Felipe Anderson

1.1. Childhood and Early Development

Anderson spent his early childhood playing street football until the age of 11, as children in Brazil were not permitted to join professional football academies until they reached 13 years old. He attributes his strong technical skills with the ball to these informal street games.

His formal footballing journey began at the age of six with Associação 14 Companhia de Polícia Militar Independente (CPMIND) in his hometown of Santa Maria. In 2006, he moved to Federal FC, and later to Sport Clube Recreativo Gaminha FC. After showcasing impressive performances, he relocated to Paraná to play for Astral EC. In 2007, he joined the youth side of Coritiba before moving to Santos in the summer of the same year.

2.1. Early Career

Felipe Anderson progressed through the youth categories at Santos from 2007 to 2010. His exceptional talent led him to become a top scorer, wear the number 10 shirt, and captain the Santos youth team. His performances earned him a promotion to the senior squad in October 2010 following a series of injuries to first-team players.

2.2. Santos

Upon joining the senior squad, Felipe Anderson signed a professional contract with Santos that was set to run until July 2013. He made his professional debut for Santos on 6 October 2010, entering as a 90th-minute substitute in a 3-0 victory against Fluminense.

His first career goal came on 11 February 2011, when he replaced Keirrison at half-time against Noroeste and scored from a long-range shot in the 70th minute, contributing to a 2-0 win. On 7 September, he scored his first league goal against Avaí. In November of the same year, he extended his contract with Santos until 2016.

In the 2012 season, Anderson received more opportunities in the first team, often playing alongside Neymar, benefiting from Ganso's injuries and Elano's inconsistent form. On 9 February 2012, he scored his first goal of the season against Botafogo-SP.

An agreed transfer to Italian club Lazio for 7.50 M EUR in January 2013 unfortunately fell through due to the late arrival of a crucial international fax from Brazil, preventing the deal from being finalized before the transfer deadline.

2.3. Lazio (First Stint)

On 25 June 2013, Lazio successfully reached an agreement with Santos for a transfer fee of 7.80 M EUR. Felipe Anderson subsequently signed a five-year contract with Lazio, reportedly worth 800.00 K EUR per year. Santos received 50% of the transfer sum, with the remaining half going to third-party owner Doyen Sports. Lazio's sporting director, Igli Tare, openly criticized Doyen Sports for repeatedly delaying the transfer, describing it as "the most paradoxical and shocking negotiations" he had ever experienced.

2.4. West Ham United

On 15 July 2018, Felipe Anderson officially signed with West Ham United on a four-year contract. The transfer fee was reported to be 36.00 M GBP, making him the club's record signing at the time, surpassing the 22.00 M GBP paid for Issa Diop earlier in the same transfer window.

2.5. Loan to Porto

On 6 October 2020, Felipe Anderson joined Portuguese club Porto on a season-long loan. This move was widely anticipated, offering the out-of-form Brazilian an opportunity to regain confidence and playing time. Upon his arrival, Anderson expressed that playing in both the UEFA Champions League and Primeira Liga was "fulfilling a dream," while also stating his intention to try and regain a starting spot at West Ham the following season. He made his Porto debut on 17 October, coming on as a 59th-minute substitute for Luis Díaz in a 2-2 draw against Sporting CP.

Throughout his loan spell, Anderson made only five Primeira Liga appearances, largely attributed to a strained relationship with Porto's manager, Sérgio Conceição. In October, Conceição publicly stated that Anderson "needs to work hard," and there were multiple indications that Anderson's signing had been against the manager's wishes. At the conclusion of the season, Anderson appeared to criticize the manager, asserting that he had applied himself from the beginning but "wasn't given many opportunities to play." He played a total of 10 matches for Porto, scoring no goals.

2.6. Lazio (Second Stint)

On 16 July 2021, Felipe Anderson made a permanent return to Lazio for an undisclosed fee. Prior to this move, he had played 73 games for West Ham, scoring 12 goals. He continued to be a key player for Lazio during his second tenure. On 15 April 2024, Anderson publicly announced via his official Instagram account that he would not be renewing his contract with Lazio, signaling his impending departure from the club.

2.7. Palmeiras

Shortly after his decision to leave Lazio was made public, it was revealed that Felipe Anderson would return to his home country of Brazil to join Palmeiras once his contract with Lazio expired. On 17 July 2024, he made his debut for Palmeiras, coming on as a 70th-minute substitute in a 0-1 away defeat to Botafogo in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A. He made a positive impression during his initial performance for the club.

3.1. Youth National Teams

Anderson has played for several of Brazil's youth national teams, including the U-17, U-20, U-21, and U-23 squads. He notably participated in the 2013 South American Youth Football Championship and was part of the Brazil U-23 team that won the gold medal at the 2016 Summer Olympics.

3.2. Senior National Team

In May 2015, Felipe Anderson was named as one of seven stand-by players by coach Dunga for Brazil's squad at the 2015 Copa América in Chile. He made his senior international debut for Brazil in a warm-up match against Mexico on 7 June 2015, playing the final seven minutes as a substitute for Fred in a 2-0 victory at Allianz Parque in São Paulo.

In June 2016, Anderson was included in Brazil's squad for the 2016 Summer Olympics, hosted in his home country. On 20 August, he featured in the final of the tournament against Germany at the iconic Maracanã in Rio de Janeiro. Brazil triumphed 5-4 in a penalty shootout following a 1-1 draw, securing the nation's first Olympic gold medal in men's football. Anderson was later recalled to the Brazil senior squad in February 2019, marking his first call-up since 2015, for two friendly matches.

5.1. Club

5.2. International