1. Overview
Luo Guofu (洛国富Luò GuófùChinese), born Aloísio dos Santos Gonçalves, is a former professional footballer who primarily played as a striker. Born in Brazil on June 19, 1988, he later renounced his Brazilian citizenship to acquire Chinese nationality in 2020, subsequently representing the China national football team. Known in Brazil by his birth name Aloísio, he adopted the Chinese name Luo Guofu following his naturalization. His career spanned across both Brazilian and Chinese leagues, where he achieved significant milestones, including becoming a top scorer in the Chinese Super League. After a distinguished career, he announced his retirement from professional football in June 2024.
2. Early Life and Background
Aloísio's early life in Brazil laid the foundation for his professional football career, which later saw him make the significant decision to change his nationality.
2.1. Birth and Personal Background
Aloísio was born Aloísio dos Santos Gonçalves on June 19, 1988, in Araranguá, Brazil. Details about his childhood and early life are not extensively documented, but he began his football journey in Brazil, developing his skills as a promising striker.
q=Araranguá|position=right
2.2. Naturalization and Name Change
Aloísio's naturalization as a Chinese citizen marked a pivotal moment in his career. The process involved his formal renunciation of Brazilian citizenship, which was officially published in Brazil's federal gazette on July 30, 2019. He subsequently acquired Chinese nationality in 2020. Upon becoming a Chinese citizen, he adopted the name Luo Guofu. This naturalization was part of a broader initiative by the Chinese Football Association to integrate foreign-born players into the national team, aiming to enhance its competitiveness on the international stage.
3. Club Career
Luo Guofu's professional career saw him play for numerous clubs across Brazil and China, marked by notable transfers and significant achievements in various leagues.
3.1. Early Career in Brazil
Aloísio signed his first professional contract with Grêmio in June 2006, a five-year deal that included a 7.25 M GBP buy-out clause. He made his full debut for Grêmio on October 14, 2006, in a 2-0 victory against Associação Desportiva São Caetano. In August 2007, he moved to FC Chiasso in the Swiss second division on a two-season loan.
He later joined Figueirense on May 18, 2011, following impressive performances at Chapecoense in the Campeonato Catarinense. For Chapecoense, he scored 14 goals in 19 matches, contributing to their Champions Trophy victory. Aloísio also played for Caxias in 2010.
On December 1, 2012, Aloísio confirmed a pre-contract agreement with São Paulo FC, which was publicly confirmed by the club's president on December 7, 2012, for the 2013 season. On July 10, 2013, he achieved a historic milestone by scoring the 1,000th goal in São Paulo's history in the Brazilian League, despite a 1-2 home loss to Esporte Clube Bahia. In subsequent matches, he notably scored goals with his hand against Portuguesa de Desportos and CR Flamengo. On October 27, 2013, Aloísio scored his first hat-trick for São Paulo in a 3-2 league victory against SC Internacional.
3.2. Career in China
In January 2014, Aloísio made a significant move to Chinese football, joining Shandong Luneng of the Chinese Super League for a transfer fee of 5.00 M EUR. His contract with Shandong Luneng was for four years, with an reported annual salary of 1.80 M USD. He quickly made an impact, becoming the top scorer in the 2015 Chinese Super League season with 22 goals in 28 games.
In July 2016, Aloísio transferred to another Chinese Super League club, Hebei China Fortune, where he wore the number 31 jersey. During his tenure at Hebei China Fortune, he made 37 appearances, scoring 20 goals.
On January 16, 2018, Aloísio joined China League One newcomers Meizhou Meixian Techand (now known as Guangdong South China Tiger) on a free transfer, signing a two-year contract. In January 2020, he transferred to Guangzhou Evergrande (now Guangzhou FC). However, on February 16, 2022, Guangzhou Evergrande announced the termination of contracts for five naturalized Chinese players, including Luo Guofu.
3.3. Return to Brazil and Retirement
On April 8, 2022, Luo Guofu returned to Brazil, signing with América Mineiro. Notably, he chose to wear his Chinese name in Hanyu Pinyin style, "Luo GF", on the back of his shirt, showcasing his pride in his adopted nationality. In July 2022, his signed shirts were put up for auction on a football memorabilia website.
On June 24, 2024, six months after departing América Mineiro and having suffered from injuries, Aloísio, at the age of 36, officially announced his retirement from professional football.
4. International Career
Luo Guofu's international career was entirely with the China national football team, following his naturalization.
