Júlio Baptista

Júlio Baptista, nicknamed 'La Bestia' ('The Beast') during his time in Spain, was a Brazilian attacking midfielder known for his physical strength, finishing power and versatility on the pitch, able to play as a defensive midfielder, midfielder or striker. Discovered by São Paulo, he lived the peak of his career in European football, where he defended clubs such as Sevilla, Real Madrid, Arsenal and Roma. It was at Sevilla that he gained international recognition, scoring 38 goals in 63 matches and catching the attention of European football. He then transferred to Real Madrid, and had a remarkable loan spell at Arsenal, where he became known for scoring four goals in a single match against Liverpool in the English League Cup. For the Brazil National Team, he played 47 matches and was champion of the Copa América in 2004 and 2007, in addition to the Confederations Cup, forming a winning generation of Brazilian football in the 2000s. He ended his career at clubs such as Málaga in Spain and Cruzeiro in Brazil.