He began his professional career withAmérica Mineiro in 2015, winning promotion from theCampeonato Brasileiro Série B in his only season before transferring toFluminense. He totalled 67 matches and 19 goals in his two years there, and was named in the Team of the Season when the club finished as runners-up in the2017 Campeonato Carioca. After this spell he then signed forWatford, and a year laterEverton. He later signed for Tottenham Hotspur in 2022.
Richarlison was born inNova Venécia, Espírito Santo.[5] He joinedAmérica Mineiro's youth setup in December 2014, fromReal Noroeste.[6] In June 2015, he was promoted to the first team by managerGivanildo Oliveira.[7] He had previously been close to giving up on a career in football, having been rejected by several teams, and spent all his money on a 600-kilometre one-way ticket toBelo Horizonte for his trial.[8]
Richarlison made his professional debut on 4 July 2015 in a 3–1 home win againstMogi Mirim. After entering as a latesubstitute forCristiano, he scored the last goal of the match.[9] Seventeen days later, he extended his contract until 2018.[10]
On 21 November 2015, as América earned promotion toCampeonato Brasileiro Série A with a 1–1 home draw againstCeará, Richarlison was sent off at the end of the match for a foul onCharles.[11]
On 29 December 2015, Richarlison signed a five-year contract with Série A clubFluminense.[12] He made his debut on 13 May 2016 in the second leg of the second round of theCopa do Brasil, contributing to all of his team's goals in a 3–3 home draw (6–3 aggregate) againstFerroviaria.[13]
He made his league debut two days later, starting in a 1–0 away win against former club América. His first goal in the division came on 26 June, the winner in a 2–1 success againstrivals Flamengo, a game in which he came on as a late substitute but was himself taken off injured.[14]
In the2017 Campeonato Carioca, Richarlison scored 8 goals in 12 matches and was named in the team of the season as his club finished as runner-up to Flamengo.[15] This included one on 22 April in a 3–0 semi-final win overVasco da Gama at theMaracanã Stadium.[16]
Richarlison completed a move to EnglishPremier League clubWatford on 8 August 2017, signing a five-year contract for a £11.2 million transfer fee.[19][20] He made his debut for the club as a substitute in a 3–3 draw againstLiverpool on the opening day of the2017–18 Premier League season. In his next match, on 19 August againstAFC Bournemouth, he scored his first goal for the club in a 2–0 win.[21] He was the only member of the Watford squad to play every match of the Premier League season, and scored five goals over its course.[22]
Richarlison transferred to fellow Premier League clubEverton on 24 July 2018 for a transfer fee starting at £35 million and potentially rising to £50 million,[23] reuniting him with former Watford managerMarco Silva. In his competitive debut on 11 August, he scored twice in a 2–2 draw atWolverhampton Wanderers.[24] Two weeks later, he was sent off in the first half of a match of the same score away to Bournemouth for clashing heads withAdam Smith.[25]
Due to the poor form of fellow Everton strikers, Richarlison was deployed in the centre-forward role for Everton's game againstLeicester City on 6 October, scoring in the 7th minute in a 2–1 away win.[26] Four weeks later, he scored twice in a 3–1 victory overBrighton & Hove Albion.[27] Richarlison finished the season as Everton's joint-highest goalscorer along withGylfi Sigurðsson on 13 Premier League goals, while both had 14 goals in all competitions.[28] Ahead of the 2019–20 Richarlison was handed the number 7 shirt. He finished that season as the club's joint-highest goalscorer, this time sharing the honour withDominic Calvert-Lewin on 13 Premier League goals, while both had 15 goals in all competitions.