4.1. China National Team
Luo Guofu made his international debut for the China national football team on September 7, 2021, in a 0-1 defeat against the Japan during the 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification - AFC third round. In his second international match, on October 12, 2021, he scored his first goal for the national team against the Saudi Arabia in a World Cup qualifier, bringing the score to 1-2 in a match that ultimately ended in a 2-3 loss for China. He featured for the Chinese national side from 2021 to 2022, making a total of 5 appearances and scoring 1 goal.
q=King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah|position=right
5. Honours
Throughout his career, Luo Guofu accumulated several club titles and individual accolades.
5.1. Club Honours
- Grêmio
- Campeonato Gaúcho: 2007
- Chapecoense
- Campeonato Catarinense: 2011
- São Paulo
- Eusébio Cup: 2013
- Shandong Luneng
- Chinese FA Cup: 2014
- Chinese FA Super Cup: 2015
5.2. Individual Honours
- Chinese Super League Golden Boot award: 2015
6. Career Statistics
6.1. Club Statistics
| Club | Season | League | State league | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Grêmio | 2006 | Série A | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 5 | 0 | ||
| 2007 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 9 | 1 | |||
| Total | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 14 | 1 | |||
| Chiasso | 2007-08 | Swiss Challenge League | 14 | 7 | - | 1 | 2 | - | - | 15 | 9 | |||
| Caxias | 2010 | Série C | 7 | 1 | 8 | 0 | - | - | - | 15 | 1 | |||
| Chapecoense | 2011 | Série B | 0 | 0 | 20 | 14 | - | - | - | 20 | 14 | |||
| Figueirense | 2011 | Série A | 21 | 4 | - | - | - | - | 21 | 4 | ||||
| 2012 | 30 | 14 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 49 | 28 | |||
| Total | 51 | 18 | 17 | 14 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 70 | 32 | |||
| São Paulo | 2013 | Série A | 33 | 11 | 15 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 4 | 2 | 1 | 65 | 20 |
| Shandong Luneng | 2014 | Chinese Super League | 27 | 10 | - | 7 | 4 | 6 | 1 | - | 40 | 15 | ||
| 2015 | 28 | 22 | - | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 32 | 24 | |||
| 2016 | 11 | 1 | - | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | - | 13 | 2 | ||||
| Total | 66 | 33 | - | 12 | 7 | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 85 | 41 | |||
| Hebei China Fortune | 2016 | Chinese Super League | 11 | 6 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 11 | 6 | |||
| 2017 | 26 | 14 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 14 | |||||
| Total | 37 | 20 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 37 | 20 | |||||
| Guangdong South China Tiger | 2018 | China League One | 26 | 12 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 12 | |||
| 2019 | 25 | 11 | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 26 | 11 | |||||
| Total | 51 | 23 | - | 1 | 0 | - | - | 52 | 23 | |||||
| Guangzhou Evergrande | 2020 | Chinese Super League | 5 | 0 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 9 | 1 | ||
| 2021 | 9 | 3 | - | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 9 | 3 | ||||
| Total | 14 | 3 | - | 1 | 1 | 3 | 0 | - | 18 | 4 | ||||
| América Mineiro | 2022 | Série A | 22 | 4 | - | 4 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | 28 | 4 | ||
| 2023 | 5 | 3 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | - | 20 | 11 | |||
| Total | 27 | 7 | 9 | 4 | 9 | 4 | 4 | 0 | - | 48 | 15 | |||
| Career total | 305 | 123 | 76 | 37 | 24 | 14 | 32 | 5 | 3 | 1 | 439 | 180 | ||
6.2. International Statistics
| China | ||
| Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|
| 2021 | 4 | 1 |
| 2022 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | 5 | 1 |
Scores and results list China's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. | 12 October 2021 | King Abdullah Sports City Stadium, Jeddah, Saudi Arabia | Saudi Arabia | 1-2 | 2-3 | 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |
7. Legacy and Reception
Luo Guofu's career, particularly his role as a naturalized player for the China national football team, has left a notable legacy in Chinese football. His naturalization was part of a broader strategic effort by the Chinese Football Association to enhance the national team's competitiveness on the international stage by incorporating foreign-born talent. This policy, while aimed at improving performance, also generated considerable discussion regarding its long-term implications for the development of domestic football.
His public reception was generally positive, and he was seen as a committed member of the national team. His decision to embrace his Chinese identity, even wearing "Luo GF" on his shirt upon his return to Brazilian club football, underscored his dedication to his adopted nation. The auctioning of his signed shirts further indicates the interest and connection fans had with him, highlighting his unique position as a naturalized player in Chinese football history. His contributions, though limited in number of international appearances, represented a significant phase in China's attempts to qualify for the FIFA World Cup.