Diego (footballer, born 1985)
Diego Ribas da Cunha (born 28 February 1985), commonly known as just Diego or Diego Ribas, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a midfielder.
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Diego in 2019 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Full name | Diego Ribas da Cunha | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Date of birth | 28 February 1985 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | Ribeirão Preto, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.75 m (5 ft 9 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position(s) | Midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1996–2001 | Santos | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2004 | Santos | 86 | (24) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2006 | Porto | 48 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2006–2009 | Werder Bremen | 84 | (38) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2009–2010 | Juventus | 33 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2014 | VfL Wolfsburg | 76 | (19) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | → Atlético Madrid (loan) | 30 | (3) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014 | Atlético Madrid | 13 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2014–2016 | Fenerbahçe | 53 | (5) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2016–2022 | Flamengo | 204 | (37) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Total | 627 | (136) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| International career‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2001 | Brazil U17 | 3 | (0) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2004–2008 | Brazil U23 | 15 | (7) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2003–2017 | Brazil | 34 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:16, 12 November 2021 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 25 January 2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Diego began his career at Santos, where he won two Campeonato Brasileiro Série A titles before moving to Porto in 2004. Despite winning further trophies in Portugal, his personal form dropped. After two seasons, he moved for €6 million to Werder Bremen where his form improved, winning domestic honours and helping them to the 2009 UEFA Cup Final. He also won honours at Atlético Madrid, including the UEFA Europa League in 2012. Since 2016, he has played for Brazilian club Flamengo, with whom he has won the Copa Libertadores among other domestic and international honours.
A full international for Brazil since 2003, Diego earned 34 caps and scored four international goals. He was part of the Brazilian squads which finished as runners-up at the 2003 CONCACAF Gold Cup, won the Copa América in 2004 and 2007, and earned a bronze medal at the 2008 Olympics.