On 3 December 2019, Richarlison signed a new five-year contract with Everton.[29] On 20 February 2021, he scored the first goal in a 2–0 win over Liverpool atAnfield, Everton's first away win over theirrivals since September 1999.[30]
Towards the end of the2021–2022 Premier League season, Richarlison cemented himself in Everton's history as a cult hero as he single-handedly saved them from relegation, providing 6 goals and 2 assists in his final 10 league outings, including crucial goals againstChelsea andCrystal Palace.[31] The striker later spoke on the physical turmoil he endured during that period, toThe Players' Tribune, stating, 'My body was asking me to stop... It was my last breath, my last game as an Evertonian. A moment I will carry with me for the rest of my life.'[32]
On 1 July 2022,Tottenham Hotspur announced the signing of Richarlison on a contract until 2027, subject to a work permit[33] for a fee of £50m plus £10m in potential add-ons.[34] Richarlison gained his first assist for his new club in a 2–0 win againstNottingham Forest on 20 August.[35] Richarlison's showboating during that match was widely discussed in the media, being criticised by the likes ofMichail Antonio andCallum Wilson as "disrespectful", but praised byNeil Warnock, who encouraged Richarlison to continue entertaining fans.[36]
On 7 September, on Richarlison'sChampions League debut, he scored both goals in a 2–0 win overMarseille at theTottenham Hotspur Stadium, his first goals for the club.[37] He suffered injuries during the season and then complained publicly about not getting back into the team, prompting managerAntonio Conte to criticise him for being selfish.[38] He scored his first Premier League goal for Tottenham after 23 appearances on 30 April 2023, in a 4–3 loss toLiverpool.[39] This was his only league goal of the2022–23 Premier League season.[40]
With just days before the start of the2023–24 Premier League season, the departure ofHarry Kane—Tottenham's record goal scorer—was finalised. Hence, there was expectation that Richarlison might take on the role of Tottenham's main striker; but by the end of the fourth game of that season he remained scoreless.[41] His goal-less streak followed him with theBrazil national football team in a World Cup qualifier against theBolivia national football team, in which he failed to score and was substituted. Afterwards, Richarlison opened up on his recent personal struggles, as he revealed he would seek professional help for hismental health issues.[42]
On 16 September, with Tottenham losing toSheffield United by a goal at added time, Richarlison came on as a substitute and scored an equalising goal, and then two minutes later Richarlison contributed an assist for Tottenham to win the match.[43] Richarlison's assist for the winning goal, scored ten minutes into added time, resulted in a win that was once officially the latest-ever comeback win in Premier League history.[44] On 9 November, Tottenham confirmed that Richarlison had undergone surgery on his groin.[45] On 10 December, Richarlison made his first start since the surgery, and scored a brace againstNewcastle United in a 4–1 victory.[46] Richarlison went on to score nine goals in eight league matches between 10 December 2023 and 3 February 2024 against the likes of Nottingham Forest, Everton, Manchester United, Bournemouth and Brentford. This run of form concluded with a brace against his former side Everton in a 2–2 draw away atGoodison Park.[47] On 5 May, he contributed to a goal and assist after coming off the bench against Liverpool in a 4–2 loss.[48]
Richarlison's 2024–25 season was disrupted by a series of injuries. He suffered a groin sprain in August, and made just four appearances after his return, scoring a match winning penalty againstAZ Alkmaar, in theEuropa League, before being injured again during a 4–1 win against Aston Villa.[49] Ahead of the2024 Ballon d'Or ceremony, Richarlison had reportedly stated that ‘Shit is gonna go down’ ifVinícius Júnior did not win; he later expressed anger on social media following the controversial decision to award the prize toRodri. Following this statement,Manchester City went on to lose five matches in a row, two of which were against Richarlison’s Tottenham, and various other phenomena took place throughout the season such as ends of trophy droughts for teams across some of Europe’s biggest leagues. This was dubbed by fans on social media as the ‘Richarlison Theory’. After returning to fitness in January, he scored in back to back losses against Everton and Leicester before he got injured again on 7 February 2025 during a 4–0 defeat to Liverpool.[50]
After returning from injury, Richarlison immediately made it back on the scoresheet in back to back losses again, this time against Wolverhampton Wanderers and Nottingham Forest. Richarlison's performances in the league promptedAnge Postecoglou to start him in both legs of the Europa League semi finals against Norwegian side,Bodø/Glimt, contributing an assist along the way.[51] He was then named in the starting lineup for theEuropa League final, starring in a 1–0 win against Manchester United, which saw Tottenham lift their first trophy in seventeen years.[52]
