Maxi Pereira Explained

Maxi Pereira
Full Name:Victorio Maximiliano Pereira Páez[1]
Birth Date:8 June 1984
Birth Place:Montevideo, Uruguay
Height:1.73 m[2]
Position:Right-back
Youthclubs1:Bella Vista
Youthyears2:2002
Youthclubs2:Defensor
Years1:2002–2007
Caps1:125
Goals1:25
Years2:2007–2015
Caps2:212
Goals2:13
Years3:2015–2019
Caps3:89
Goals3:3
Years4:2021
Caps4:20
Goals4:1
Years5:2022–2023
Caps5:46
Goals5:1
Totalcaps:492
Totalgoals:43
Nationalyears1:2005–2018
Nationalcaps1:125
Nationalgoals1:3

Victorio Maximiliano "Maxi" Pereira Páez (pronounced as /es/; born 8 June 1984) is a Uruguayan former professional footballer who played as a right-back.

He played with Defensor in Uruguay, joining Benfica in 2007 and going on to remain with the club for eight seasons, appearing in 333 official matches and winning 11 major titles. In 2015, he signed with Porto also in Portugal.

A Uruguay international on 125 occasions, Pereira represented the nation in three World Cups and four Copa América, winning the 2011 edition of the latter tournament.

Club career

Defensor

Born in Montevideo, Pereira was known by the nickname "Mono" (Monkey) in his homeland.[3] [4] [5] He began playing football as a forward at C.A. Bella Vista before moving to Defensor Sporting where he re-adapted as a midfielder; he dealt in his early years with homesickness and the death of his father.[6]

Pereira made his professional debut as an 18-year-old, early in the 2002–03 season. He took no time to adjust to the first team, being a crucial part alongside Álvaro González and scoring a career-best 12 goals in the Primera División of 2005–06. After the 2006–07 campaign, Defensor lost both gems as González was transferred to Boca Juniors and Pereira went to S.L. Benfica, accompanied by countryman Cristian Rodríguez;[7] the Primeira Liga club signed the player for €3 million and 70% of his rights.[8]

Benfica

In his first year in Portugal, Pereira was initially played as a right midfielder, failing to adjust to that position.[9] He did score in two consecutive home games in November 2007, in a 6–1 league thrashing of Boavista F.C.[10] and in the group stage of the UEFA Champions League 1–1 draw against A.C. Milan, with his left foot from outside the box.[11]

Pereira switched to right-back the following campaign after Nélson Marcos moved to Real Betis, and became an everpresent fixture. In 2009–10, as Benfica won the league after five years – adding the Taça da Liga – he appeared in 40 competitive matches, scoring five goals in 2,932 minutes of action.

On 17 December 2011, Pereira renewed his contract until 2015 and the club paid €2.7 million for the remaining 30% of his rights, still in possession of Defensor.[12] [13] He netted two goals in the 2011–12 Champions League, both coming against FC Zenit Saint Petersburg in the round-of-16 (2–3 away loss, 2–0 home win, both through tap-ins)[14] [15] as his team eventually reached the quarter-finals of the competition, where he was sent off in the first half of the second leg against Chelsea after two bookable offences (1–1 away draw, 1–2 aggregate defeat).[16]

Pereira reached the 300-game milestone at Benfica on 2 October 2014, in a Champions League match against Bayer 04 Leverkusen, becoming the second foreigner behind Luisão to achieve this feat.[17] On 2 May of the following year, he scored twice in a 5–0 rout at Gil Vicente FC,[18] contributing a further three goals as the team renewed their domestic supremacy.[19]

Porto

On 30 June 2015, Pereira left Benfica following the expiration of his contract. Fifteen days later, he joined rivals FC Porto as a replacement for Real Madrid-bound Danilo.[20] His competitive debut occurred on 15 August, in a 3–0 home victory over Vitória S.C. where he provided two assists for teammates Vincent Aboubakar and Silvestre Varela.[21] [22] The following 6 March he scored his first goal for the team, a late equaliser in a 1–3 loss at S.C. Braga.[23]

