Maicon (footballer, born September 1988)

For other people named Maicon, see Maicon.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Pereiraand the second or paternal family name is Roque.

Maicon

Maicon with Santos in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Maicon Pereira Roque [1]
Date of birth	(1988-09-14) 14 September 1988 (age 35) [1]
Place of birth	Barretos, Brazil
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in) [1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Vasco da Gama
Number	4
Youth career
	Mamoré
2006–2007	Cruzeiro
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2007–2009	Cruzeiro	1	(0)
2007	→ Cabofriense (loan)	8	(0)
2008–2009	→ Nacional (loan)	28	(0)
2009–2016	Porto	116	(11)
2013	Porto B	1	(1)
2016	→ São Paulo (loan)	18	(2)
2016–2017	São Paulo	40	(2)
2017–2020	Galatasaray	45	(6)
2019–2020	→ Al Nassr (loan)	28	(0)
2020–2021	Al Nassr	25	(0)
2022	Cruzeiro	3	(0)
2022–2023	Santos	34	(0)
2023–	Vasco da Gama	16	(0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18:48, 22 December 2023 (UTC)

Maicon Pereira Roque (born 14 September 1988), known simply as Maicon, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Vasco da Gama.

He spent most of his career with Porto, appearing in 183 games and winning 11 honours, including three Primeira Liga titles and the UEFA Europa League in 2011. Previously of Nacional, he totalled 144 games in Portugal's top flight. He additionally played for two years at São Paulo, and won the Süper Lig with Turkey's Galatasaray in 2018.

Club career

Cruzeiro

Born in Barretos, São Paulo, Maicon started off his career with Cruzeiro. He made his first-team debut on 6 May 2007, coming on as a second-half substitute for fellow youth graduate Wellington in a 2–0 home win against rivals Atlético Mineiro in the second leg of the Campeonato Mineiro finals, lost 4–2 on aggregate. ^[2]

In 2008, Maicon moved on loan to modest Cabofriense. ^[3] Upon returning, he was a part of Cruzeiro's reserves that went on a trip to Portugal and played three friendlies in the country. ^[4]

Maicon had his first abroad adventure in the 2008–09 campaign, being a defensive mainstay for Madeira's Nacional ^[5] which again qualified for European competition. ^[6]

Porto

Maicon with Porto in 2013

On 4 June 2009, Maicon moved to Primeira Liga champions Porto in a contract running until 2014. ^{[7] [8] [9]} He appeared in only four games in his first year, starting with a 2–1 home victory over Rio Ave on 29 November; ^[10] on 24 April 2010 he scored a first goal in a 5–2 away defeat of Vitória de Setúbal. ^[11]

After Bruno Alves left for Zenit, Maicon became a first-team regular in 2010–11, playing 37 competitive matches as Porto won the treble (including eight in the victorious run in the UEFA Europa League). In the following season – under new manager Vítor Pereira – after Cristian Săpunaru's injury, he beat competition from Jorge Fucile and began being often utilised as a right-back. ^[12]

On 2 March 2012, after a free kick, Maicon headed a late goal in a 3–2 away win over Benfica. ^[13] He scored five goals from 35 appearances over two seasons, helping his team to back-to-back national championships; in October he was awarded the Dragão de Ouro as the club's Player of the Year. ^[14]

Maicon made his only appearance for the reserves in Segunda Liga on 3 February 2013, and scored a free kick from his own half in the 3–1 home victory against Oliveirense. ^[15] He headed home the 2–1 winner over Chelsea in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League on 29 September 2015, in what was his third competitive goal of the campaign. ^[16]

São Paulo

On 14 February 2016, having been deemed surplus to requirements by new manager José Peseiro, Maicon was loaned to São Paulo; ^[17] upon arriving, he stated that the move was "a dream come true". ^[18] He made his debut in the Campeonato Paulista on 1 March in a 2–0 home win against Mogi Mirim. ^[19] On 2 April, he missed a penalty before scoring the last-minute winner in a 2–1 victory over Oeste at the Estádio do Morumbi. ^[20]

Maicon signed a permanent deal for R$22 million on 28 June 2016, as Porto also ceded 50% of the sporting rights to fellow defenders Inácio and Lucão. ^[21]

Galatasaray

In July 2017, Maicon returned to European football, signing a four-year deal for Galatasaray for a fee of €7 million. ^[22] He scored a career-best five goals – all in the first half of the campaign – as the team from Istanbul won the Süper Lig in his first season, including two on 30 September in a 3–2 home win against Kardemir Karabükspor. ^[23]

