1. Early Life and Background
Richarlyson Barbosa Felisbino was born on December 27, 1982, in Natal, a city located in the state of Rio Grande do Norte, Brazil. Growing up, he developed an early passion for football, a sport deeply ingrained in his family. His physical attributes during his playing career included a height of 69 in (176 cm) and a weight of 159 lb (72 kg).
1.1. Family Relationships
Football was a prominent aspect of Richarlyson's family life, with several close relatives achieving professional careers in the sport. His father, Lela, was also a footballer, having played for clubs such as Santo André, where Richarlyson himself would later play. Richarlyson's older brother, Alecsandro, also became a professional footballer, and the two brothers had the rare opportunity to play together for the same team, Atlético Mineiro, in 2013. Additionally, his brother-in-law, Deco, a renowned Portuguese footballer, was married to Richarlyson's sister, further solidifying the family's strong ties to the football world.
2. Football Career
Richarlyson's football career traversed youth academies, various professional clubs in Brazil, a European loan spell, and appearances for the Brazilian national team, marked by significant successes and notable controversies.
2.1. Youth and Early Professional Career
Richarlyson began his football journey in the youth academy of Ituano, where he earned recognition by winning the Copa São Paulo de Juniores, a prestigious youth tournament in Brazil. He transitioned into professional football with Santo André, a club from the ABC region of Greater São Paulo, a team his father, Lela, had also represented. During his time at Santo André, from 2002 to 2005, he made 33 appearances and scored 9 goals. He also gained experience through loan spells, playing for Fortaleza in 2003, where he made 16 appearances and scored 1 goal. From 2003 to 2005, he was loaned to the Austrian top-flight club Salzburg, making 27 appearances and scoring 2 goals. His performances attracted the attention of major São Paulo city clubs, including Palmeiras. However, a potential move to Palmeiras was complicated by concerns over his nickname, as the club reportedly preferred using his last name, Felisbino, due to the perceived difficulty in pronouncing and spelling Richarlyson. This unease led to a last-minute decision by Richarlyson to join São Paulo, one of Palmeiras' fiercest rivals, instead. A court battle between São Paulo and Santo André delayed his debut for the Morumbi club, even after a settlement was reached between the two teams.
2.2. São Paulo FC
Richarlyson's tenure at São Paulo FC (2005-2010), spanning 147 appearances and 6 goals, represented a significant period in his career, marked by both substantial on-field success and persistent off-field scrutiny. Initially, he faced limited opportunities in the main squad, but his fortunes changed with the arrival of coach Muricy Ramalho. Under Ramalho's guidance, Richarlyson entered the most successful phase of his career, becoming an indispensable part of the São Paulo squad that secured an unprecedented three consecutive Campeonato Brasileiro Série A championships in 2006, 2007, and 2008. His versatility and strong performances during this period also led to his call-up to the Brazil national team by coach Dunga, who praised his adaptable playing style.
Despite his vital contributions to the club's success, Richarlyson was subjected to intense scrutiny and abuse, primarily fueled by persistent allegations and rumors regarding his sexual orientation. This targeting escalated to the point where even segments of São Paulo supporters engaged in demeaning and homophobic chants directed at him. As his form eventually declined, Richarlyson became increasingly prone to reckless play and on-field disciplinary issues. He was sent off in crucial matches, including a Copa Libertadores fixture against Universitario. A particularly controversial incident occurred during a match against Fluminense, where, upon being sent off, he verbally abused the referee, calling him a "son of a bitch" and telling him to "go fuck himself," before adding a homophobic slur, stating the referee was "besides it all, he's [also] a faggot" in an outburst of anger. These repeated disciplinary problems, coupled with a perceived decline in his technical performance, ultimately led São Paulo to negotiate his departure.
2.3. Atlético Mineiro
In 2011, Richarlyson moved to Atlético Mineiro in Belo Horizonte, where he was heralded as the team's "top signing" for the year. During his spell from 2011 to 2013, he made 66 appearances and scored 1 goal. He quickly established himself as a consistent starter and enjoyed further success with the club, known as the "Champions of the Ice." Richarlyson played a key role in Atlético Mineiro winning the 2012 Campeonato Mineiro title. His strong performances also contributed to the team's stellar campaign in the 2012 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, which secured their qualification for the 2013 Copa Libertadores after a 13-year absence from the prestigious continental competition. In 2013, he was notably joined at Atlético Mineiro by his brother, Alecsandro, marking the first time the two siblings played together for the same professional team.
