1. Early life and background
Heberty Fernandes de Andrade was born on August 29, 1988, in São Paulo, Brazil.
1.1. Youth career
Heberty began his youth career in Brazil, playing for Nacional-SP in 2005. He then moved to Sumaré in 2006 and later to CEF Putak in Poland in 2007. In 2008, he played for Taboão da Serra before starting his professional journey.
1.2. Career start in Brazil
Heberty started his professional career at Vasco da Gama in 2008. In July 2008, he briefly moved to the Italian club Recanatese before returning to Brazil to join Juventus-SP in August 2009. He spent two seasons there before moving to São Caetano in January 2011, and then to Paulista-SP in August of the same year.
2. Career in Japan
Heberty's career in Japan saw him play for three different clubs in the J.League, where he made his mark in Asian football.
2.1. Thespakusatsu Gunma
In January 2012, Heberty moved to Japan to join J2 League club Thespakusatsu Gunma. He made an immediate impact, scoring two goals on his debut to secure a 3-2 victory over Ōita Trinita on March 4.
2.2. Cerezo Osaka (loan)
Mid-way through the 2012 season, on August 11, 2012, Heberty was loaned to J1 League club Cerezo Osaka. He debuted for the club on the same day in a 2-2 draw against rivals Gamba Osaka. Although he did not score in his 13 appearances, he contributed to the team's J1 League survival.
2.3. Vegalta Sendai
In January 2013, Heberty joined J1 League club Vegalta Sendai. His debut for the club was on March 9 in a 3-2 loss against Kashima Antlers. Heberty also made his AFC Champions League debut on March 12 against Chinese side Jiangsu Sainty in a goalless draw. On August 10, he scored his first goal for Vegalta Sendai in a 2-1 home victory against Kashima Antlers. He left the club in January 2014 after his contract expired.
3. Career in Thailand
Heberty has had an extensive and highly successful career in Thai football, becoming a prominent figure and the all-time top scorer in the Thai League 1. He is known for his excellent free-kick ability with his left foot.
3.1. Ratchaburi F.C.
In January 2014, Heberty moved to Thailand to join Ratchaburi F.C. in the Thai League 1. He had an outstanding first season, finishing as the league's top scorer with 26 goals. He played for Ratchaburi for two and a half seasons, scoring a significant number of goals as a key forward.
3.2. Muangthong United F.C.
On March 2, 2017, Heberty returned to Thailand, signing with Muangthong United F.C.. He scored on his debut in a 2-2 draw against Sukhothai F.C. on June 16. On September 20, Heberty achieved his first hat-trick for the club in a 4-0 league win over Bangkok United. He followed this with a second hat-trick in the 2017 Thai FA Cup against Lampang, leading to a 5-0 victory. In his first season, Heberty helped Muangthong United win the 2017 Thai League Cup and the 2017 Mekong Club Championship.
During the 2018 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs preliminary round 2 on January 23, 2018, Heberty scored a brace and provided an assist in a 5-2 win over Malaysian side Johor Darul Ta'zim, which sent the team to the play-off round. However, they were eventually eliminated by Japanese club Kashiwa Reysol with a 3-0 loss. In the 2018 season, Heberty recorded 30 goals and 15 assists in 41 appearances across all competitions. He scored two more hat-tricks that season: on May 20, 2018, in a 4-3 win over Sukhothai, and on October 3, 2018, in a 5-5 draw against Pattaya United. On October 7, Heberty made his 100th appearance for Muangthong United in the final league fixture against Bangkok United. On September 30, 2018, Heberty scored his 100th goal in the Thai League, becoming the fifth player to reach this milestone.
3.3. Port F.C. (loan)
On December 10, 2019, Heberty joined another Thai club, Port F.C., on loan. He made his debut on March 21, 2020, in the 2020 AFC Champions League qualifying play-offs preliminary round 2, which resulted in a 1-0 loss against Philippine club Ceres-Negros. Heberty scored his first goals for Port F.C. by netting a brace in a 4-1 win over Nakhon Ratchasima F.C. on February 15. He returned to Muangthong United after his loan spell expired on November 30, 2020.
3.4. Bangkok United F.C.
On December 4, 2020, Heberty joined Bangkok United F.C. on a free transfer. He made his debut on December 26 against his former club, Muangthong United, in a 2-2 draw. Heberty scored his first goal for Bangkok United in a 2-1 win over Ratchaburi on February 13, 2021. On May 1, 2022, Heberty scored his first hat-trick for the club in a 5-2 league victory over Suphanburi F.C.. He was also named the Thai League Foreign Player of the Year for the 2021-22 season.
4. Career in other leagues
Beyond Japan and Thailand, Heberty has also played in Saudi Arabia and Malaysia, achieving further success.
4.1. Saudi Arabia
On July 7, 2016, Heberty signed with Saudi Pro League club Al Shabab. He made his debut on September 18 in a 3-2 win over Al Ahli. Heberty scored his first goal for the club on September 23 in a 2-2 draw against Al Taawoun.