On 22 May 2016, in the final of the Taça de Portugal, also against Braga, Pereira's attempt in the penalty shootout was saved by José Marafona, in an eventual 2–4 defeat (2–2 after 120 minutes).[24] The following 14 March, in the away leg of the last 16 of the Champions League against Juventus FC, he received a straight red card for handling Gonzalo Higuaín's goal-bound shot, conceding a penalty from which Paulo Dybala scored the only goal to eliminate the Portuguese 3–0 on aggregate.[25]

After playing a part in winning the national championship in the 2017–18 season, Pereira was awarded a new deal of undisclosed length.[26] On 4 August 2018, he scored in the 3–1 win over C.D. Aves in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and was voted player of the match.[27]

Pereira's contract expired in June 2019.[28] In November 2020, it was reported that he was training with Porto's farm team Padroense F.C. and had not announced his retirement.[29] In the same month, he sued his former club for an alleged debt of €1.24 million to him.[30]

Return to Uruguay

On 1 February 2021, Pereira returned to his homeland's league for the first time in 14 years, signing for Peñarol on a contract until July, with an option for the remainder of the year.[31] [32] He made his debut on 6 March as a last-minute substitute for Juan Acosta in a 2–0 home win over Club Atlético River Plate.[33] He scored the only goal in the third minute of a victory at C.A. Rentistas on 9 October, as his team went on to win the title.[34]

Pereira signed for River Plate on 23 January 2022.[35] Having played 42 games, the 38-year-old renewed his contract a year later,[36] and retired on 18 May.[37]

International career

A Uruguayan international since making his debut on 26 October 2005 in a friendly loss, away against Mexico, Pereira quickly became a regular for his country, and represented it at the 2007 Copa América. He was selected for the squad at the 2010 FIFA World Cup in South Africa, playing all the games and minutes for the eventual semi-finalists. In the quarter-finals against Ghana, he missed his penalty shootout attempt but the side eventually qualified for the next stage, where he scored his first goal as an international in a 2–3 loss against the Netherlands, finding the net in the 91st minute.[38]

Pereira was again an undisputed starter for Uruguay in the 2011 Copa América held in Argentina, with the national team winning their 15th continental tournament.[39] He played 14 times in qualification for the 2014 World Cup, scoring once in a 4–2 victory over Peru on 10 June 2012[40] and opening the scoring as his team won 5–0 away to Jordan in a play-off to qualify for the tournament, on 13 November of the following year.[41]

Pereira was the first player sent off in the finals in Brazil, receiving his marching orders in injury time of the 1–3 defeat to Costa Rica in Fortaleza after kicking Joel Campbell.[42] He played a further two matches in the tournament, which ended for the Charrúas at the last-16 stage.

On 28 March 2015, Pereira earned his 100th cap in a 1–0 friendly defeat of Morocco in Agadir, becoming only the second Uruguayan after Diego Forlán to reach the milestone.[43] [44] He played every minute of the campaign at that year's Copa América,[45] [46] [47] [48] captaining the team in their final group fixture against Paraguay in place of the suspended Diego Godín.[49]

On 9 June 2016, Pereira surpassed Forlán as Uruguay's most capped player by earning his 113th in the team's final group game at the Copa América Centenario in the United States;[50] the 1–0 loss to Venezuela eliminated the nation. The 34-year-old was also selected for the 2018 World Cup, but did not leave the bench.[51] He retired in November of that year with 125 caps to his name.[52]

Career statistics

Club

[53] [54]