2.4. Later Career and Retirement
Following his successful period at Atlético Mineiro, Richarlyson continued his career with various clubs before announcing his retirement. In 2014, he played for Vitória, making 24 appearances and scoring 1 goal. His initial retirement announcement came in December 2014, following Vitória's relegation to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série B. However, his retirement was short-lived, as he reversed his decision on January 27, 2015, signing with Chapecoense. He played 13 matches for Chapecoense without scoring a goal in 2015.
Richarlyson continued to play professionally for several more years, joining Novorizontino in 2016 (5 appearances, 1 goal) and then moving to the Indian club FC Goa later that year (12 appearances, 1 goal). He returned to Brazil to play for Guarani in 2017 (22 appearances, 1 goal), followed by Cianorte in 2018 (9 appearances, 1 goal). He had two stints with Noroeste, first in 2019 (16 appearances, 1 goal) and again in 2020 (11 appearances, 2 goals), with a brief period at Campinense in 2019 (2 appearances, 0 goals) in between. His final professional playing years saw him with América-RJ in 2021 (7 appearances, 1 goal) and another return to Noroeste in 2021 (11 appearances, 1 goal), before his eventual definitive retirement from professional football.
2.5. International Career
Richarlyson's strong performances at the peak of his career at São Paulo FC earned him a call-up to the Brazil national team by then-coach Dunga. The former captain of the Seleção specifically praised Richarlyson's versatility as a key factor in his selection. Richarlyson made two appearances for the Brazil national team in 2008.
3. Playing Style and Positions
Richarlyson was known for his versatility and adaptability across various positions in the midfield and defense. While primarily a defensive midfielder (also referred to as a holding midfielder or central defensive midfielder, or CH/DH in some tactical notations), his skillset allowed him to effectively play as a left back and even as a central defender. This positional flexibility was highly valued by his coaches, notably by Brazil national team coach Dunga, who highlighted Richarlyson's versatility as a reason for his international call-up. He was also a left-footed player, which provided additional tactical options for his teams.
4. Personal Life and Public Image
Richarlyson's personal life, particularly his sexual identity, has had a significant and public impact on his career and public image, sparking important conversations within the sports world.
4.1. Bisexual Coming Out
In 2022, Richarlyson publicly declared his bisexuality during an interview on the podcast Nos Armários dos VestiáriosIn the Locker Room ClosetsPortuguese, a platform dedicated to discussing homophobia in football. This courageous act made him the first openly LGBT player to have represented the Brazilian men's national team and also the first to come out while having played in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, Brazil's top football league. His public declaration garnered significant attention and was widely recognized as a landmark moment, initiating crucial discussions on sexual identity and diversity within the Brazilian football scene and the broader global sports community.
4.2. Defamation Lawsuit and Homophobia Controversy
Richarlyson faced significant public scrutiny and instances of homophobia throughout his career, particularly highlighted by a notable defamation lawsuit in 2007. The controversy began on June 25, 2007, when the newspaper Agora São Paulo reported that a prominent football player was about to come out as homosexual in an exclusive interview. The following day, Brazilian sports commentator Milton Neves speculated on his live TV show, Debate Bola, asking Palmeiras football club director José Cyrillo Júnior if the player in question was from his team. Cyrillo Júnior responded by saying "Richarlyson was almost taken by Palmeiras," a statement widely perceived by the public and press as a hint that Richarlyson was the player.
This situation was exacerbated by Richarlyson's earlier decision to reject a last-minute offer from Palmeiras to join their rival, São Paulo, which had created tension with former Palmeiras director Salvador Hugo Palaia and led to initial speculations about Palmeiras being homophobic, though these rumors were later disproven. Richarlyson's attorney, Renato Salge, filed a lawsuit against José Cyrillo Júnior for damages and defamation. However, the lawsuit was controversially dismissed by Judge Manoel Maximiano Junqueira Filho. In his ruling, the judge stated that football is a "virile, masculine sport and not a homosexual one" and, based on these grounds, asserted that "Richarlyson should be forever banished by FIFA and never be allowed to play football again." The judge further suggested that a homosexual player should either leave their team or establish their own. This discriminatory ruling sparked widespread condemnation and led to Judge Junqueira Filho being given fifteen days to provide an explanation to the Justice Council of São Paulo, and he was also subsequently sued by Richarlyson's attorney. These events cast a harsh light on the entrenched homophobia within sports and highlighted the urgent need for greater human rights protections and diversity within professional football.
