Léo Pelé Explained

Léo
Fullname:Leonardo Pinheiro Conceição
Birth Date:6 March 1996
Birth Place:Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Position:Left-back / Centre-back
Currentclub:Vasco da Gama
Clubnumber:3
Youthyears1:2012–2015
Youthclubs1:Fluminense
Years1:2015–2018
Clubs1:Fluminense
Caps1:48
Goals1:3
Years2:2016
Clubs2:Londrina (loan)
Caps2:28
Goals2:0
Years3:2018
Clubs3:Bahia (loan)
Caps3:52
Goals3:0
Years4:2019–2022
Clubs4:São Paulo
Caps4:123
Goals4:0
Years5:2023–
Clubs5:Vasco da Gama
Caps5:50
Goals5:2
Club-Update:18 February 2024

Leonardo Pinheiro da Conceição (born 6 March 1996), known as Léo Pelé or simply Léo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a left-back or centre-back for Vasco da Gama.

Career

Léo began his career at Fluminense FC. He was first integrated into the first team towards the end of the 2013 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A, remaining an unused substitute in three matches starting with a 1–1 draw against AA Ponte Preta at the Maracanã Stadium on 19 October.

He made his professional debut in the same tournament two years later, playing the full 90 minutes as the team lost 1–0 at Sport Club do Recife on 13 September 2015; after the game, he and Marcos Júnior were castigated by fans who said "You need to bleed for the team...this isn’t Vasco".[1] In total he made six appearances for Flu, all but one as a starter.

On 31 January 2016, he made his debut in the Campeonato Carioca, starting in a 3–1 loss at Volta Redonda Futebol Clube in the first game of the season. On 17 February, he was awarded a new contract until the end of 2019.[2]

On 5 December 2018, Léo Pelé moved to São Paulo FC on a four-year deal for a fee of $3 million.[3]

On 21 December 2022, Léo Pelé was transferred to Vasco from São Paulo FC, in a R$ 16 million deal for a 3-year contract.[4]

Career statistics

ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueNational CupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Fluminense2015Série A6000200080
20160020000020
201710014210020362
Total1601621202000462
Londrina (loan)2016Série B280000000280
Career total4401621202000642

Honours

São Paulo

Notes and References

  1. News: Após serem cobrados por organizada do Fluminense, Leo Pelé e Marcos Júnior posam para foto com torcedor . After being criticised by a Fluminense organisation, Léo Pelé and Marcos Júnior pose for a photo with a fan. 3 March 2016. Globo. 17 September 2015. Portuguese.
  2. News: Fluminense prorroga contrato e altera salário de Léo Pelé. Fluminense prolong the contract and raise the salary of Léo Pelé. 3 March 2016. Lance!. 17 February 2016.
  3. Web site: São Paulo anuncia a contratação do lateral-esquerdo Léo Pelé . São Paulo announces the signing of left-back Léo Pelé . Globo Esporte . 24 December 2018 . pt-BR . 5 December 2018.
  4. Web site: Vasco anuncia contratação do zagueiro Léo, ex-São Paulo . 17 January 2023 . Lance! . 21 December 2022 . pt-BR.