TeamSeasonLeagueNational cupLeague cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Defensor2002Primera División50————50
2003Primera División193————193
2004Primera División141————141
2005Primera División346————346
2005–06Primera División2912————2912
2006–07Primera División233——91—324
2007–08Primera División10——20—30
Total12525——111—13626
Benfica2007–08Primeira Liga232401081—363
2008–09Primeira Liga281215060—412
2009–10Primeira Liga252004082—374
2010–11Primeira Liga260504014100491
2011–12Primeira Liga2501041132—433
2012–13Primeira Liga283401090—423
2013–14Primeira Liga2505020110—430
2014–15Primeira Liga32510305010425
Total212132212417461033321
Porto2015–16Primeira Liga321300070—421
2016–17Primeira Liga242202070—352
2017–18Primeira Liga150302031—231
2018–19Primeira Liga18020108011301
Total89310050251111305
Peñarol2020Primera División30————30
2021Primera División171——50—221
Total201——50—251
River Plate2022Primera División340——80—420
2023Primera División121——10—131
Total461——90—551
Career total4924332129112482167954

International

National team Year Apps Goals
Uruguay[55] 200510
200670
2007100
2008100
200970
2010131
2011150
201291
2013151
2014120
2015100
201670
201780
201810
Total1253

International goals

Scores and results list Uruguay's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Pereira goal.[54]

Date Venue Opponent Score Final Competition
1. 6 July 2010 2–3 2–3 2010 FIFA World Cup
2. 10 June 2012 Estadio Centenario, Montevideo, Uruguay 2–0 4–2 2014 World Cup qualification
3. 13 November 2013 1–0 5–0 2014 World Cup qualification

Honours

Benfica

2009–10,[56] 2013–14,[57] 2014–15[19]

2013–14[58]

2008–09,[59] 2009–10,[60] 2010–11,[61] 2011–12,[62] 2013–14,[63] 2014–15

2014[64]

Porto

Peñarol

2021[69]

Uruguay

2011[70]