4.3. Other Public Activities
Beyond his football career and punditry, Richarlyson has engaged in other public activities. In 2023, he made a notable appearance on the third season of the reality singing competition The Masked Singer Brasil, where he performed while disguised as a ceramic water filter.
5. Post-Retirement Career
After his definitive retirement from professional football, Richarlyson transitioned into a career as a football pundit. He currently works as a commentator and analyst for SporTV, a prominent Brazilian sports television channel, contributing his insights and experiences to football broadcasts.
6. Honours
Richarlyson achieved significant team and individual honours throughout his extensive career.
Santo André
- Copa do Brasil: 2004
São Paulo
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2006, 2007, 2008
- FIFA Club World Cup: 2005
Atlético Mineiro
- Copa Libertadores: 2013
- Campeonato Mineiro: 2012, 2013
Individual
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2007
- Bola de Prata: 2007
7. Career Statistics
The following table details Richarlyson's professional club and international career statistics.
| Club | Season | League Apps (Goals) | Cup Apps (Goals) | Continental Apps (Goals) | Other Apps (Goals) | Total Apps (Goals) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Santo André | 2002-2005 | 33 (9) | 33 (9) | |||
| → Fortaleza (loan) | 2003 | 16 (1) | 16 (1) | |||
| → Salzburg (loan) | 2003-2005 | 27 (2) | 27 (2) | |||
| São Paulo | 2005-2010 | 147 (6) | 147 (6) | |||
| Atlético Mineiro | 2011-2013 | 66 (1) | 66 (1) | |||
| Vitória | 2014 | 24 (1) | 24 (1) | |||
| Chapecoense | 2015 | 13 (0) | 13 (0) | |||
| Novorizontino | 2016 | 5 (1) | 5 (1) | |||
| FC Goa | 2016 | 12 (1) | 12 (1) | |||
| Guarani | 2017 | 22 (1) | 22 (1) | |||
| Cianorte | 2018 | 9 (1) | 9 (1) | |||
| Noroeste | 2019 | 16 (1) | 16 (1) | |||
| Campinense | 2019 | 2 (0) | 2 (0) | |||
| Noroeste | 2020 | 11 (2) | 11 (2) | |||
| América-RJ | 2021 | 7 (1) | 7 (1) | |||
| Noroeste | 2021 | 11 (1) | 11 (1) | |||
| Total Club Career | 401 (30) | |||||
| National Team | Year | Apps | Goals | |||
| Brazil | 2008 | 2 | 0 | |||
| Total International Career | 2 | 0 | ||||
8. Legacy and Assessment
Richarlyson's career is assessed not only by his athletic achievements but also by his significant impact on social issues, particularly regarding LGBT rights in football. His journey has been viewed as a testament to resilience against prejudice, fostering a more inclusive discourse within the sport.
8.1. Impact on LGBT Rights in Football
Richarlyson's public declaration of his bisexuality in 2022 was a watershed moment that profoundly influenced discussions on sexual identity and diversity within the Brazilian and global football communities. As the first openly LGBT player to have represented the Brazilian men's national team and played in the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, his coming out served as a powerful act of visibility and courage. This bold step directly challenged the pervasive culture of homophobia and prejudice that has historically existed within the sport, particularly in a country as passionate about football as Brazil. His experience, including the controversial 2007 defamation lawsuit where a judge asserted football was not a "homosexual sport," highlighted the systemic issues faced by LGBT individuals in the industry. By openly embracing his identity, Richarlyson ignited vital conversations about acceptance, inclusion, and the creation of safer, more welcoming environments for all athletes, regardless of their sexual orientation. His legacy extends beyond his on-field performance, marking him as a pivotal figure in the ongoing struggle for LGBT rights and human dignity within professional football.