| Intro | Brazilian association football player | ||||
| A.K.A. | Vagner Love | ||||
| Is |
Athlete Football player Association football player |
||||
| From | Brazil | ||||
| Type | Sports | ||||
| Gender | male | ||||
| Birth | 11 June 1984, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | ||||
| Age: | 36 years | ||||
| Star sign | Gemini | ||||
| Stats |
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Vágner Silva de Souza (born 11 June 1984), known as Vágner Love, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Corinthians. He is a forward who has been described by World Soccer Magazine as possessing “mobility, flair, awareness and powerful shooting”.
Over two spells, Vágner Love scored 117 goals across 241 official games in eight seasons at CSKA Moscow. He won 14 honours in the Russian capital, scoring in their win in the 2005 UEFA Cup Final.
Vágner Love scored four goals in 20 games for the Brazil national team, winning the Copa América in 2004 and 2007.
Club career
Palmeiras
Vágner Love started his career with Palmeiras. In the 2003 season, he helped them to return to the Série A, the nation’s top-flight division.
CSKA Moscow
In the summer of 2004, Vágner Love was bought by Russian Premier League club CSKA Moscow. For over a year after his arrival, rumours kept appearing that he did not want to stay in Moscow, and a transfer to Corinthians in particular was hinted at numerous times. These rumours, however, eventually subsided, and he mentioned a number of times that he was fully committed to his contract and is looking forward to completing its full tenure.
Vágner Love scored the final goal that sealed CSKA’s 3–1 victory in the 2005 UEFA Cup Final over Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade in Lisbon. In addition to winning the UEFA Cup, he has gone on to win the Russian Premier League title and Russian Cup in both 2005 and 2008, as well as the Russian Super Cup in 2006.
Vágner Love became the top scorer in the 2008 season and the top scorer of the 2008–09 UEFA Cup, the latter with 11 goals in 8 games.
Return to Palmeiras on loan
On 28 August 2009, following a run of poor form for CSKA, Vágner Love was signed by his former club Palmeiras on a one-year loan deal until 31 July 2010. CSKA press spokesman Sergei Aksenov claimed that Vágner Love left Russia due to “urgent family problems demand(ing) his presence at home in Brazil”.
Vágner Love had a respectable return of 5 goals in 12 games for Palmeiras, but his loan spell was ended prematurely: After publicly stating his concern over his safety at Palmeiras due to off-field altercations with fans, as well as his desire to play for his childhood team Flamengo, the deal was ended early on 14 January 2010.
Flamengo
On 15 January 2010, the day after his loan was terminated with Palmeiras, Vágner Love officially signed a loan deal with reigning Brazilian champions Flamengo, through till July 2010. He made his Flamengo debut against Bangu in the Campeonato Carioca on 23 January 2010, scoring two goals.
Vágner Love performed very well playing for Flamengo, scoring 23 goals in 26 matches. His successful strike partnership with Adriano was dubbed by fans as “Império do Amor”, or “The Love Empire”, in reference to Adriano’s nickname “The Emperor” and Vágner Love’s artistic surname. The presence of midfielder Dejan Petković in Flamengo’s squad made supporters start the year with high expectations—it was widely believed that the Serbian’s passing and free-kick abilities, coupled with Adriano’s and Vagner’s prolific scoring, would produce a top team.
However, with Adriano struggling to keep an athlete’s body mass index, and Petković’s legs growing old (he was already 37 then), the team failed to advance past the quarter-finals in the 2010 Copa Libertadores. Shortly after, Adriano revealed he wanted to try playing in Italy again, and Flamengo could not convince CSKA to extend Vágner Love’s loan, thus dismantling the once-promising “Love Empire”.
Return to CSKA
After a change of presidency, on 12 January 2013, Flamengo did not pay his pendencies of rights with CSKA, and Vágner Love had to leave the club, returning to Russia after a one-year absence. On January 16, he was “re-presented” in Moscow and signed a three-year contract extension. He continued his goal scoring record with CSKA on his return to the club, and propelled the club to the Premier League title in 2013 after a goalless draw with Kuban Krasnodar on 18 May, the club’s first league title since 2006.