Individual

See also

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Maxi Pereira. Mais Futebol. pt. 4 February 2021.
  2. Web site: 2014 FIFA World Cup Brazil: List of players: Uruguay. FIFA. 31. 11 June 2014. 15 October 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140630075509/https://www.fifadata.com/document/fwc/2014/pdf/fwc_2014_squadlists.pdf. 30 June 2014.
  3. Web site: El regalo más grande. The greatest gift. Montevideo.com. es. 8 June 2010. 12 May 2021.
  4. Web site: Gol del "Mono" Pereira para el Benfica puntero. Goal by "Monkey" Pereira for top-of-the-table Benfica. Tenfield. es. 6 May 2013. 12 May 2021.
  5. Web site: Maximiliano "Mono" Pereira sueña con jugar en Peñarol. Maximiliano "Monkey" Pereira dreams of playing for Peñarol. La Red 21. es. 4 June 2015. 12 May 2021.
  6. News: La desconocida historia de sacrificio de Maxi Pereira. Maxi Pereira's unknown story of sacrifice. El Observador. Sebastián. Amaya. es. 28 May 2018. 14 September 2023.
  7. Web site: Mantorras out for three months. BBC Sport. 27 August 2007. 12 June 2010.
  8. Web site: Comunicado. Announcement. Portuguese Securities Market Commission. pt. 27 August 2007. 4 October 2010.
  9. News: Maxi Pereira é o novo lateral-direito. Maxi Pereira is the new right back. Record. pt. 13 October 2007. 4 February 2021.
  10. News: Benfica goleia o Boavista por seis bolas a uma. Benfica rout Boavista six to one. Açoriano Oriental. pt. 11 November 2007. 4 February 2021.
  11. Web site: Goals, goals, goals. UEFA. 14 December 2007. 18 November 2015.
  12. News: Vieira anuncia renovação de Maxi Pereira. Vieira announces Maxi Pereira renewal. Record. pt. 17 December 2011. 4 February 2021.
  13. News: Maxi Pereira prolonga contrato até 2015. Maxi Pereira extends contract until 2015. Diário de Notícias. pt. 17 December 2011. 11 October 2014.
  14. Web site: Zenit's Shirokov scores twice to down Benfica. UEFA. 15 February 2012. 8 March 2012.
  15. Web site: Benfica progress at Zenit's expense. UEFA. Chris. Burke. 6 March 2012. 8 March 2012.
  16. Web site: Chelsea 2–1 Benfica (agg 3–1). BBC Sport. Phil. McNulty. 4 April 2012. 14 April 2012.
  17. Web site: Maxi Pereira cumpriu 300 jogos de "águia ao peito" (com vídeo). Maxi Pereira reached 300-game mark with "eagle to chest" (with video). S.L. Benfica. pt. 3 October 2014. 11 October 2014.
  18. Web site: Exibição esmagadora deixa Benfica a dois passos do título. Overwhelming display leaves Benfica inches away from title. SAPO. Gaspar. Castro. pt. 2 May 2015. 2 May 2015.
  19. Web site: Benfica bicampeão: 28 com as faixas e dois à espera. Benfica back-to-back champion: 28 with the sashes and two await. Mais Futebol. Pedro Jorge. Cunha. pt. 17 May 2015. 19 May 2015.
  20. News: FC Porto anuncia contratação de Maxi Pereira. FC Porto announce signing of Maxi Pereira. Público. pt. 15 July 2015. 23 July 2015.
  21. News: Maxi Pereira, o hat-trick de duas assistências. Maxi Pereira, the hat-trick of two assists. i. Rui Miguel. Tovar. pt. 18 August 2015. 18 August 2015.
  22. News: Maxi Pereira: "Fizemos grande jogo". Maxi Pereira: "We played great". Record. pt. 16 August 2015. 18 August 2015.
  23. Web site: Porto loses ground to leader Benfica after 3–1 loss to Braga. Yahoo! News. 6 March 2016. 21 March 2016.
  24. Web site: Marafona the hero as Braga win Taca de Portugal. FourFourTwo. 22 May 2016. 28 May 2016.
  25. News: Juventus 1 Porto 0 (agg 3–0): Maxi Pereira sent off for handball on the line as Juve coast into quarter-finals. The Daily Telegraph. 14 March 2017. 15 March 2017.
  26. News: FC Porto anuncia renovação de Maxi Pereira e os regressos de Herrera e Corona. FC Porto announce Maxi Pereira's renewal and the returns of Herrera and Corona. Observador. pt. 21 July 2018. 29 August 2019.
  27. News: Maxi Pereira foi o melhor em campo na Supertaça. Maxi Pereira was the best on the field in the Supercup. Record. Fábio. Lima. pt. 4 August 2018. 29 August 2019.
