After starting his career withFigueirense in 2009, Firmino spent four and a half seasons atTSG Hoffenheim. His 16 goals in 33 games in the2013–14 Bundesliga season earned him the award for the league's Breakthrough Player. In July 2015, he signed forLiverpool. In the2018–19 season, Firmino won theUEFA Champions League, and the following campaign claimed theUEFA Super Cup,FIFA Club World Cup (after scoring the winner in thefinal), and the2019–20 Premier League title. He also won theFA Cup andEFL Cup with Liverpool in the2021–22 season. Firmino is widely regarded as a cult hero in Liverpool.[2] In 2023, Firmino decided not to extend his contract at Liverpool, and eventually left on a free transfer to Saudi club Al-Ahli, after eight years in England. With Al-Ahli, Firmino won the AFC Champions League Elite two years later.
Firmino made his international debut for Brazil in November 2014. He represented the nation at the2015,2019 and2021 Copa América, where he won the 2019 edition of the tournament. He also represented the nation at the2018 FIFA World Cup.
Early life
Firmino was born in the Trapiche da Barra neighbourhood ofMaceió, Alagoas, growing up near theEstadio Rei Pele.[3] He grew up in a poor family and was described as being "humble" and "football mad".[3] His father Jose was a street vendor and his mother was a housewife.[3] He also has a sister.[3] Firmino began playing for his school team, earning a trial at local clubCRB.[3] At 13, Firmino joined the youth team of CRB. He initially wore the No 5 shirt, which in Brazil is reserved for the most defensive midfielder. When required, he also played as a defender.[4]
Club career
Early career
Firmino joinedFigueirense's youth setup in 2008, aged 17, after starting out at CRB.[5] He was discovered by a dentist, Marcellus Portella.[6] With the latter, he was mainly used as adefensive midfielder.[7]
Firmino scored his first goal on 8 May 2010, with the winner in an away win againstSão Caetano.[9] He contributed with eight goals in 36 appearances duringthe season, as Figueirense FC returned toSérie A after a two-year absence.[10]
Firmino signed withTSG Hoffenheim in December 2010, with the contract running until June 2015.[11] He formally arrived at Hoffenheim on 1 January 2011.[12] Then Hoffenheim manager Ernst Tanner commented that they were "pleased to hire a Brazilian talent".[13] He made his debut a month after his signing in aBundesliga defeat againstMainz 05, where he came on as a 75th-minute substitute forSebastian Rudy. He scored his first goal for the club on 16 April, the only goal of a league victory againstEintracht Frankfurt.[14]He was dropped from the first-team squad along withChinedu Obasi at the end of November 2011 for showing up late for training, missing the league match againstBayer Leverkusen.[15] He scored two more goals that season, against Wolfsburg andBorussia Mönchengladbach. In the 2012–13 season, Firmino made 36 appearances and scored seven goals in all competitions.In July 2013, Russian clubLokomotiv Moscow made a €12 million bid for Firmino.[16] Hoffenheim captainAndreas Beck hailed Firmino's development as "outstanding" in August 2013.[17] On 27 March 2014, Firmino extended his contract with the club, signing a three-year extension.[18] He finished the2013–14 Bundesliga season tied as the fourth highest scorer with 16 goals,[19] and was named the league's Breakthrough Player.[20]
Liverpool
2015–2017: Early years
On 23 June 2015, Hoffenheim and Firmino agreed terms for him to transfer toPremier League clubLiverpool for up to £29 million on conclusion of the tournament, subject to a work permit.[21] Liverpool confirmed the signing the following day, subject to a medical.[22] The deal was finalised on 4 July.[23] Firmino made his debut on 9 August, replacingJordon Ibe for the final 12 minutes of a 1–0 win away toStoke City.[24] On 21 November, Firmino scored his first goal for Liverpool in a 4–1 victory overManchester City at theCity of Manchester Stadium.[25] This came after new managerJürgen Klopp moved Firmino to centre-forward ahead ofChristian Benteke.[26] In January 2016, Firmino was described by Paul Little of theIrish Examiner as steadily improving during his first season in England,[27] although an inability to combine with centre forwardChristian Benteke drew criticism.[28]
