Paulo Henrique Ganso

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Chagasand the second or paternal family name is de Lima.

Paulo Henrique Ganso

Ganso in 2009
Personal information
Full name	Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima [1]
Date of birth	(1989-10-12) 12 October 1989 (age 35)
Place of birth	Ananindeua, Brazil
Height	1.84 m (6 ft 0 in) [2]
Position(s)	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	188	(19)
International career‡
2009	Brazil U20	7	(1)
2012	Brazil U23	3	(0)
2010–2012	Brazil	8	(0)
Medal record Representing   Brazil Men's Football 2012 London Team
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 14:50, 2 October 2024 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:55, 2 June 2012 (UTC)

Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima (born 12 October 1989), known as Paulo Henrique Ganso or just Ganso (lit. "goose" in Portuguese), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Fluminense as an attacking midfielder. ^[3]

A Santos 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 the 2011 Copa Libertadores. In 2012, he moved to São Paulo, being named the best midfielder in the 2014 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A before joining Sevilla in 2016. He could not establish himself as a starter at the Spanish side, and in 2019, after a brief period on loan at Amiens, he returned to his home country with Fluminense.

In 2009, Ganso received a nomination for the Brazilian Football Confederation award for "Breakthrough Player" of the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, given to the best rookie of the competition. ^[4]

Club career

Santos

Ganso was brought to Tuna Luso after being discovered by former Brazil international Giovanni, 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-20 Campeonato 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 by Sport Club Internacional. He won the 2010 Campeonato Paulista with Santos on 2 May 2010, defeating Santo 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.

São Paulo

On 20 September 2012, after a hard period of negotiation, it was confirmed by São Paulo that Ganso had signed a five-year contract, for a R$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 in São Paulo, Muricy Ramalho. According to Ramalho, who worked with Ganso in Santos, when both of them won 2011 Copa Libertadores, and in October 2013, when his number 8 shirt passed Jádson as the player with the most assists at Tricolor in the 2013 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 brought Alexandre 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 of São 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]

Sevilla

On 16 July 2016, Ganso signed for Spanish La Liga side Sevilla 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 over Granada. ^[14]

Loan to Amiens

On 31 August 2018, the last day of the 2018 summer transfer window, Ganso joined Ligue 1 club Amiens SC on a season-long loan. Amiens secured an option to sign him permanently. ^{[15] [16]}

Fluminense

On 31 January 2019, Ganso returned to Brazil and signed a five-year contract with Fluminense. ^[17]

International career

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 coach Dunga to choose Ganso for the 2010 World Cup in South Africa, primarily as a substitute for Kaká, 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-man 2010 FIFA World Cup Brazil squad. On 26 July 2010, he was called up by the new coach Mano Menezes to the Brazil national football team for a friendly match against USA. On 10 August 2010, in a friendly against the USA 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 in Mano Menezes 23-man 2011 Copa América squad and was given the number 10 shirt. During their second group game against Paraguay, on 9 July, Ganso assisted Jádson's goal as well as a last minute equalising goal from Fred 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 the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where Brazil achieved a silver medal. ^[24]

Following injuries to Douglas Costa and Kaká, Ganso was called up to Brazil's Copa 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]}

Style of play

Ganso is capable of playing anywhere in midfield, and is regarded as a talented and elegant offensive left-footed playmaker, with excellent dribbling skills, ball control, balance, vision, and passing ability, who excels at providing assists 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 a central midfielder or as a deep-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 compatriot Kaká; ^[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 both Santos and São Paulo, due to the enormous quality of his passes. ^[27] After being a potential favorite name to wear the number 10 shirt for Brazil in the 2010 FIFA World Cup, Ganso was not called up for the tournament by Dunga, 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 of Oscar, 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 against Corinthians, helping his team to a 3–1 victory, and, in 2013, he shone in a 2–0 win against Atlético Mineiro, as São Paulo advanced to the third stage of the 2013 Copa Libertadores. ^[37]

After Muricy 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 over Náutico in the Brazilian League, dribbling past four opponents before shooting on goal past the keeper. ^[38]