Shandong Luneng
On 24 July 2013, Vágner Love transferred to Chinese Super League side Shandong Luneng in a reported €12 million transfer.
Corinthians
On 8 February 2015, Vágner Love rescinded his contract with Shandong Luneng and signed with Corinthians in Brazil. He went on to become the top scorer of the club during the national championship as Corinthians went on to win the Série A that year.
Monaco
On 13 January 2016, Ligue 1 club Monaco announced the signing of Vágner Love on an 18-month deal for a €1 million transfer fee. On 20 March, he opened the scoring in an eventual 2–0 win against Paris Saint-Germain, the Parisian club’s first home defeat since May 2014.
Alanyaspor
On 30 August 2016, Turkish Süper Lig club Alanyaspor reached an agreement with Monaco for the transfer of Love. On 31 August 2016, he was officially presented after passed the medical. Having failed to score in his first seven appearances for the club, Love scored 23 goals in 20 matches that followed to earn the Golden Boot award.
Beşiktaş
On 26 January 2018, Turkish Süper Lig club Beşiktaş reached an agreement with Alanyaspor for the transfer of Love.
Return to Corinthians
On 25 January 2019, Love returned to Corinthians on a deal until the end of 2020 after rescinding his contract with Beşiktaş.
Career statistics
Club career
- As of match played 15 March 2020.
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Palmeiras | 2002 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 2 | 0 | ||
| 2003 | 29 | 19 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 29 | 19 | |||
| 2004 | 11 | 8 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 11 | 8 | |||
| Total | 42 | 27 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 42 | 27 | |||
| CSKA Moscow | 2004 | 12 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 9 | 4 | – | 21 | 13 | |
| 2005 | 21 | 7 | 7 | 0 | 15 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 43 | 14 | |
| 2006 | 23 | 9 | 7 | 4 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 38 | 15 | |
| 2007 | 23 | 13 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 28 | 17 | |
| 2008 | 26 | 20 | 1 | 1 | 6 | 8 | – | 33 | 29 | ||
| 2009 | 13 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 21 | 7 | |
| Total | 118 | 61 | 19 | 6 | 44 | 27 | 3 | 1 | 184 | 95 | |
| Palmeiras (loan) | 2009 | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | – | – | 12 | 5 | ||
| Total | 12 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 5 | |
| Flamengo (loan) | 2010 | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 4 | – | 29 | 23 | |
| Total | 5 | 4 | 14 | 15 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 23 | |
| CSKA Moscow | 2010 | 15 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 11 |
| 2011–12 | 25 | 9 | 5 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 37 | 11 | |
| Total | 40 | 18 | 5 | 1 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 57 | 22 | |
| Flamengo | 2012 | 36 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 | – | 51 | 19 | |
| Total | 36 | 13 | 10 | 7 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 51 | 19 | |
| CSKA Moscow | 2012–13 | 9 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 6 |
| 2013–14 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 1 | |
| Total | 11 | 6 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 15 | 7 | |
| Shandong Luneng Taishan | 2013 | 10 | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | – | 10 | 6 | |
| 2014 | 21 | 13 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | – | 33 | 22 | ||
| Total | 31 | 19 | 7 | 4 | 5 | 5 | – | 43 | 28 | ||
| Corinthians | 2015 | 30 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 16 |
| Total | 30 | 14 | 16 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 16 | |
| Monaco | 2015–16 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | 13 | 4 | ||
| Total | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | – | – | – | – | 13 | 4 | |
| Alanyaspor | 2016–17 | 28 | 23 | – | – | – | 28 | 23 | |||
| 2017–18 | 14 | 10 | 2 | 1 | – | – | 16 | 11 | |||
| Total | 42 | 33 | 2 | 1 | – | – | – | – | 44 | 34 | |
| Beşiktaş | 2017–18 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 1 | – | 13 | 4 | |
| 2018–19 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 8 | 4 | – | 16 | 7 | ||
| Total | 18 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 10 | 5 | – | – | 29 | 11 | |
| Corinthians | 2019 | 30 | 5 | 15 | 2 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 55 | 11 |
| 2020 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | |
| Total | 30 | 5 | 21 | 3 | 11 | 4 | 5 | 0 | 62 | 12 | |
| Career total | 434 | 216 | 95* | 39* | 97 | 50 | 10 | 1 | 617 | 298 | |
- Including 14 matches and 15 goals in 2010 Rio de Janeiro State League.
