youth career
2003 Paraná
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2004 Vizela 7 (0)
2004 Mixto
2005 Paysandu
2006 Iraty ? (1)
2006 J. Malucelli
2006–2009 Astral-PR
2007 → Paraná (loan) 17 (1)
2008 → Juventus-SP (loan) 0 (0)
2008 → Santos (loan) 21 (0)
2009 → Avaí (loan) 8 (1)
2009–2010 Belenenses 27 (7)
2010–2012 Braga 60 (26)
2012–2015 Benfica 89 (53)
2015–2017 Al-Ahli 19 (17)
Total 248 (106)
* Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only

He spent the better part of his professional career in Portugal, amassing Primeira Liga totals of 176 matches and 86 goals over six seasons, representing mainly Braga and Benfica and winning six major titles with the latter club, notably the treble in 2014.

Club career

Early years

Born in Monte Alegre, Pará, Lima played for nine clubs in his country, without settling at any. In the 2008 edition of the Série A he did not manage to score for Santos FC, who ranked in 15th position.

In the middle of 2009, after failing to sign with Ukrainian side FC Metalist Kharkiv,[3] Lima moved to Portugal with C.F. Os Belenenses, scoring regularly for the Lisbon team but also suffering relegation from the Primeira Liga.

Braga

Afterwards, Lima joined another club in the country, S.C. Braga – which was filled with several of his compatriots – signing a three-year contract. On 24 August 2010, after coming on as a substitute, he netted a hat-trick against Sevilla FC in the second leg of the third qualifying round of the UEFA Champions League, in a 4–3 away win (5–3 on aggregate).[4]

Lima was crowned Portuguese League top scorer at the end of the 2011–12 campaign with 20 league goals – joint with S.L. Benfica's Óscar Cardozo[5]– as the Minho side finished third and returned to the Champions League. Highlights included three against Gil Vicente FC (3–0 away win),[6] braces against F.C. Paços de Ferreira (5–2, home)[7] and Vitória de Setúbal (3–0 at home),[8] and a penalty kick equaliser at Benfica (1–1);[9] he also scored two against eventual champions FC Porto, but in a 2–3 defeat at the Estádio do Dragão.[10]

Benfica

On 31 August 2012, the very last day of the summer transfer window, Lima signed a four-year contract with Benfica, in a deal that saw Michel move in the opposite direction.[11][12] He wasted no time on making an impact, also taking long time incumbent striker Cardozo's starting place, and found the net in his first two official games, once against Académica de Coimbra in a 2–2 away draw[13] and twice in a 2–1 victory over Paços de Ferreira (also away).[14] He added a third in the Champions League 1–2 group stage loss at FC Spartak Moscow,[15] ending the season with 30 goals as his team's top scorer in the league.[16]

On 26 January 2013, Lima scored his eighth league goal of the campaign, helping to a 2–1 win at former club Braga.[17] On 30 March he netted his first hat-trick in the Portuguese League, helping to a 6–1 home demolition of Rio Ave FC.[18]

Lima took his 2013–14 tally to 20 all competitions comprised on 20 April 2014, scoring both of Benfica's goals as they defeated S.C. Olhanense 2–0 at home and clinched their 33rd national championship.[19] He also found the net the following game, a 2–1 win over Juventus F.C. in the first leg of the UEFA Europa League semi-finals also at the Estádio da Luz, where he broke the tie in the 84th minute;[20] his 21 goals in the season[21] helped the team win the three main domestic competitions, in a historic treble.[22]

Lima scored his first goal of the 2014–15 campaign against Moreirense F.C. on 21 September 2014, ending a 12-match stretch without goals.[23][24] On 14 December he netted in a 2–0 win at Porto,[25] and, on 15 February of the following year, he contributed with a brace to help beat Setúbal at home 3–0.[26] He netted another two in a home defeat of F.C. Penafiel on 9 May (4–0),[27] as Benfica again won the league, adding the Portuguese League Cup and the Supercup.

Al-Ahli

On 24 July 2015, Al-Ahli Club announced the signing of Lima for two seasons,[28][29] in a transfer fee worth €7 million.[30] In February 2017, the 33-year-old left the club.[31]

On 21 January 2019, Lima announced his retirement due to injury problems.[32]

Career statistics
Sources:[33]
Club Season League Cup1 League Cup Continental Other Total Ref.
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Belenenses 2009–10 Primeira Liga 277342100–3212 [34]
Braga 2010–11 Primeira Liga 2861023195–5014 [34][35]
2011–12 3020203294–4426 [34]
2012–13 20000020–40 [34]
Total 60263055309009840 –
Benfica 2012–13 Primeira Liga 27207533122–4930 [34]
2013–14 28146240135–5121 [34]
2014–15 34191020601[lower-alpha 1]04419 [34]
Total 8953147933171014470 –
Al-Ahli 2015–16 UAE Pro League 111164642319 [35]
2016–17 8663001[lower-alpha 2]11510 [35]
Total 19170012764113829 –
Career total 19510320112816672021312151 –
  1. Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  2. UAE Super Cup