Al Nassr

On 5 February 2019, Al Nassr paid €1.7 million to gain Maicon on loan for 18 months. ^[24] The Saudi Professional League club paid a further €1.4 million to sign him permanently in August 2020. ^[25] In the 2019 Saudi Super Cup on 4 January 2020, he scored the decisive attempt in the side's shootout defeat of Al Taawoun (1–1 after 120 minutes). ^[26]

Maicon joined permanently in 2020, but terminated his contract on 19 June 2021. ^[27]

Return to Cruzeiro

On 25 November 2021, Maicon returned to his first club Cruzeiro after agreeing to a three-year deal. ^[28] However, a directorial change caused him to terminate his link after just three matches. ^[29]

Santos

Maicon with Santos in 2022

On 8 March 2022, just hours after leaving Cruzeiro, Maicon signed a two-year contract with Santos. ^[30] He made his debut on 5 April, starting in a 1–0 Copa Sudamericana away loss against Banfield. ^[31]

A regular starter during the 2022 season, Maicon subsequently lost that status to new signings Joaquim Henrique and Messias. ^{[32] [33]} On 20 June 2023, he left after rescinding his contract. ^[34]

Vasco da Gama

On 28 June 2023, Maicon joined Vasco da Gama on a short-term deal. ^[35] In December, he agreed to a one-year extension. ^[36]

Personal life

Maicon hailed from a family of footballers: his father Maurides played amateur football, while his younger brothers Muller and Maurides were professionals, the former as a forward and the latter also as a stopper. ^[37] Maicon faced Maurides twice in the 2015–16 season, when his sibling was a member of Arouca. ^[38]

In Brazil, Maicon was given the nickname God of Zaga, due to his play and resemblance to Kratos from the videogame series God of War. ^{[39] [40]}

Career statistics

As of 22 December 2023 ^[41]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State League [lower-alpha 1]		National cup [lower-alpha 2]		League cup [lower-alpha 3]		Continental [lower-alpha 4]		Other [lower-alpha 5]		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Cruzeiro	2007 [42]	Série A	0	0	1	0	0	0	—		—		—		1	0
Cabofriense (loan)	2008 [43]	Carioca	—		8	0	—		—		—		—		8	0
Nacional	2008–09	Primeira Liga	28	0	—		5	0	4	0	—		—		37	0
Porto	2009–10	Primeira Liga	4	1	—		3	0	4	0	1	0	0	0	12	1
	2010–11	Primeira Liga	21	2	—		5	0	2	0	8	0	1	0	37	2
	2011–12	Primeira Liga	20	3	—		2	0	3	0	5	0	1	0	31	3
	2012–13	Primeira Liga	15	2	—		0	0	1	0	4	0	1	0	21	2
	2013–14	Primeira Liga	16	1	—		2	0	4	0	5	0	0	0	27	1
	2014–15	Primeira Liga	26	0	—		2	0	0	0	11	0	0	0	39	0
	2015–16	Primeira Liga	13	2	—		2	0	0	0	3	1	0	0	18	3
	Total		116	11	0	0	16	0	14	0	37	1	3	0	183	12
São Paulo	2016	Série A	32	2	9	1	1	0	—		9	1	—		51	4
	2017	Série A	7	0	10	1	4	0	—		0	0	—		21	1
	Total		39	2	19	2	5	0	—		9	1	—		72	5
Galatasaray	2017–18	Süper Lig	30	5	—		3	0	—		2	0	—		35	5
	2018–19	Süper Lig	15	1	—		2	0	—		4	0	1	0	22	1
	Total		45	6	0	0	5	0	0	0	6	0	1	0	57	6
Al Nassr	2018–19	Saudi Pro League	7	0	—		1	0	—		0	0	—		8	0
	2019–20	Saudi Pro League	28	0	—		4	0	—		5	0	1	0	38	0
	2020–21	Saudi Pro League	18	0	—		1	0	—		6	0	—		25	0
	Total		53	0	0	0	6	0	0	0	11	0	1	0	71	0
Cruzeiro	2022	Série B	0	0	3	0	0	0	—		—		—		3	0
Santos	2022	Série A	23	0	—		2	0	—		3	0	—		28	0
	2023		1	0	10	0	1	0	—		2	0	—		14	0
	Total		24	0	10	0	3	0	0	0	5	0	0	0	42	0
Vasco da Gama	2023	Série A	16	0	—		—		—		—		—		16	0
Career total			321	19	41	2	40	0	18	0	68	2	5	0	490	23

1. Includes Campeonato Mineiro and Campeonato Paulista
2. Includes Copa do Brasil, Taça de Portugal, Turkish Cup and King Cup
3. Includes Taça da Liga
4. Includes UEFA Champions League, UEFA Europa League, Copa Libertadores, AFC Champions League and Copa Sudamericana
5. Includes UEFA Super Cup, Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, Turkish Super Cup and Saudi Super Cup