- Including 10 matches and 7 goals in 2012 Rio de Janeiro State League.
- Including 14 matches and 2 goals in 2015 São Paulo State League.
International career
Vágner Love earned his first call up for the Brazil national football team for the 2004 Copa América, in a squad without the main stars to give them rest after the end of the 2003-04 season. He made his debut as a substitute in the 4-1 win against Costa Rica, which was his single appearance as Brazil went on to win the competition.
In 2006, Vágner Love was named in Dunga’s first squad for the national team and scored his first goal for the Seleção in the same year, against Wales.
In 2007, he was called up for the 2007 Copa América, in which he scored in a 6-1 win against Chile. He played his last match for the national team in that year, against Uruguay, totalling 20 matches and 4 goals for Brazil.
International stats
- As of 1 April 2009
| International appearances and goals | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| National team | Club | Season | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brazil | Palmeiras | 2004 | 1 | 0 | ||
| CSKA Moscow | ||||||
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| 2007 | 16 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 4 | ||||
| International appearances and goals | ||||||
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goal | Competition |
| 2004 | ||||||
| 2003-08-03 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Colombia | 4–0 | 2 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-06 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic | 5–0 | 1 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-09 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Cuba | 2–1 | 1 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-12 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Mexico | 1–0 | 0 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-15 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Argentina | 0–1 | 0 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2004 | ||||||
| 1. | 2004-07-11 | Arequipa, Peru | Costa Rica | 4–1 | 0 | 2004 Copa América |
| 2006 | ||||||
| 2. | 2006-08-16 | Oslo, Norway | Norway | 1–1 | 0 | Friendly |
| 3. | 2006-09-03 | London, England | Argentina | 3–0 | 0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 2006-09-05 | London, England | Wales | 2–0 | 1 | Friendly |
| 2006-10-07 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | Al Kuwait Selection | 4–0 | 0 | Unofficial friendly | |
| 2007 | ||||||
| 5. | 2007-03-24 | Gothenburg, Sweden | Chile | 4–0 | 0 | Friendly |
| 6. | 2007-03-27 | Stockholm, Sweden | Ghana | 1–0 | 1 | Friendly |
| 7. | 2007-06-01 | London, England | England | 1–1 | 0 | Friendly |
| 8. | 2007-06-26 | Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela | Mexico | 0–2 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 9. | 2007-07-01 | Maturín, Venezuela | Chile | 3–0 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 10. | 2007-07-04 | Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela | Ecuador | 1–0 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 11. | 2007-07-07 | Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela | Chile | 6–1 | 1 | 2007 Copa América |
| 12. | 2007-07-10 | Maracaibo, Venezuela | Uruguay | 2–2 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 13. | 2007-07-15 | Maracaibo, Venezuela | Argentina | 3–0 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 14. | 2007-08-22 | Montpellier, France | Algeria | 2–0 | 0 | Friendly |
| 15. | 2007-09-09 | Chicago, United States | United States | 4–2 | 0 | Friendly |
| 16. | 2007-09-12 | Boston, United States | Mexico | 3–1 | 0 | Friendly |
