Alex Sandro
Alex Sandro Lobo Silva, or simply Alex Sandro, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a left-back for the Brazil national team. A quick, energetic and offensive minded defender who is also a strong tackler and a good reader of the game, Alex Sandro is capable of playing anywhere along the left flank; he has also been used as a wing-back and as a wide midfielder. He has been described as a player who is a “powerful runner, can beat opponents one-on-one and is an excellent crosser of the ball”. Regarded as one of the best left-backs in the world, Alex Sandro is a quick, energetic and offensive minded defender, who is also a strong tackler and a good reader of the game, courtesy of his speed and anticipation. He is capable of playing anywhere along the left flank; although mainly a full-back, he has also been used as a wing-back and as a wide midfielder. He has also occasionally been deployed in a more advanced position, as an outside forward or offensive winger. He has been described as a player who is a “powerful runner, can beat opponents one-on-one and is an excellent crosser of the ball”. His playing position, athleticism, and playing style have drawn comparisons with compatriot and 2002 FIFA World Cup-winner Roberto Carlos. His playing position, athleticism, and playing style have drawn comparisons with compatriot and 2002 FIFA World Cup-winner Roberto Carlos. At club level, Alex Sandro began his career with Atletico Paranaense, and later also played for Santos on loan. In 2011, he joined Porto for €9.6 million, alongside teammate and countryman Danilo, who plays as a right back. He joined Juventus in 2015, winning the domestic double in his first two seasons. At international level, Alex Sandro also plays for the Brazil national football team, for which he has gained 7 caps so far. At youth level, he also represented the Brazil national under-20 football team, winning both the South American Youth Championship and the FIFA U-20 World Cup in 2011, as well as the Brazil national under-23 football team, with which he won a silver medal at the 2012 Summer Olympics.
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This shirt was worn by Alex Sandro during the pre-season friendly game between Juventus and Tottenham which took place in London, “Wembley Stadium”, on August 5th. Tottenham defeated Juventus 2-0. On 20 August 2015, Alex Sandro joined Italian Serie A champions Juventus for €26 million on a five-year contract. He made his club debut on 12 September 2015 in a 1–1 home draw against Chievo in Serie A. Defending champions Juventus endured a difficult start to the season, and were in the bottom half of the table by late October. The club mounted a comeback that started with a last-gasp Turin derby win on 31 October, with the Brazilian left-back playing a key role in that upturn. In his third season with Juventus, Alex Sandro made 39 appearances for Juventus in all competitions, scoring four goals, all of which came in Serie A, from 26 league appearances; he finished the 2017–18 season by winning a third consecutive domestic double with the club.
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These shorts were used by Alex Sandro during the Serie A game between Juventus and Benevento which took place in Torino, “Juventus Stadium”, on November 5th 2017. They are part of the 120th Anniversary kit above. In his third season with Juventus, Alex Sandro made 39 appearances for Juventus in all competitions, scoring four goals, all of which came in Serie A, from 26 league appearances; he finished the 2017–18 season by winning a third consecutive domestic double with the club.
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Alex Sandro made his senior international debut on 10 November 2011 in a 2–0 away win over Gabon. He scored his first international goal on 12 October 2018, in a 2–0 friendly away win over Saudi Arabia. In May 2019, Sandro was included in Brazil’s 23-man squad for the 2019 Copa América on home soil by manager Tite. In Brazil’s final group match on 22 June, a 5–0 win against Peru, Sandro made a substitute appearance, coming on for Filipe Luís. In the quarter-final match against Paraguay on 27 June, he once again made a substitute appearance, replacing the injured Filipe Luís at half-time; following a 0–0 draw, Brazil advanced to the semi-finals 4–3 on penalties. Sandro started in the 2019 Copa América Final against Peru on 7 July, at the Maracanã Stadium; the match ended in a 3–1 victory to Brazil.
Alex Sandro is a part of the golden Atlético Paranaense youth setup, which has produced a great amount of defenders in very little time, with Raul, Manoel, Ronaldo Alves, Carlão and Bruno Costa all making themselves known in 2009. After being a part of the Brazil under-18 setup, Alex Sandro was called-up to the under-20 side in August 2009, alongside teammates Raul, Renan Foguinho and Gabriel Pimba. He made his debut in a friendly match at 18 years of age. He was a member of the teams that won the 2011 South American Youth Championship in Peru, as well as the 2011 FIFA U-20 World Cup in Colombia, also featuring in the final of the tournament against Portugal, which Brazil won 3–2 in extra-time.He also represented the Brazil under-23 side, at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London, where he made 3 appearances, including one in the final against Mexico, in which Brazil was defeated 2–1. Alex Sandro made his senior international debut on 10 November 2011 in a 2–0 away win over Gabon.