Richarlison scored two goals, including a scissor kick, againstBurnley in a 3–0 win on the opening day of the2025–26 Premier League season.[53] His performances earnt him the inaugural 'Player of The Matchweek' accolade by the Premier League.[54] The following week, he contributed an assist forBrennan Johnson in 2–0 away victory against Manchester City.[55] On 20 September, Richarlison grabbed a goal back against Brighton to spark a comeback from 2–0 down to the eventual scoreline of 2–2.[56] On 26 October, Richarlison came off the bench and provided a lofted header to assistPape Sarr for the third goal in a 3–0 victory at theHill Dickinson Stadium, Everton's first ever loss at their new stadium.[57] On 8 November, Richarlison flicked the ball into the back of the net for what was thought to be a stoppage time winner in a comeback against Manchester United, prompting wild celebrations from the Tottenham players, only for United to make it 2–2 minutes later.[58] On 23 November, Richarlison lobbedDavid Raya from almost the halfway line to score his first ever goal in aNorth London derby, albeit in a 4–1 defeat at theEmirates.[59] On 26 November, Richarlison scored the first goal in an eventual 5–3 loss againstParis Saint-Germain, extending his scoring streak to 3 goals in 3 games.[60] Richarlison followed this up with a goal in a 2–0 win against Brentford on 6 December.[61] On 20 December, he came off the bench in the 80th minute to score a late consolation goal after just 3 minutes against Liverpool in a 2–1 loss.[62]
On 27 August 2018, he received his first call-up to thesenior team by coachTite, for friendlies against theUnited States andEl Salvador, afterPedro withdrew injured.[64] He made his debut against the Americans on 7 September at theMetLife Stadium inNew Jersey, as a 75th-minute substitute forRoberto Firmino in a 2–0 win,[65] and scored his first goals in the latter match four days later, netting twice in a 5–0 win.[66]
In May 2019, he was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the2019 Copa América on home soil.[67] In thefinal againstPeru on 7 July, at the Maracanã Stadium, Richarlison came off the bench for Firmino in the second half and scored the final goal of a 3–1 victory from the penalty spot.[68]
On 9 June 2021, Richarlison was named in the squad for the2021 Copa América.[69] He scored in a 4–0 group win over Peru as the team finished as runners-up.[70] During the tournament, he also received a call-up for the2020 Summer Olympics.[71] He scored ahat-trick on his Olympics debut on 22 July, leading Brazil to a 4–2 victory overGermany.[72] He finished the Olympics as top scorer with five goals, despite missing a penalty in the2–1 final win overSpain.[73]
In September 2022, Richarlison had a banana thrown at him as he was celebrating a goal during afriendly in Paris againstTunisia, as a form ofracial abuse.[74][75]
Richarlison was named in the Brazil squad for the2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[76] On 24 November he scored a brace, including ascissor kick,[77] in a 2–0 opening win overSerbia.[78] He scored his third goal of the tournament in a 4–1 win againstSouth Korea in the round of 16 on 5 December.[79] Four days later, Brazil were eliminated byCroatia in the quarter-finals, following a 4–2 penalty shoot-out loss after a 1–1 draw.[80]
Richarlison is primarily deployed as a centre-forward, though he is also capable of playing as a left winger or second striker.[81]
He is noted for his strength, aerial ability, and off-the-ball movement, frequently attacking crosses and operating inside the penalty area.[82] Richarlison is also recognised for his defensive contribution, regularly pressing opposition defenders and tracking back when required. Previous managers such asCarlo Ancelotti andAnge Postecoglou have utilised Richarlison as a chaos agent to effectively disrupt backlines.[83] His effectiveness is largely derived from positioning, anticipation, and intensity rather than creative playmaking; despite flaws to his game, his work rate has never been questioned.[84]
Following his heroics at the2022 FIFA World Cup, including winning the Goal of the Tournament, Richarlison has earnt positive comparisons toRonaldo Nazário.[85]
Richarlison has gained a polarising reputation for his flamboyant personality on and off the field. His on field antics include drawing fouls, getting involved in scuffles and provocative celebrations while off the pitch, he has a strong presence on social media, often involving himself in meme culture and even controversies.[86] He is also known for his distinctive “pigeon” goal celebration which has been featured in theFIFA series of video games.[87]
Richarlison donates 10% of his salary to the Instituto Padre Roberto Lettieri, a home for cancer patients inBarretos, São Paulo state, and also supports 100 families in his hometown.[88] In November 2021, he called for his fellow professional footballers to takeCOVID-19 vaccines and ignoremisinformation on the topic, citing the death of his first coach Sebastião José da Silva.[89] Though he did not endorse any candidate or party in the2022 Brazilian general election,[90] he spoke out on social justice issues such as the environment, police violence and human rights.[91][92]
In March 2024, Richarlison said that he struggled withdepression following Brazil's elimination from the 2022 World Cup and even considered quitting football as a result; he sought counseling to help him cope with his poor mental health. He also urged other players to seek therapy for their struggles with mental illness.[93]
Richarlison has been in a relationship with Brazilianinfluencer Amanda Araujo since 2023. The couple have a child together, born 15 June 2025.[94]
^Liew, Jonathan (19 November 2022)."Brazil are a powerhouse but political divides may derail Tite's swan song".The Guardian. Retrieved15 December 2022.Meanwhile, the Tottenham winger Richarlison has been vocal on a number of social justice causes in recent months, although he has thus far refrained from aligning with any particular candidate.
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