Honours

Club

Paysandu

Avaí

Braga

Benfica

Al-Ahli

Individual

References
  1. "Lima" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  2. "Lima celebra hoje o seu aniversário" [Lima celebrates his birthday today] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 11 May 2015. Retrieved 11 May 2015.
  3. Metalist, acquistato l'attaccante brasiliano Lima (Metalist, Brazilian forward Lima signs); Ita Sport Press, 21 July 2009 (in Italian)
  4. "Braga beat Sevilla in Spain to reach Champions League group stage". The Guardian. 25 August 2010. Retrieved 26 August 2010.
  5. Claro, Paulo; Preston, Simon; Nunes, João; Di Maggio, Roberto. "Portugal – List of Topscorers". RSSSF. Retrieved 25 June 2015.
  6. Andrade, David (18 February 2012). ""Momento muito bom" do Gil Vicente travado por hat-trick de Lima" [“Very good run” of Gil Vicente halted by Lima hat-trick]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  7. "Paraguaios do Paços não evitaram goleada em Braga" [Paços' Paraguayans could not prevent rout in Braga]. Público (in Portuguese). 9 December 2011. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  8. "Sétima vitória seguida deixa Sp. Braga no patamar do FC Porto" [Seventh straight win leaves Sp. Braga level with FC Porto]. Público (in Portuguese). 10 February 2012. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  9. Shave, Ben (6 November 2011). "Braga 1–1 Benfica". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 31 March 2014. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  10. Kundert, Tom (27 November 2011). "Unstoppable Hulk puts Porto back on top". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 25 January 2012. Retrieved 14 May 2012.
  11. Silva Pires, Tiago (31 August 2012). "Lima no Benfica e Michel no Braga" [Lima in Benfica and Michel in Braga]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 September 2012.
  12. "Benfica buy Braga's Lima". UEFA. 1 September 2012. Retrieved 19 September 2012.
  13. Kundert, Tom (23 September 2012). "Benfica drop two points in Coimbra". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  14. Kundert, Tom (28 September 2012). "Lima brace gives Benfica victory". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 22 February 2013. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  15. Van Poortvliet, Richard (23 October 2012). "Spartak profit from Jardel misfortune". UEFA. Retrieved 23 October 2012.
  16. Araújo, Manuel (12 May 2013). "Lima e a marca dos trinta golos" [Lima and the thirty-goal mark]. Record (in Portuguese). Archived from the original on 14 July 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  17. "Braga 1–2 Benfica". PortuGOAL. 26 January 2013. Archived from the original on 22 May 2013. Retrieved 7 February 2013.
  18. "Benfica goleia Rio Ave (6–1)" [Benfica rout Rio Ave (6–1)]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 30 March 2013. Archived from the original on 4 March 2016. Retrieved 1 April 2013.
  19. Kundert, Tom (20 April 2014). "Lima double clinches title for Benfica". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 25 April 2014. Retrieved 22 April 2014.
  20. Gonçalves, Pedro (24 April 2014). "Lima puts Benfica on top against Juventus". UEFA. Retrieved 24 April 2014.
  21. Rocha, João Pedro (27 November 2019). "Jonas, Slimani e Gabigol. O efeito Jesus nos avançados" [Jonas, Slimani and Gabigol. The Jesus effect in forwards]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 28 October 2020.
  22. "Lima: "Benfica é um clube exigente que procura sempre mais"" [Lima: "Benfica is a demanding club who always wants more"] (in Portuguese). S.L. Benfica. 21 May 2014. Archived from the original on 1 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  23. "Benfica-Moreirense, 3–1 (crónica)" [Benfica-Moreirense, 3–1 (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 21 September 2014. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  24. "Lima não marca há 12 jogos" [Lima has not scored in 12 games]. A Bola (in Portuguese). 19 September 2014. Archived from the original on 25 July 2015. Retrieved 21 September 2014.
  25. "Dragão baralhado com águia cínica e tremendamente eficaz" [Dragon clutching at straws with cynical and tremendously effective eagle] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 14 December 2014. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  26. "Benfica vence Setúbal por 3–0 com "bis" de Lima" [Benfica defeat Setúbal 3–0 with Lima brace] (in Portuguese). Diário Digital. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 27 July 2015.
  27. "Primeira Liga Review: Lima nets brace as Benfica relegate Penafiel". FourFourTwo. 10 May 2015. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 10 May 2015.
  28. في صفقة من العيار الثقيل الاهلي يتعاقد مع المهاجم البرازيلي ليما دوس سانتوس [Al Ahli sign Brazilian striker Lima dos Santos] (in Arabic). Al Ahli Club. 24 July 2015. Archived from the original on 8 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  29. "Al Ahli anuncia contratação de Lima" [Al Ahli announce the signing of Lima] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 24 July 2015. Retrieved 24 July 2015.
  30. "Comunicado" [Announcement] (PDF) (in Portuguese). Portuguese Securities Market Commission. 30 July 2015. Retrieved 30 July 2015.
  31. Andrade, Bruno (20 February 2017). "Lima rescinde com Al Ahli e já estuda regresso ao futebol brasileiro" [Lima cuts ties with Al Ahli and is already thinking about returning to Brazilian football]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 12 April 2017.
  32. "Lesão obriga Lima, ex-Benfica, a anunciar o final da carreira" [Injury forces Lima, formerly of Benfica, to announce end of career] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 21 January 2019. Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  33. Almeida, Isaura (21 January 2019). "Lima ex-Benfica colocou um ponto final na carreira" [Lima ex-Benfica put an end to career]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 January 2019.
  34. Lima at ForaDeJogo
  35. Lima at Soccerway. Retrieved 28 July 2015.
  36. Cunha, Pedro Jorge (17 May 2015). "Benfica bicampeão: 28 com as faixas e dois à espera" [Benfica back-to-back champions: 28 with the sashes and two await] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 19 May 2015.
  37. Atkin, John (14 May 2014). "Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters". UEFA. Retrieved 15 May 2014.
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