On 23 August, Firmino scored his first goal of the2016–17 season, scoring in a 5–0 win overBurton Albion in thesecond round of the EFL Cup.[34] Firmino scored his first league goals of the season in a 4–1 win overLeicester City, scoring a brace, on 10 September.[35] Thus, Firmino became the first player to score in front ofAnfield's new Main Stand in that game.[36] On 29 October, Firmino scored in a 4–2 win overCrystal Palace, and on 6 November he scored in a 6–1 overWatford; the latter result saw Liverpool move to 1st position in theleague table, the first time under Klopp.[37][38] Firmino finished the season with 11 goals in 35 appearances in thePremier League, and 12 in 41 in all competitions.[39]
Before the start of the2017–18 season, Firmino switched his shirt number to 9, with new signingMohamed Salah taking his number 11.[40] Firmino scored his first goal of the new season on 12 August, scoring apenalty in a 3–3 draw with Watford.[41] On 23 August, Firmino scored in a 4–2 win over his former club TSG Hoffenheim in thesecond leg of the UEFA Champions League play-off, with Liverpool winning 6–3 on aggregate to qualify for the2017–18 UEFA Champions League group stage.[42] On 6 December, he scored in a historic 7–0 win overSpartak Moscow in theChampions League.[43] On 17 December, he scored in a 4–0 away win overAFC Bournemouth, a result which saw Liverpool become the first team in Premier League history to win four consecutive away games by a margin of at least three goals.[44][45][46]
On 5 January 2018, during aFA Cup match against rivalsEverton,[47] Firmino was the subject of controversy following a clash with Everton defenderMason Holgate. Holgate pushed Firmino into the advertising boards, which was followed by the pair exchanging words, with Firmino seemingly insulting the player. Following the match, Holgate accused Firmino of racially abusing him, which he denied. A day later, theFootball Association opened an investigation on the matter.[48] Nearly two months later, after they had taken statements from 12 different players, several referees and consulted twoPortugueselip-readers, the Football Association cleared Firmino of any offence as a result of "insufficient evidence".[49][50][51]
During the season, Firmino, Mohamed Salah,Philippe Coutinho andSadio Mané made up a prolific attacking quartet, dubbed the "Fab Four", in reference to the rock bandThe Beatles, also from the same city as the club.[60] Following the mid-season exit of Coutinho, the three remaining players were dubbed as the "Fab Three", with the trio having a total of 91 goals between them at the end of the season.[61][62][63] Firmino was Liverpool's joint top goalscorer in theChampions League, together with Salah, with 11 goals.[64] Firmino was also included in the2017–18 Champions League Squad of the Season.[65] The 2017–18 season was Firmino's most prolific in his Liverpool career, as he scored 27 goals in all competitions.[56]
2018–19 season: Champions League victory
After going goalless in all three matches played in August, Firmino scored his first goal of the season in a 2–1 Premier League win over Leicester City on 1 September.[66] On 15 September he scored in Liverpool's 2–1 league win overTottenham Hotspur atWembley Stadium, a game that saw him leave the field 15 minutes before the end with an eye injury.[67] He came off the bench three days later to score the stoppage time winner in Liverpool's 3–2 Champions League win againstParis Saint-Germain at Anfield.[68] On 29 December, Firmino scored his first Liverpoolhat-trick in a 5–1 win over Arsenal, scoring two goals in three minutes and a second half penalty.[69] On 19 January 2019, he scored Liverpool's 1,000th goal atAnfield in the Premier League era in a 4–3 win over Crystal Palace.[70]
On 1 June, Firmino started for Liverpool in the2019 Champions League final against Tottenham Hotspur, making a comeback after missing the last few weeks of the season with injury. Firmino played for 60 minutes before being substituted as Liverpool won the match 2–0 to claim the title.[71]
On 14 August 2019, Firmino came off the bench in the2019 UEFA Super Cup againstChelsea in a match that Liverpool won 5–4 in apenalty shoot-out. The game had finished 2–2 after 120 minutes, with Firmino setting up both goals for Sadio Mané, before Firmino scored the first penalty in the shoot-out win.[72][73] On 31 August, Firmino became the first Brazilian player to score 50 goals in the Premier League when he netted the third goal in a 3–0 win overBurnley.[74][75]