Career statistics

Club

As of 4 October 2024 ^{[39] [40]}

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Santos	2008	Série A	3	0	3 [lower-alpha 1]	0	—		0	0	—		6	0
	2009		33	8	8 [lower-alpha 1]	1	4	0	—		—		45	9
	2010		11	0	20 [lower-alpha 1]	11	10	2	2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		43	13
	2011		13	2	9 [lower-alpha 1]	2	—		7 [lower-alpha 3]	1	2 [lower-alpha 4]	0	31	5
	2012		5	1	16 [lower-alpha 1]	4	—		12 [lower-alpha 3]	3	1 [lower-alpha 5]	0	34	8
	Total		65	11	56	18	14	2	21	4	3	0	159	35
São Paulo	2012	Série A	3	0	—		—		2 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		5	0
	2013		31	1	16 [lower-alpha 1]	2	—		13 [lower-alpha 6]	1	3 [lower-alpha 7]	1	63	5
	2014		34	5	15 [lower-alpha 1]	1	6	0	6 [lower-alpha 2]	3	—		61	9
	2015		31	2	8 [lower-alpha 1]	1	6	0	8 [lower-alpha 3]	0	—		53	3
	2016		7	1	14 [lower-alpha 1]	4	0	0	11 [lower-alpha 3]	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 [lower-alpha 8]	0	2 [lower-alpha 9]	0	16	3
	2017–18		8	2	—		2	1	1 [lower-alpha 8]	1	—		11	4
	2018–19		0	0	—		0	0	1 [lower-alpha 10]	0	0	0	1	0
	Total		18	4	—		5	2	3	1	2	0	28	7
Amiens	2018–19	Ligue 1	12	0	—		1	0	—		—		13	0
Fluminense	2019	Série A	28	2	7 [lower-alpha 11]	1	6	2	6 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		47	5
	2020		18	1	7 [lower-alpha 11]	0	6	0	1 [lower-alpha 2]	0	—		32	1
	2021		10	0	8 [lower-alpha 11]	3	3	0	2 [lower-alpha 3]	0	—		23	3
	2022		33	5	9 [lower-alpha 11]	0	7	3	8 [lower-alpha 3]	1	—		57	9
	2023		27	3	12 [lower-alpha 11]	1	3	0	12 [lower-alpha 3]	0	2 [lower-alpha 4]	0	56	4
	2024		25	3	5 [lower-alpha 11]	0	3	0	9 [lower-alpha 3]	1	2 [lower-alpha 5]	0	44	4
	Total		141	14	48	5	28	5	38	2	4	0	259	26
Career total			342	38	157	31	65	9	97	13	12	1	673	92

1. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Paulista
2. Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
3. Appearance(s) in Copa Libertadores
4. Appearance(s) in FIFA Club World Cup
5. Appearance(s) in Recopa Sudamericana
6. Nine appearances in Copa Libertadores, four appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana
7. Two appearances in Recopa Sudamericana, one appearance and one goal in Suruga Bank Championship
8. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
9. Appearances in Supercopa de España
10. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
11. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Carioca

International

As of match played on 17 June 2018 ^[41]

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Brazil	2010	1	0
	2011	6	0
	2012	1	0
Total		8	0

Honours

Santos

• Campeonato Paulista: 2010, 2011, 2012
• Copa do Brasil: 2010
• Copa Libertadores: 2011
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2012

São Paulo

• Copa Sudamericana: 2012

Fluminense

• Taça Guanabara: 2022, 2023
• Campeonato Carioca: 2022, 2023
• Copa Libertadores: 2023
• Recopa Sudamericana: 2024

Individual

• Copa do Brasil Best Player: 2010 ^[42]
• Bola de Prata: 2014 ^[43]
• South American Team of the Year: 2011 ^[44]
• Campeonato Paulista Team of the year: 2010, ^[45] 2012 ^[46]

