 Ganso in 2009 | ||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima[1] | |||||||||||||
| Date of birth | (1989-10-12)12 October 1989 (age 36) | |||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ananindeua, Brazil | |||||||||||||
| Height | 1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[2] | |||||||||||||
| Position | Attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||
| Team information | ||||||||||||||
Current team | Fluminense | |||||||||||||
| Number | 10 | |||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||
| 1996–2004 | Tuna Luso | |||||||||||||
| 2005 | Paysandu | |||||||||||||
| 2005–2008 | Santos | |||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||
| 2008–2012 | Santos | 121 | (29) | |||||||||||
| 2012–2016 | São Paulo | 159 | (17) | |||||||||||
| 2016–2019 | Sevilla | 18 | (4) | |||||||||||
| 2018–2019 | →Amiens (loan) | 12 | (0) | |||||||||||
| 2019– | Fluminense | 219 | (21) | |||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||
| 2009 | Brazil U20 | 7 | (1) | |||||||||||
| 2012 | Brazil U23 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | Brazil | 8 | (0) | |||||||||||
Medal record
| ||||||||||||||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 23:43, 16 February 2026 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals as of 22:55, 2 June 2012 (UTC) | ||||||||||||||
Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima (born 12 October 1989), known asPaulo Henrique Ganso or justGanso (lit. "goose"), is a Brazilian professionalfootballer who plays forFluminense as anattacking midfielder.[3]
ASantos youth graduate, Ganso was a part of the club's 2010 squad which earned many plaudits due to its playing style, and lifted a number of trophies with the club which included the2011 Copa Libertadores. In 2012, he moved toSão Paulo, being named the best midfielder in the2014 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A before joiningSevilla in 2016. He could not establish himself as a starter at the Spanish side, and in 2019, after a brief period on loan atAmiens, he returned to his home country withFluminense.
In 2009, Ganso received a nomination for theBrazilian Football Confederation award for "Breakthrough Player" of theCampeonato Brasileiro Série A, given to the best rookie of the competition.[4]
Ganso was brought toTuna Luso after being discovered by former Brazil internationalGiovanni, and at 15 years of age he joined Paysandu, but he was snapped up by Santos in 2005.[5]
In 2007, after an injury that sidelined him for six months, Ganso played in and won the final of the U-20Campeonato Paulista. He wore the number 10 jersey in Santos' campaign in the Copa São Paulo of 2008, where his team was eliminated in the quarter-finals bySport Club Internacional. He won the2010 Campeonato Paulista with Santos on 2 May 2010, defeatingSanto André in the final.
In August 2010, it was reported that Ganso would have surgery on his injured left knee and would be out for six months.[6]
In October 2010, Santos offered "agent company" DIS Group (subsidiary of Sonda Group, a Brazil supermarket chain; the D stands for Sonda president Delcir Sonda) to buy 70% image rights of the player, but the group did not accept the offer.[7] He had a contract which would last until 28 February 2015 with a termination fee of €50 million.Group DIS reportedly owned 45% of the sporting rights of Ganso (which made the group eligible to receive a 45% transfer fee from Santos) after the court ruled in their favour.
On 20 September 2012, after a hard period of negotiation, it was confirmed bySão Paulo that Ganso had signed a five-year contract, for aR$23.940 million transfer fee.[8] Ganso would wear the number 8, previously used by Fabrício.[9][10]
After getting back in great shape, Ganso was praised by his coach inSão Paulo,Muricy Ramalho. According to Ramalho, who worked with Ganso inSantos, when both of them won2011 Copa Libertadores, and in October 2013, when his number 8 shirt passedJádson as the player with the most assists atTricolor in the2013 season: "Now, we have a number 10 shirt."[11] In Brazil, this number is associated with playmaking.
Ganso started 2014 in a bad phase, but after Jádson left in a negotiation that broughtAlexandre Pato to São Paulo FC he was awarded the number 10 shirt, and was hopeful that the new jersey number would give him confidence, and that his performances would improve. Ganso stated: "I am very happy to wear the shirt ofSão Paulo and, now, to be given the number 10 shirt. This number was already worn by so many good players and I feel an immense happiness to be among them. My playing style is more traditional and I am told that a number 10 must know how to play in this manner. I think I will be able to combine the efficient with the aesthetic: classic football with the number 10 shirt."[12]
On 16 July 2016, Ganso signed for SpanishLa Liga sideSevilla FC for a fee of €10 million.[13] He scored his first league goals for the club on 21 April 2017, netting a brace in a 2–0 win overGranada.[14]
On 31 August 2018, the last day of the 2018 summer transfer window, Ganso joinedLigue 1 clubAmiens SC on a season-long loan. Amiens secured an option to sign him permanently.[15][16]
On 31 January 2019, Ganso returned to Brazil and signed a five-year contract withFluminense.[17]