Honours

Porto

• Primeira Liga: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13 ^[41]
• Taça de Portugal: 2009–10, 2010–11 ^[41]
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013 ^[41]
• UEFA Europa League: 2010–11 ^[41]
• UEFA Super Cup runner-up: 2011 ^[41]
• Taça da Liga runner-up: 2009–10, 2012–13 ^[41]

Galatasaray

• Süper Lig: 2017–18 ^[41]

Al Nassr

• Saudi Pro League: 2018–19 ^[41]
• Saudi Super Cup: 2019 ^[41]

Individual

• FC Porto Player of the Year: 2012 ^[14]

References

1. "Maicon" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
2. "Atlético é campeão mineiro mesmo derrotado pelo Cruzeiro" [Atlético are Mineiro champions even after being defeated by Cruzeiro] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 6 May 2007. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
3. "Maicon, ex-Cruzeiro, marca golaço a 60 metros de distância para o Porto B" [Maicon, formerly of Cruzeiro, scores 60-metre wonder goal for Porto B]. Extra (in Portuguese). 4 February 2013. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
4. Arruda, Rafael (24 November 2021). "Cruzeiro se aproxima de acerto com zagueiro Maicon, cria da Toca e ex-Porto" [Cruzeiro get closer to deal with stopper Maicon, home-grown at the Toca and formerly of Porto] (in Portuguese). Super Esportes. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
5. Andrade, David (21 May 2009). "Maicon é 100% do Cruzeiro, Nacional será indemnizado" [Maicon belongs 100% to Cruzeiro, Nacional to receive compensation]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2021.
6. "Manuel Machado quer vencer em Alvalade e conta com Nené" [Manuel Machado wants to win in Alvalade and counts on Nené] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 23 May 2009. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
7. "Cruzeiro concretiza negociação do zagueiro Maicon com o Porto" [Cruzeiro seal deal of defender Maicon with FC Porto] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 3 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
8. "Maicon and Pereira sign as Porto secure Ferreira". UEFA. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 24 August 2012.
9. "Maicon assinou por cinco temporadas" [Maicon signed for five seasons] (in Portuguese). FC Porto. 4 June 2009. Retrieved 4 June 2009.
10. "Rio Ave correu mais mas rematou muito menos" [Rio Ave ran more but attempted a lot less shots]. Record (in Portuguese). 30 November 2009. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
11. "Porto goleia Setúbal" [Porto thrash Setúbal] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 24 April 2010. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
12. "Maicon sob pressão" [Maicon under pressure]. Record (in Portuguese). 5 December 2011. Retrieved 13 July 2021.
13. Shave, Ben (2 March 2012). "Benfica 2–3 FC Porto". PortuGOAL. Archived from the original on 12 June 2012. Retrieved 13 March 2012.
14. "Maicon eleito futebolista do ano" [Maicon voted footballer of the year]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 October 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
15. "FC Porto B-Oliveirense, 3–1: Maicon marca antes do meio-campo" [FC Porto B-Oliveirense, 3–1: Maicon scores from beyond halfway]. Record (in Portuguese). 3 February 2013. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
16. "Maicon makes sure Porto profit as Chelsea slump". UEFA. 29 September 2015. Retrieved 28 March 2022.
17. "Maicon de saída: São Paulo é o destino" [Maicon leaving: São Paulo the destination]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 14 February 2016. Retrieved 14 February 2016.
18. "São Paulo anuncia contratação por empréstimo de zagueiro Maicon, do Porto" [São Paulo announce loan signing of Maicon, from Porto] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. 15 February 2016. Retrieved 15 February 2016.
19. Ghirotto, Edoardo (1 March 2016). "Diante de público pífio, São Paulo faz o suficiente e vence o Mogi Mirim" [In front of a meagre crowd, São Paulo does enough and beats Mogi Mirim]. Gazeta Esportiva (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 August 2020.
20. Fernandes, Thiago (3 April 2016). "São Paulo 2 x 1 Oeste: Maicon perde pênalti, mas garante virada no final" [São Paulo 2 x 1 Oeste: Maicon misses penalty, but guarantees comeback at the end] (in Portuguese). Goal . Retrieved 22 August 2020.
21. Palenzuela, Guilherme (28 June 2016). "Porto aceita troca, e São Paulo confirma contratação de Maicon" [Porto accept swap, and São Paulo confirm signing of Maicon] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Retrieved 29 June 2016.
22. "Maicon revela ter alcunha de "deus da defesa"" [Maicon reveals his nickname "God of the defence"]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 1 July 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