References

1. "FIFA U-20 World Cup Egypt 2009™: List of Players: Brazil" (PDF). FIFA. 6 October 2009. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 13 October 2009.
2. "Santos Futebol Clube – Site Oficial". Santosfc.com.br. Archived from the original on 26 May 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
3. "Brazil – Paulo Henrique Chagas de Lima – Profile with news, career statistics and history". Soccerway. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
4. Adilson Barros Santos. "Globo Esporte: Ganso assina renovação, ganha aumento e é do Peixe até 2015". Globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
5. "Sky Sports Scout – Ganso". Sky Sports. 20 September 2010.
6. "Santos' Ganso to have knee surgery, out for six months". Sports Illustrated. 27 August 2010. Archived from the original on 24 May 2012. Retrieved 10 September 2010.
7. "Santos FC esclarece oferta de projeto de carreira a PH Ganso". Santos FC (in Portuguese). 22 October 2010. Archived from the original on 27 October 2012. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
8. Santos FC financial report 2012 (in Portuguese)
9. "Santos libera Ganso para o São Paulo após penhorar CT; contrato será assinado na Vila". Universo Online. 20 September 2012. Retrieved 20 September 2012.
10. "Ganso assina contrato de cinco anos e, enfim, é jogador do São Paulo". globoesporte.com. 21 September 2012. Retrieved 21 September 2012.
11. "Após Ganso virar maior garçom, Muricy celebra: "hoje, temos um 10"".
12. Honrado, Ganso assume a camisa 10 do São Paulo no lugar de Jadson
13. "Oficial: Ganso, sexto refuerzo del Sevilla FC" [Official: Ganso, the sixth transfer of Sevilla FC]. ABC (Spain) . Retrieved 16 July 2016.
14. "Ganso nets brace vs. Granada as Sevilla inch closer to UCL spot". ESPN. 21 April 2017. Retrieved 22 April 2017.
15. "Paulo Henrique Ganso est un joueur de l'Amiens SC" (in French). Amiens SC. 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
16. "Transferts : Ganso débarque à Amiens". L'Équipe (in French). 31 August 2018. Retrieved 31 August 2018.
17. "Ganso é o novo reforço do Fluminense" (in Portuguese). Fluminense FC. 31 January 2019. Retrieved 31 January 2019.
18. "globoesporte.com > Estaduais > Campeonato Paulista – NOTÍCIAS – Ganso pede chance na seleção, e Dorival Júnior elogia 'atitude de homem' do meia". Globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
19. Por GLOBOESPORTE.COM Monte Carlo, Mônaco (14 June 2010). "Massa 'corneta' seleção de Dunga e pede Neymar, Ganso e Ronaldinho , globoesporte.com". Globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
20. Victor Canedo Rio de Janeiro. "globoesporte.com > Copa do Mundo 2010 – NOTÍCIAS – LEMBRA DELE? Éder pede Ganso e Neymar: 'Se não levar tem que ser preso'". Globoesporte.globo.com. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
21. "Comissão técnica da Seleção Brasileira divulga a lista complementar enviada à FIFA". CBF.com.br (in Portuguese). 11 May 2010. Archived from the original on 19 June 2010. Retrieved 12 May 2010.
22. Terence Steed. "USA 0–2 Brazil: Young Samba Stars Regain Brazil's Spark". Goal.com. Retrieved 11 August 2010.
23. "Ganso shouldering great expectations". FIFA.com. 9 August 2011. Archived from the original on 25 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
24. "Brazil's Neymar 'happy' with silver medal". Sportsnet.ca. 14 August 2012. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
25. "Copa America: Kaka replaces injured Douglas Costa in Brazil squad". BBC Sport. 27 May 2016. Retrieved 27 May 2016.
26. "Copa America: Kaka ruled out for Brazil with injury". BBC Sport. 2 June 2016. Retrieved 2 June 2016.
27. Tim Vickery (3 January 2011). "Can Ganso make his mark?". BBC.co.uk. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
28. Alfredo De Vuono. "Mini-inchiesta su Ganso, il '10' che fa impazzire di gusto Milan ed Inter" [Mini-inquiry on Ganso, the "number 10" that is driving Milan and Inter wild] (in Italian). Fanta Gazzetta. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
29. "Un'analisi accurata pro Ganso all'Inter" [A detailed pro-Ganso analysis for Inter] (in Italian). FC Inter News. 6 March 2011. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
30. Daniele Felicetti (3 July 2011). "Milan, Tavares: "Ganso più forte di Kakà"" [Milan, Tavares: "Ganso più forte di Kakà"] (in Italian). Tutto Mercato. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
31. Carlo Campo (13 July 2016). "Sevilla set to sign Ganso from Sao Paulo". The Score. Retrieved 21 August 2016.
32. Juninho (12 June 2010). "World Cup 2010: can Brazil rely on Kaka?". The Telegraph. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
33. "E' fatta: Ganso via dal Santos Niente Milan, va al San Paolo" (in Italian). La Gazzetta dello Sport. 15 September 2012. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
34. "Brasile, Seedorf: Ganso troppo lento per l'Europa" [Brazil, Seedorf: Ganso too slow for Europe] (in Italian). Data Sport. 26 November 2013. Retrieved 24 May 2015.
35. Jack Lang (17 January 2012). "Brazil's Paulo Henrique Ganso feels weight of expectation at Santos". The Guardian. Retrieved 15 September 2016.
36. Savarese, Mauricio (4 July 2014). "Neymar the Redeemer: How Brazil's boy wonder came to carry the hopes of a nation". FourFourTwo.com. Retrieved 27 June 2020.
37. "Ganso, Osvaldo e Luís Fabiano sonham em jogar a Copa 2014". Archived from the original on 11 December 2013. Retrieved 30 August 2013.
38. "Em boa fase, Ganso acaba com ressalvas no São Paulo com golaço".
39. "Ganso". Soccerway. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
40. "Ganso » Club matches". worldfootball.net. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
41. "Paulo Henrique Ganso". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 17 June 2018.
42. "Melhor da Copa do Brasil, Ganso pede manutenção de Meninos da Vila". Globoesporte.globo.com. 5 August 2010. Retrieved 4 June 2011.
43. "Ganso 'chuta' críticas, dá volta por cima e é um dos meias Bola de Prata" [Ganso 'kick away' criticism, bounce back and is one of the Bola de Prata midfielders] (in Brazilian Portuguese). ESPN Brasil. 8 December 2014. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
44. "Neymar consagra 2011 e é eleito o 'Rei da América'; Ganso fica em 3" [Neymar consecrates 2011 and is chosen as 'King of America'; Ganso is 3rd] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Veja. 31 December 2011. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
45. "Santos tem seis jogadores na seleção do Campeonato Paulista" [Santos have six players in the Campeonato Paulista best eleven] (in Brazilian Portuguese). Terra. 3 May 2010. Retrieved 23 May 2021.
46. "No auge da forma física, Ganso é eleito melhor meia do Paulistão" [On top physical form, Ganso is chosen the best midfielder of the Paulistão] (in Brazilian Portuguese). GloboEsporte.com. 14 May 2012. Retrieved 23 May 2021.

External links

• Paulo Henrique Ganso at BDFutbol
• Paulo Henrique Ganso at ESPN FC
• Paulo Henrique Ganso at Soccerway