  28. Web site: Maxi é um jogador que está ao alcance de alguns clubes, não de todos. Maxi is a player who is in reach of some clubs, not all. Notícias ao Minuto. pt. 2 August 2019. 29 August 2019.
  29. News: O que é feito de Maxi Pereira? Manteve a forma no Padroense e ainda não anunciou o final da carreira. What happened to Maxi Pereira? He kept in shape at Padroense and still has not announced the end of his career. Record. Miguel. Custódio. pt. 19 November 2020. 2 December 2020.
  30. Web site: Maxi Pereira processa FC Porto em 1,2 milhões de euros. Maxi Pereira takes FC Porto to court for 1.2 million euros. SAPO. pt. 19 November 2020. 2 December 2020.
  31. Web site: Maxi Pereira llega a Peñarol a "sumar y dar una mano". Maxi Pereira arrives at Peñarol to "contribute and lend a hand". Be Soccer. es. 1 February 2021. 12 May 2021.
  32. News: ¿Qué pasa con Maxi Pereira y por qué no debutó aún en Peñarol?. What's happening with Maxi Pereira and why has he still not made his debut for Peñarol?. El Observador. Marcelo. Decaux. es. 16 February 2021. 12 May 2021.
  33. News: El sueño cumplido: Maximiliano Pereira se vistió de Peñarol. Dream come true: Maximiliano Pereira defended Peñarol's colours. El Observador. es. 6 March 2021. 12 May 2021.
  34. Web site: Clausura: Peñarol le ganó 1–0 a Rentistas y quedó en la cima de las dos tablas. Clausura: Peñarol won 1–0 against Rentistas and remained top of the table. Fútbol Uruguay. es. 9 October 2021. 1 February 2022.
  35. Web site: El darsenero Maxi Pereira. Maxi Pereira is a docker. Tenfield. Marcelo. Cozza. es. 22 January 2022. 4 May 2023.
  36. Web site: Uruguai: aos 38 anos, Maxi Pereira renova contrato com o River Plate. Uruguay: at age 38, Maxi Pereira renews contract with River Plate. Mais Futebol. pt. 23 January 2023. 4 May 2023.
  37. Web site: Maxi Pereira colgó los botines. Maxi Pereira hung up his boots. Tenfield. Martín. Bachs. es. 18 May 2023. 14 September 2023.
  38. Web site: Uruguay 2–3 Netherlands. BBC Sport. Chris. Bevan. 6 July 2010. 7 July 2010.
  39. Web site: Uruguay celebrates well into early Monday its record winning 15th Copa America. MercoPress. 25 July 2011. 22 February 2014.
  40. News: Perú perdió 4–2 ante Uruguay en Montevideo y es último en la Eliminatoria. Peru lost 4–2 to Uruguay in Montevideo and are now last in the qualifying group. El Comercio. es. 10 June 2012. 21 June 2015.
  41. News: Jordan panic after Maxi Pereira goal sets up emphatic Uruguay victory. The Guardian. Jonathan. Wilson. 13 November 2013. 21 June 2015.
  42. Web site: Costa Rican comeback undoes Uruguay. FIFA. 14 June 2014. 16 June 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20140616044444/http://www.fifa.com/worldcup/news/y=2014/m=6/news=costa-rica-revival-undoes-uruguay-2370955.html. 16 June 2014.
  43. Web site: Uruguay with team confirmed and Pereira with 100 games to his credit. CONMEBOL. 26 March 2015. 21 June 2015.
  44. News: Uruguai vence Marrocos no 100.º jogo de Maxi Pereira. Uruguay defeat Morocco in Maxi Pereira's 100th game. Diário de Notícias. pt. 28 March 2015. 21 June 2015.
  45. Web site: Cristian Rodriguez gives Uruguay unconvincing win over Jamaica. Eurosport. 13 June 2015. 24 December 2020.
  46. Web site: Argentina se impone a un Uruguay rocoso gracias a un gol de Agüero. Argentina impose themselves on a rock-solid Uruguay thanks to a goal from Agüero. RTVE. es. 17 June 2015. 24 December 2020.
  47. Web site: Uruguay secure quarter-final place with draw against Paraguay. Eurosport. 20 June 2015. 24 December 2020.
  48. News: Isla termina con la angustia y Chile clasifica a semifinales. Isla ends the anxiety and Chile qualify for the semi-finals. Diario AS. Leopoldo. Iturra. es. 25 June 2015. 24 December 2020.
  49. Web site: "Maxi" Pereira será el capitán. "Maxi" Pereira will be the captain. Ovación Digital. es. 19 June 2015. 24 September 2020.