23. "Football: Galatasaray's Maicon levels his career-best". Anadolu Agency. 1 October 2017. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
24. Erel, Fatih (5 February 2019). "Maicon joins Al-Nassr on loan from Galatasaray". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
25. Asikci, Emre (2 August 2020). "Galatasaray's Maicon joins Al-Nassr on permanent deal". Anadolu Agency. Retrieved 22 August 2020.
26. Fernandes, Mariana (4 January 2020). "Depois do Campeonato, Al Nassr de Rui Vitória conquista Supertaça da Arábia Saudita" [After League, Rui Vitória's Al Nassr conquer Saudi Super Cup]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 13 July 2021.
27. "Ex-São Paulo e Porto, Maicon rescinde contrato com o Al-Nassr e está livre no mercado" [Formerly of São Paulo and Porto, Maicon rescinds contract with Al-Nassr and is a free agent] (in Portuguese). TNT Sports. 19 June 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
28. ""The God of Zaga está de volta": Cruzeiro oficializa contratação do zagueiro Maicon" ["The God of Zaga is back": Cruzeiro make signing of stopper Maicon official] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
29. Duarte, Gabriel (8 March 2022). "Maicon acerta rescisão no Cruzeiro e fica livre para assinar com o Santos" [Maicon agree rescision at Cruzeiro and is free to sign with Santos] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
30. Anjos, Vitor (8 March 2022). "Santos FC acerta contratação do zagueiro Maicon, quinto reforço para 2022" [Santos FC agree signing of stopper Maicon, fifth addition for 2022] (in Portuguese). Santos FC. Retrieved 8 March 2022.
31. "Santos joga mal e perde do Banfield na estreia do time na Copa Sul-Americana" [Santos play poorly and lose to Banfield on their debut in the South American Cup] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 5 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
32. "Maicon, Joaquim, Bauermann ou Messias? Compare a temporada dos zagueiros do Santos" [Maicon, Joaquim, Bauermann or Messias? Compare the season of Santos' stoppers]. Lance! (in Portuguese). 24 February 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
33. Brino, Gabriela (20 December 2023). "Santos define manutenção de dupla de zaga como uma de suas prioridades" [Santos say keeping stopper duo is one of their priorities] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
34. Anjos, Vitor (20 June 2023). "Santos FC assina rescisão contratual em comum acordo com zagueiro Maicon" [Santos FC sign contractual rescision on a mutual agreement with stopper Maicon] (in Portuguese). Santos FC. Retrieved 20 June 2023.
35. "Vasco anuncia o zagueiro Maicon, segundo reforço na janela" [Vasco announce centre-back Maicon, second window addition] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 28 June 2023. Retrieved 28 June 2023.
36. "Vasco acerta renovação de contrato do zagueiro Maicon" [Vasco agree centre-back Maicon's contract renewal] (in Portuguese). CR Vasco da Gama. 21 December 2023. Retrieved 22 December 2023.
37. Musetti Perazolli, Lucas; Brino, Gabriela (23 September 2022). "Santos: 'Pai' de todos, Maicon viu liderança surgir na roça aos sete anos" [Santos: 'Father' of everyone, Maicon saw his leadership arise in the countryside at the age of seven] (in Portuguese). Universo Online. Retrieved 25 September 2022.
38. Porto, Marcio (10 September 2016). "Maicon x Maurides: São Paulo e Figueirense reúne duelo de irmãos" [Maicon vs Maurides: São Paulo and Figueirense generates duel of brothers] (in Portuguese). Terra . Retrieved 25 September 2022.
39. "Na Turquia, Maicon rechaça apelido de 'God of Zaga': 'Sou um ser humano que pode cometer erros'" [In Turkey, Maicon rejects 'God of Zaga' nickname: 'I'm a human being that can make mistakes'] (in Portuguese). ESPN. 1 July 2017. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
40. ""The God of Zaga está de volta": Cruzeiro oficializa contratação do zagueiro Maicon" ["The God of Zaga is back": Cruzeiro confirm signing of stopper Maicon] (in Portuguese). Globo Esporte. 25 November 2021. Retrieved 30 April 2022.
41. "Maicon". Soccerway. Retrieved 21 June 2014.
42. "Temporada 2007" [2007 season] (in Portuguese). Cruzeiro EC. Archived from the original on 12 June 2018. Retrieved 25 February 2022.
43. "Associação Desportiva Cabofriense – Campeonato Estadual da Primeira Divisão de profisssionais – 2008" [Associação Desportiva Cabofriense – Professional First Division State Championship – 2008] (in Portuguese). Federação de Futebol do Estado do Rio de Janeiro . Retrieved 25 February 2022.

External links

• Maicon at Sambafoot (archived)
• Maicon at ForaDeJogo (archived)