1. Early Life and Youth Career
Luiz Henrique was born on January 2, 2001, in Petrópolis, a city in the state of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of nine, he joined the youth academy of Fluminense in 2010. His formative years at Fluminense's renowned Xerém youth setup were critical to his development, allowing him to progress through the ranks and eventually impress the senior team coaches.
2. Club Career
Luiz Henrique's professional career spans several clubs in Brazil and Europe, marked by his impactful performances and significant transfers.
2.1. Fluminense
Luiz Henrique began his professional journey with Fluminense, where he had been part of the youth setup since 2010. He made his first team debut on August 12, 2020, in a Série A match against Palmeiras, coming on as a second-half substitute for Nenê in a 1-1 home draw. On September 7, 2020, he extended his contract with Fluminense until September 2025, solidifying his commitment to the club. His first professional goal came on October 17, 2020, when he scored the opening goal in a 2-2 home draw against Ceará.
2.2. Real Betis
In the summer of 2022, Luiz Henrique made his move to European football, joining Spanish La Liga club Real Betis. He signed a contract with Real Betis that was set to run until 2028. During his time with the club, he contributed to their campaigns in both domestic and continental competitions.
2.3. Botafogo
On January 31, 2024, Luiz Henrique returned to Brazilian football, signing with Botafogo. His transfer was announced by John Textor, owner of Eagle Football and majority shareholder of Botafogo, and gained significant media attention as it was valued at 106.60 M BRL, becoming one of the most expensive signings in Brazilian football history at the time. He initially signed a contract for one season.
Shortly after joining Botafogo, in his second game for the club against Volta Redonda in the State Championship, Luiz Henrique suffered a calf injury in the 32nd minute of the second half, which was officially confirmed by Botafogo on February 16, 2024. He subsequently underwent a period of recovery.
Luiz Henrique made his return to play for Botafogo on March 31, 2024, in a 2-0 victory over Boavista during the second game of the Rio Cup final, playing for the opening 45 minutes. His return proved pivotal as he played a crucial role in Botafogo's successful season. In the 2024 Copa Libertadores final, Luiz Henrique scored the opening goal, helping Botafogo secure the title. His performance in the final, and throughout the tournament, led to him being named the Most Valuable Player of both the match and the entire competition.
2.4. Zenit Saint Petersburg
On January 20, 2025, Russian champions Zenit St. Petersburg officially announced the transfer of Luiz Henrique to their club. The agreement involved a player exchange, with Artur moving to Botafogo, and Wendel also joining Botafogo at the conclusion of the 2024-25 Russian season. Luiz Henrique signed a four-year contract with Zenit, which includes an option for a fifth year, marking his return to European football.
3. International Career
Luiz Henrique has represented the Brazil national team at the senior level. He made his debut for the national team on September 6, 2024, in a World Cup qualifier match against Ecuador. The game was played at the Estádio Couto Pereira, where he started and played for 62 minutes as Brazil secured a 1-0 victory. In November 2020, he also participated in training sessions with the Brazil A national team alongside his then-teammate Metinho.
4. Career Statistics
This section provides a comprehensive overview of Luiz Henrique's professional statistics, detailing his appearances and goals for both clubs and the national team across various competitions and seasons.
4.1. Club Statistics
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
| Club | Season | League | State league | National cup | Continental | Other | Total | Notes | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Fluminense | 2020 | Série A | 26 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | - | - | 28 | 2 | |||
| 2021 | 33 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 10 | 0 | - | 55 | 7 | Copa Libertadores | |||
| 2022 | 14 | 2 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 10 | 2 | - | 37 | 4 | Four appearances and one goal in Copa Libertadores, six appearances and one goal in Copa Sudamericana | |||
| Total | 73 | 10 | 16 | 0 | 11 | 2 | 20 | 2 | - | 120 | 14 | ||||
| Betis | 2022-23 | La Liga | 33 | 1 | - | 2 | 0 | 7 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 43 | 3 | Appearance in Supercopa de España | |
| 2023-24 | 14 | 0 | - | 2 | 1 | 5 | 0 | - | 21 | 1 | |||||
| Total | 47 | 1 | - | 4 | 1 | 12 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 64 | 4 | ||||
| Botafogo | 2024 | Série A | 35 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 55 | 12 | Appearance in FIFA Intercontinental Cup |
| Zenit Saint Petersburg | 2024-25 | Russian Premier League | 0 | 0 | - | 0 | 0 | - | - | 0 | 0 | ||||
| Career total | 155 | 18 | 19 | 0 | 19 | 4 | 44 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 239 | 30 | |||
4.2. International Statistics
Appearances and goals by national team and year
| National team | Year | Apps | Goals |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brazil | 2024 | 6 | 2 |
| Total | 6 | 2 | |
Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first.
| No. | Date | Venue | Cap | Opponent | Score | Result | Competition |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 10 October 2024 | Estadio Nacional, Santiago, Chile | 3 | Chile | 2-1 | 2-1 | 2026 FIFA World Cup qualification |
| 2 | 15 October 2024 | Arena BRB Mané Garrincha, Brasília, Brazil | 4 | Peru | 4-0 | 4-0 |
5. Honours
Luiz Henrique has achieved several significant honours throughout his career, including both team and individual accolades.
5.1. Club Honours
- Botafogo
- Copa Libertadores: 2024
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2024
- Taça Rio: 2024
5.2. Individual Honours
- Prêmio Craque do Brasileirão: 2024
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2024
- Bola de Prata: 2024
- Troféu Mesa Redonda Team of the Year: 2024
- Copa Libertadores Hero of the Tournament: 2024
- Copa Libertadores Team of the Tournament: 2024
- South American Footballer of the Year: 2024
- South American Team of the Year: 2024