  50. News: Maxi Pereira se convierte en el jugador con más partidos con Uruguay. Maxi Pereira becomes Uruguay's most capped player. Marca. es. 10 June 2016. 10 June 2016.
  51. News: Maxi Gómez y Stuani se cuelan en la lista de 23 de Uruguay. Maxi Gómez and Stuani squeeze into Uruguay's list of 23. Marca. es. 2 June 2018. 4 June 2018.
  52. Web site: Maxi Pereira abandona seleção do Uruguai. Maxi Pereira leaves Uruguay national team. One Football. André. Gonçalves. pt. 14 November 2018. 29 August 2019.
  53. Web site: M. Pereira. Soccerway. 17 September 2014.
  54. Web site: Maxi Pereira. ESPN FC. 11 October 2014.
  55. Web site: Maximiliano Pereira – Century of International Appearances. RSSSF. Luis Fernando. Passo Alpuin. 28 May 2016.
  56. Web site: Benfica é campeão da época 2009/10. Benfica are 2009/10 season champions. Mais Futebol. pt. 9 May 2010. 4 February 2021.
  57. Web site: Benfica campeão: todos os marcadores dos golos. Benfica champion: all the goal scorers. Mais Futebol. pt. 20 April 2014. 4 February 2021.
  58. News: Benfica faz a "dobradinha" no Jamor 27 anos depois. Benfica get "double" at the Jamor 27 years later. Diário de Notícias. João. Ruela. pt. 18 May 2014. 8 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141014210944/https://www.dn.pt/desporto/benfica/interior/benfica-faz-a-dobradinha-no-jamor-27-anos-depois-3901851.html. 14 October 2014.
  59. News: Benfica venceu Sporting na final da Taça da Liga. Benfica defeated Sporting in League Cup final. Jornal de Notícias. pt. 21 March 2009. 11 October 2014.
  60. Web site: Taça da Liga: Benfica-F.C. Porto, 3–0 (crónica). League Cup: Benfica-F.C. Porto, 3–0 (match report). Mais Futebol. Ricardo. Gouveia. pt. 21 March 2010. 8 October 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141014123324/http://www.maisfutebol.iol.pt/taca-da-liga-benfica-fc-porto-ruben-amorim-cardozo/520b5eea3004bc615fd1f405.html. 14 October 2014.
  61. Web site: Benfica vence Taça da Liga. Benfica win League Cup. Cap Magellan. pt. April 2011. 22 January 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20110630201131/http://capmagellan.sapo.pt/news_detail/632/benfica-vence-taca-da-liga/. 30 June 2011.
  62. News: Benfica vence Taça da Liga pela quarta vez. Benfica win League Cup for the fourth time. Expresso. pt. 14 April 2012. 4 February 2021.
  63. Web site: Portuguese League Cup boosts Benfica. UEFA. Luís. Piedade. 7 May 2014. 12 May 2014.
  64. Web site: Benfica 0–0 Rio Ave (3–2 on penalties): Portuguese champions win another trophy. Goal. 11 August 2014. 11 August 2014.
  65. Web site: Europa League – Ivanovic heads Chelsea to last-gasp glory against Benfica. Yahoo! Sports. Desmond. Kane. 15 May 2013. 28 May 2013. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20130608153619/http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/news/europa-league-matchpack-chelsea-v-benfica-193239645.html. 8 June 2013.
  66. Web site: Spot-on Sevilla leave Benfica dreams in tatters. UEFA. John. Atkin. 14 May 2014. 15 May 2014.
  67. Web site: FC Porto é campeão nacional 2017/2018. FC Porto are 2017/2018 national champions. Mais Futebol. pt. 5 May 2018. 6 May 2018.
  68. Web site: FC Porto conquista Supertaça pela 21.ª vez. FC Porto conquer Supercup for the 21st time. Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. pt. 4 August 2018. 6 August 2018.
  69. News: La promesa de campeón de Maxi Pereira: fue en bicicleta hasta San Cono. Maxi Pereira's champion promise: he rode his bike until San Cono. El Observador. es. 30 December 2021. 1 February 2022.
  70. News: Uruguai conquista Copa América (vídeo). Uruguay win Copa América (video). Expresso. pt. 24 July 2011. 4 February 2021.
  71. Web site: Gala do Benfica: Aimar distinguido como o melhor de 2010/11. Benfica Gala: Aimar distinguished as the best of 2010/11. Mais Futebol. pt. 29 February 2012. 4 February 2021.

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