4.2. Malaysia
On July 21, 2023, Heberty moved to Malaysian club Johor Darul Ta'zim mid-way through the 2023 Malaysia Super League season. He scored on his debut in a 2-0 win over Selangor F.C. on July 29. He continued his strong start by scoring in the next three consecutive league matches against Sabah, Perak, and Kedah Darul Aman. On November 7, Heberty helped his club secure a 2-1 win in the AFC Champions League match against Korean club Ulsan Hyundai. In his first season with Johor Darul Ta'zim, he won a domestic treble, securing the league title, the 2023 Malaysia FA Cup, and the 2023 Malaysia Cup.
Heberty renewed his contract with the club on February 14, 2024, extending his stay until the end of the 2024-25 season. On June 22, he scored his first hat-trick with the club in a 3-0 win over Sri Pahang. During the round of 16 of the 2024-25 Malaysia Cup, Heberty scored another hat-trick in the first leg tie against Kuala Lumpur Rovers in a 3-0 victory.
5. National team eligibility controversy
In May 2015, Heberty controversially obtained Timorese citizenship, which would have made him eligible to play for the Timor-Leste national team. However, he never made his international debut with them.
An inquiry held by the Prime Minister of Timor-Leste in 2016 revealed that Heberty was one of seven Brazilian male footballers who received falsified baptism documents from Timor-Leste's Catholic Church. These documents were allegedly used to create the appearance that they were eligible for Timorese nationality, despite having no known legitimate means of eligibility, such as family connections or residency. All seven players were based in Asia, but only one, Juninho, had actually played for Timor-Leste's national team.
On January 19, 2017, the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) declared 12 Brazilian male footballers, including Heberty, ineligible to represent Timor-Leste due to their nationality falsification. Following this scandal, Timor-Leste was banned from competing in international events.
6. Club statistics
Updated as of July 6, 2024.
Club performance | League | Cup | League Cup | Continental | Total | |||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||||||||||
Vasco da Gama | 2008 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Recanatese | 2009 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Juventus-SP | 2010 | Paulistão A3 | 17 | 3 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 17 | 3 | ||||||||||||
São Caetano | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Paulista-SP | 2011 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Thespakusatsu Gunma | 2012 | J2 League | 22 | 5 | - | - | - | 22 | 5 | |||||||||||||
Cerezo Osaka | 2012 | J1 League | 13 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | - | 14 | 0 | |||||||||||
Vegalta Sendai | 2013 | 16 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 18 | 1 | |||||||||||
Ratchaburi | 2014 | Thai League 1 | 36 | 26 | - | 36 | 26 | |||||||||||||||
2015 | 34 | 19 | 4 | 2 | - | 38 | 21 | |||||||||||||||
2016 | 20 | 20 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | - | 22 | 20 | |||||||||||||
Total | 90 | 65 | 5 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 96 | 67 | ||||||||||||
Al-Shabab | 2016-17 | Saudi Pro League | 12 | 4 | 2 | 1 | - | - | 14 | 5 | ||||||||||||
Muangthong United | 2017 | Thai League 1 | 16 | 12 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 19 | ||||||||||
2018 | 34 | 26 | 3 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 2 | 41 | 30 | ||||||||||||
2019 | 30 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 1 | 0 | - | 34 | 16 | |||||||||||||
Total | 80 | 52 | 11 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 101 | 65 | ||||||||||||
Port (loan) | 2020-21 | Thai League 1 | 9 | 7 | 0 | 0 | - | - | 9 | 7 | ||||||||||||
Bangkok United | 2020-21 | Thai League 1 | 15 | 9 | 3 | 1 | - | - | 18 | 10 | ||||||||||||
2021-22 | 29 | 15 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | - | 32 | 17 | |||||||||||||
2022-23 | 26 | 11 | 6 | 2 | 2 | 1 | - | 34 | 14 | |||||||||||||
Total | 70 | 35 | 11 | 4 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 84 | 41 | ||||||||||||
Johor Darul Ta'zim | 2023 | Malaysia Super League | 8 | 6 | 4 | 4 | - | 6 | 1 | 18 | 11 | |||||||||||
2024-25 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | ||||||||||||
Career total | 330 | 181 | 32 | 19 | 12 | 7 | 16 | 4 | 386 | 205 |
7. Honors
Heberty Fernandes de Andrade has accumulated numerous team trophies and individual awards throughout his football career.
7.1. Club
7.1.1. Muangthong United

- Thai League Cup: 2017
- Mekong Club Championship: 2017
7.1.2. Bangkok United
- Thai League 1 runners-up: 2022-23
- Thai FA Cup runners-up: 2022-23
7.1.3. Johor Darul Ta'zim
- Malaysia Super League: 2023
- Malaysia FA Cup: 2023, 2024
- Malaysia Cup: 2023
7.2. Individual
- Thai Premier League Top Scorer: 2014 (26 goals)
- Thai League Foreign Player of the Year: 2021-22
- Thai League Player of the Month: August 2014, June 2018, July 2019, August 2022
- Thai League Goal of the Month: May 2018, July 2019