At the2019 FIFA Club World Cup in December, Firmino scored the winning goal in a 2–1 semi-final win overMonterrey.[76] He was named man of the match in thefinal three days later after scoring the winner againstFlamengo as Liverpool won the competition for the first time.[77] Firmino also won the2019–20 Premier League that season.[78]
2020–2023: Domestic double and departure
On 13 May 2021, he scored two goals in a 4–2 away win overManchester United, in Liverpool's first victory atOld Trafford since March 2014.[79][80] During their following match atWest Bromwich Albion, Firmino captained Liverpool for the first time,[81] as he was the longest serving player in the team.[82] Thus, Firmino became the sixteenth player to wear the armband underJürgen Klopp, with regular captainJordan Henderson and vice captainsJames Milner,Virgil van Dijk, andGeorginio Wijnaldum all either injured or on the bench, leading the Reds to a 2–1 victory.[83] He missed the2022 EFL Cup final due to injury.[84] Firmino also earned a runners-up medal in the2021–22 UEFA Champions League,[85] losing the final to Real Madrid. Liverpool narrowly missed out on the chance to achieve a historic quadruple, coming second in thePremier League and the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League but winning both theEFL Cup and theFA Cup.[86]
On 30 July 2022, Firmino started for Liverpool in the club's 3–1 win overManchester City in theFA Community Shield at theKing Power Stadium.[87] Firmino scored his 100th goal for Liverpool on 27 August 2022 when he got two in the9–0 win against AFC Bournemouth.[88] On 5 March, Firmino scored the last of Liverpool's goals in a historic 7–0 victory against Manchester United.[89] On 10 March 2023, Liverpool announced Firmino would leave Liverpool at the end of the2022–23 season after he decided not to extend his contract. Liverpool managerJürgen Klopp said he was a "little bit surprised" by the decision but wished Firmino good luck, saying that he would "be grateful forever" for his influence and impact at Liverpool.[90][91] Firmino later said that it was "time" to leave the club.[92] Former playerDanny Murphy described him as a "cult hero" who the fans adored.[93] Firmino scored a late equaliser againstAston Villa in his last home game for Liverpool atAnfield on 20 May 2023.[94][95] Firmino also scored in his last ever game for Liverpool on 28 May 2023, being assisted by fellow BrazilianFabinho.[96] In homage to Firmino, a mural was painted in Liverpool, which he visited before his departure.[97] At the end of the season, Liverpool narrowly missed out on Champions League qualification.[98] Firmino concluded his playing career at Liverpool as the highest-scoring Brazilian player in both the history ofLiverpool[99][100] and thePremier League, with a total of 82 goals.[101][102]
On 3 May 2025, Firmino was a member of the Al-Ahli squad that won the2025 AFC Champions League Elite for the first time in the club's history.[106]
Al Sadd
On 24 July 2025, Firmino signed a two-year deal withQatar Stars League clubAl Sadd.[107] He scored his first official goal for the club againstAl-Gharafa in the 51st minute to double their lead.[108][109]
Firmino said that it was his "dream" to play in the national team though he had no "contact with national team managerDunga".[110] On 23 October 2014, Firmino received his first call up toBrazil national team for the friendly matches againstTurkey andAustria. He commented, "I'm very happy about the nomination and would especially like to thank the team".[111] He debuted in a 4–0 win over Turkey on 12 November, replacing fellow debutantLuiz Adriano for the last 17 minutes.[112] Firmino scored his first goal six days later in the latter match, a 2–1 away win.[113]
In May 2018, he was named in Brazil's 23-man squad for the2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia.[116][117] On 2 July, Firmino scored Brazil's second goal in a 2–0 win over Mexico in the round of 16 having come on as a late substitute.[118]
In May 2019, Firmino was included in Brazil's 23-man squad for the2019 Copa América.[119] Firmino played all 90 minutes of thefinal againstPeru as Brazil won 3–1 to lift their ninth Copa América title.[120]
In June 2021, Firmino was included in Brazil's squad for the2021 Copa América on home soil.[121] He made a substitute appearance in his nation's 1–0 defeat to rivalsArgentina in thefinal on 10 July.[122]
Firmino was controversially not included in Brazil's squad for the2022 World Cup in Qatar.[123]
Style of play
Firmino (pictured in 2018) is known for his creativity, link-up play, goalscoring and workrate.