| 17. | 2007-10-14 | Bogotá, Colombia | Colombia | 0–0 | 0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18. | 2007-10-17 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Ecuador | 5–0 | 1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19. | 2007-11-18 | Lima, Peru | Peru | 1–1 | 0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20. | 2007-11-21 | São Paulo, Brazil | Uruguay | 2–1 | 0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| Brazil | Palmeiras | 2004 | 1 | 0 | ||
| CSKA Moscow | ||||||
| 2006 | 3 | 1 | ||||
| 2007 | 16 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 20 | 4 | ||||
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goal | Competition |
| 2004 | ||||||
| 2003-08-03 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Colombia | 4–0 | 2 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-06 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Dominican Republic | 5–0 | 1 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-09 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Cuba | 2–1 | 1 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-12 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Mexico | 1–0 | 0 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2003-08-15 | Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic | Argentina | 0–1 | 0 | 2003 Pan American Games (Brazil U-20) | |
| 2004 | ||||||
| 1. | 2004-07-11 | Arequipa, Peru | Costa Rica | 4–1 | 0 | 2004 Copa América |
| 2006 | ||||||
| 2. | 2006-08-16 | Oslo, Norway | Norway | 1–1 | 0 | Friendly |
| 3. | 2006-09-03 | London, England | Argentina | 3–0 | 0 | Friendly |
| 4. | 2006-09-05 | London, England | Wales | 2–0 | 1 | Friendly |
| 2006-10-07 | Kuwait City, Kuwait | Al Kuwait Selection | 4–0 | 0 | Unofficial friendly | |
| 2007 | ||||||
| 5. | 2007-03-24 | Gothenburg, Sweden | Chile | 4–0 | 0 | Friendly |
| 6. | 2007-03-27 | Stockholm, Sweden | Ghana | 1–0 | 1 | Friendly |
| 7. | 2007-06-01 | London, England | England | 1–1 | 0 | Friendly |
| 8. | 2007-06-26 | Puerto Ordaz, Venezuela | Mexico | 0–2 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 9. | 2007-07-01 | Maturín, Venezuela | Chile | 3–0 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 10. | 2007-07-04 | Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela | Ecuador | 1–0 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 11. | 2007-07-07 | Puerto la Cruz, Venezuela | Chile | 6–1 | 1 | 2007 Copa América |
| 12. | 2007-07-10 | Maracaibo, Venezuela | Uruguay | 2–2 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 13. | 2007-07-15 | Maracaibo, Venezuela | Argentina | 3–0 | 0 | 2007 Copa América |
| 14. | 2007-08-22 | Montpellier, France | Algeria | 2–0 | 0 | Friendly |
| 15. | 2007-09-09 | Chicago, United States | United States | 4–2 | 0 | Friendly |
| 16. | 2007-09-12 | Boston, United States | Mexico | 3–1 | 0 | Friendly |
| 17. | 2007-10-14 | Bogotá, Colombia | Colombia | 0–0 | 0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 18. | 2007-10-17 | Rio de Janeiro, Brazil | Ecuador | 5–0 | 1 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 19. | 2007-11-18 | Lima, Peru | Peru | 1–1 | 0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 20. | 2007-11-21 | São Paulo, Brazil | Uruguay | 2–1 | 0 | 2010 FIFA World Cup qualification |
Honours
Club
- Palmeiras
- Brazilian Série B: 2003
- CSKA Moscow
- Russian Premier League: 2005, 2006, 2012–13
- Russian Cup: 2004–05, 2005–06, 2007–08, 2008–09, 2010–11, 2012–13
- Russian Super Cup: 2006, 2007, 2009, 2013
- UEFA Cup: 2004–05
- Shandong Luneng
- Chinese FA Cup: 2014
- Corinthians
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2015
- Campeonato Paulista: 2019
International
- Brazil
- Copa América: 2004, 2007
Individual
- Brazilian 2nd Division Top Scorer: 2003
- Pan American Games Top Scorer: 2003
- Campeonato Paulista Top Scorer: 2004
- Russian Premier League Top Scorer: 2008
- Sport-Express’s Russian Footballer of the Year: 2008
- UEFA Cup Top Scorer: 2008–09
- Campeonato Carioca Top Scorer: 2010
- Russian Premier League Monthly Most Valuable Player: March 2013, May 2013
- Süper Lig Top Scorer: 2016–17