From Santos to Europe: Marcos Leonardo and other strikers who made the leap to the Old Continent

The winner of the Samba Gold U-23 is already in Lisbon to sign his contract with Benfica and make the final leap to Europe

Josué Seixas

2024-01-04 15:08:52

Image Credits: © (@marcosleonardo09 on Instagram)

The thing about Marcos Leonardo and Benfica is practically a fact. The Brazilian striker from Santos is already in Lisbon to undergo a medical examination and, barring a major surprise, will sign his new contract with the Portuguese team in the next few hours.

The Lisbon club would have already reached a definitive agreement with Santos for his transfer and, according to Fabrizio Romano, the figures for the operation would be around 18 million fixed euros and the Brazilian club would keep 10% of a future transfer.

Marcos Leonardo will seek to follow in Neymar’s footsteps and move away from Gabigol’s

Therefore, given the imminent agreement between the Peixe and the Águias, it is impossible not to get excited when thinking about the evolution that the current winner of the Samba Gold U-23 may have in the Lusitanian team, which has been characterized in recent years by train and revalue young talent.

However, to achieve this, Marcos Leonardo will have to look in the mirror of Neymar Jr., Rodrygo Goes, Felipe Anderson or Robinho in his early days and avoid at all costs following in the footsteps of other stars who failed to adapt to Europe after leaving Santos.

There are many examples, so here we have decided to compile a list of the footballers who, in the last 20 years (from the 2003/2004 season to the present), have left Santos for Europe and their statistics on the old continent.

Who are the latest attackers to leave Santos for Europe?

2023/2024: Deivid Washington → Chelsea (1 MP / 0 G / 0 A)*
2023/2024: Ângelo → Chelsea – Racing Estrasburgo (16 MP / 0 G / 3 A)
2022/2023: Léo Baptistão → UD Almería (45 MP / 9 G / 2 A)
2022/2023: Felippe Cardoso → Casa Pía (32 MP / 7 G / 0 A)
2021/2022: Kaio Jorge → Juventus (11 MP / 0 G / 0 A) – Frosinone (10 MP / 1 G / 1 A)
2019/2020: Rodrygo Goes → Real Madrid (190 MP / 47 G / 38 A)
2016/2017: Gabriel “Gabigol” Barbosa → Inter Milan (10 MP / 1 G / 0 A) – Benfica (5 MP / 1 G / 0 A)
2013/2014: Neymar Jr. → FC Barcelona (186 MP / 105 G / 76 A) – PSG (173 MP / 118 G / 77 A)
2013/2014: Felipe Anderson → Lazio (300 MP / 54 G / 62 A) – West Ham (73 MP / 12 G / 13 A) – Porto (10 MP / 0 G / 1 A)
2011/2012: Zé Love → Genoa (10 MP / 0 G / 0 A) – Siena (9 MP / 2 G / 0 A)
2010/2011: André Felipe → Dinamo de Kiev (9 MP / 0 G / 1 A) – Gaziantep (22 MP / 3 G / 1 A) – Sporting Lisboa (15 MP / 3 G / 2 A) – Lyon (8 MP / 0 G / 0 A) – Torpedo Moscow (5 MP / 1 G / 0 A)
2005/2006: Robinho → Real Madrid (137 MP / 35 G / 76 A) – AC Milan (144 MP / 32 G / 30 A) – Manchester City (53 MP / 16 G / 12 A) – Basaksehir (43 MP / 4 G / 3 A) – Sivasspor (30 MP / 12 G / 5 A)
2005/2006: Deivid de Souza → Sporting Lisbon (32 MP / 9 G / 5 A) – Fenerbahce (150 MP / 40 G / 24 A)