In 2009, he was called up to play for Brazil in the World Under-20 Championships. In early 2010, the Brazilian media began calling for Brazil national team coachDunga to choose Ganso for the2010 World Cup in South Africa, primarily as a substitute forKaká, because of their similar styles of play.[18][19][20] On 11 May 2010, he was named as one of seven backup players[21] for the 23-man2010 FIFA World Cup Brazil squad. On 26 July 2010, he was called up by the new coachMano Menezes to theBrazil national football team for a friendly match againstUSA. On 10 August 2010, in a friendly against theUSA he made his senior debut, where one of his shots rattled the post, almost giving him his first senior international goal.[22]He was named inMano Menezes 23-man2011 Copa América squad and was given thenumber 10 shirt. During their second group game againstParaguay, on 9 July, Ganso assisted Jádson's goal as well as a last minute equalising goal fromFred to tie the game at 2–2. Brazil were later eliminated by Paraguay in the quarter-finals of the tournament, following a penalty shoot-out.[23]
Ganso took part in the2012 Summer Olympics in London, where Brazil achieved a silver medal.[24]
Following injuries toDouglas Costa andKaká, Ganso was called up to Brazil'sCopa América Centenario squad as a replacement by Dunga, and was named in the 23-man final list, being given the number 7 shirt.[25][26]
Ganso is capable of playing anywhere inmidfield, and is regarded as a talented and elegantoffensive left-footedplaymaker, with excellentdribbling skills, ball control, balance, vision, and passing ability, who excels at providingassists for teammates.[27][28] In addition to his creative and technical abilities, Ganso also possesses a powerful and accurate shot from distance; he is also capable of aiding his team defensively, due to his stamina, height, and physical qualities, and can also play as acentral midfielder or as adeep-lying playmaker.[29][30][31] Regarded as highly promising prospect in his youth,[27][32] his efficient rather than flamboyant playing style initially drew comparisons with compatriotKaká;[33] despite his talent, however, he has been criticised by some in the media in recent years for his lack of pace, mobility, and dynamism, as well as his poor work-rate and lack of consistency, which has led him to be accused of not living up to his potential.[27][33][34][35] He is also known to be injury–prone.[36]
Ganso has been a fundamental presence in midfield for bothSantos andSão Paulo, due to the enormous quality of his passes.[27] After being a potential favorite name to wear thenumber 10 shirt forBrazil in the2010 FIFA World Cup, Ganso was not called up for the tournament byDunga, the nation's national football coach at the time, as the number 10 shirt went to Kaká. After suffering recurring injuries and a decrease in form and match fitness, he subsequently lost his place in the Brazilian team, in favour ofOscar, due to his performances with his club at the time,Chelsea.[27] In 2012, Ganso refound his form and put on a notable performance in the derby againstCorinthians, helping his team to a 3–1 victory, and, in 2013, he shone in a 2–0 win againstAtlético Mineiro, as São Paulo advanced to the third stage of the2013 Copa Libertadores.[37]
AfterMuricy Ramalho's arrival, Ganso had put on good performances. On 16 October 2013, he scored a notable goal in São Paulo's 3–0 victory overNáutico in theBrazilian League, dribbling past four opponents before shooting on goal past the keeper.[38]
| Club | Season | League | State league[a] | National cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Santos | 2008 | Série A | 3 | 0 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 0 | ||
| 2009 | 33 | 8 | 8 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | 45 | 9 | ||||
| 2010 | 11 | 0 | 20 | 11 | 10 | 2 | 2[c] | 0 | — | 43 | 13 | |||
| 2011 | 13 | 2 | 9 | 2 | — | 7[d] | 1 | 2[e] | 0 | 31 | 5 | |||
| 2012 | 5 | 1 | 16 | 4 | — | 12[d] | 3 | 1[f] | 0 | 34 | 8 | |||
| Total | 65 | 11 | 56 | 18 | 14 | 2 | 21 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 159 | 35 | ||
| São Paulo | 2012 | Série A | 3 | 0 | — | — | 2[c] | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | |||
| 2013 | 31 | 1 | 16 | 2 | — | 13[g] | 1 | 3[h] | 1 | 63 | 5 | |||
| 2014 | 34 | 5 | 15 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 6[c] | 3 | — | 61 | 9 | |||
| 2015 | 31 | 2 | 8 | 1 | 6 | 0 | 8[d] | 0 | — | 53 | 3 | |||
| 2016 | 7 | 1 | 14 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 11[d] | 2 | — | 32 | 7 | |||
| Total | 106 | 9 | 53 | 8 | 12 | 0 | 40 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 214 | 24 | ||
| Sevilla | 2016–17 | La Liga | 10 | 2 | — | 3 | 1 | 1[i] | 0 | 2[j] | 0 | 16 | 3 | |
| 2017–18 | 8 | 2 | — | 2 | 1 | 1[i] | 1 | — | 11 | 4 | ||||
| 2018–19 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | 1[k] | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |||
| Total | 18 | 4 | — | 5 | 2 | 3 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 28 | 7 | |||
| Amiens | 2018–19 | Ligue 1 | 12 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 | — | 1[l] | 0 | 13 | 0 | ||
| Fluminense | 2019 | Série A | 28 | 2 | 7 | 1 | 6 | 2 | 6[c] | 0 | — | 47 | 5 | |
| 2020 | 18 | 1 | 7 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 1[c] | 0 | — | 32 | 1 | |||
| 2021 | 10 | 0 | 8 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 2[d] | 0 | — | 23 | 3 | |||
| 2022 | 33 | 5 | 9 | 0 | 7 | 3 | 8[d] | 1 | — | 57 | 9 | |||
| 2023 | 27 | 3 | 12 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 12[d] | 0 | 2[e] | 0 | 56 | 4 | ||
| 2024 | 32 | 3 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 9[d] | 1 | 2[f] | 0 | 51 | 4 | ||
| 2025 | 17 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 4[c] | 0 | 1[e] | 0 | 28 | 2 | ||
| 2026 | 3 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 6 | 1 | |||
| Total | 168 | 15 | 51 | 6 | 34 | 6 | 42 | 2 | 5 | 0 | 300 | 29 | ||
| Career total | 369 | 39 | 160 | 32 | 70 | 10 | 101 | 13 | 14 | 1 | 714 | 95 | ||
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2010 | 1 | 0 |
| 2011 | 6 | 0 | |
| 2012 | 1 | 0 | |
| Total | 8 | 0 | |
Santos
São Paulo
Fluminense
Brazil
Individual
Brazil squads | |||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
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