Alexandre Pato

Alexandre Pato is one of the greatest talents in Brazilian football of his generation, discovered by Internacional from Porto Alegre and sold to AC Milan at the age of 17, becoming the second youngest player in the club's history to score a goal. His explosive speed, technical ability and shot power made him one of the biggest promises in world football in the late 2000s. Born in Pato Branco, Paraná, on September 2, 1989, Alexandre was discovered in Internacional's youth categories. At just 16 years old he made his professional debut, impressing with his naturalness and composure in the penalty area. In January 2007, AC Milan paid €22 million to sign him, one of the biggest investments in young athletes at the time. In Italy, Pato experienced highs and lows. When in top form, he was devastating — he scored 63 goals in 150 games for Milan, but frequent muscle injuries prevented him from consistently reaching his maximum potential. Nevertheless, he won important titles and left his mark on European football, being compared to the great Brazilian strikers of previous generations. Throughout his career, he played for Corinthians, São Paulo, Chelsea, Villarreal, Tianjin Quanjian, Orlando City, Benfica and Athletico Paranaense, among others. For the Brazilian national team, he played 27 matches and scored 10 goals, including participation in the World Cup 2010 in South Africa.