Regarded at his peak as one of the greatest strikers in world football, Firmino is known for his clinical finishing, proficient technical ability and impressive workrate.[124][125][126]
At Hoffenheim, Firmino primarily played as anattacking midfielder, or as asecond striker, but was also used as aforward,winger orcentral midfielder,[127] with Firmino using his speed, close control and vision wherever he is deployed.[128] After initially starting as a left winger at Liverpool underBrendan Rodgers, new manager Jürgen Klopp used Firmino more centrally, often described as a False 9.[129][130][131] In later seasons, especially from the 2020–21 season onward, Firmino has also often been used as a central attacking midfielder in a 4–2–3–1 formation, although tasked with significantly more pressing than a player typically does in such a position.[132]
Ryan Babel, a teammate of Firmino's at Hoffenheim, described him as "a tricky player", saying that "he can dribble, shoot, he has a great shot, he can play a lot of through balls and his assists are very good", while also praising a heading ability which would not be common amongst other players of Firmino's slender build and relatively small stature,[23] a unique trait which journalist andESPN contributorMichael Cox has also noted.[133] Babel also stated that Firmino had a humble mentality and no problems with attitude.[23] ManagerHemerson Maria also stated that he was impressed with Firmino's "strong personality and mentality".[134]
Due to his energy and defensive workrate off the ball,[135][136][137] Klopp has referred to Firmino as the "engine" that propels the team's relentless counter-attacking system; "If he loses the ball, he fights for it back. If he loses it again, he fights for it. He looks like the engine of the team."[138] The suitability of Firmino's playing style to Klopp's pressing system has meant that Firmino was referred to as "Liverpool's most important player" on several occasions during the 2016–17 and 2017–18 seasons.[135] Due to Firmino's wide range of skills,Thierry Henry described him as "the most completestriker in thePremier League".[134] Likewise, defenderNathan Aké identified him as his toughest opponent, as "he could do everything".[139]
Firmino is also well known for his popular "no-look" goals.[140][141] One of his best knowngoal celebrations, 'the Matador', features in theFIFA 19 video game.[142]
Personal life
Firmino married Larissa Pereira in his hometown in June 2017. They have three daughters.[143] In November 2022 the couple announced they were expecting a fourth child.[144] In addition to his native Portuguese, Firmino also speaks English and German.[145] Firmino is a Christian and was baptised in 2020 in the swimming pool of Liverpool teammateAlisson.[146] His cousinSelton Sánchez is also a professional footballer atBilbao Athletic.[147]
Firmino has been given the nickname "Bobby" by Liverpool supporters and players – ashortening of his first name "Roberto".[148]
In December 2016, Firmino was arrested for drunk driving. He was fined £20,000 and had his driving licence revoked for a year when sentenced atLiverpool Magistrates' Court in February 2017.[149]
In June 2024, Firmino became pastor of anevangelical church he founded inMaceio, Brazil, which he founded three years ago alongside his wife Larissa Pereira and pastors Jairo Fernandes and Keila Medeiro.[150][151][152][153] The dedication was held in his hometown of Maceio in the Manah Church.[153]
Career statistics
Club
As of match played 8 November 2025
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
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