Cássio (footballer, born 1987)

Cássio Roberto Ramos (born 6 June 1987), simply known as Cássio, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Cruzeiro.

Cássio began his career at the academy of Grêmio in his home state of Rio Grande do Sul and was quickly promoted to the club's first team. He then spent some time in the Netherlands for PSV, where he won two trophies, and Sparta Rotterdam, before joining Corinthians in 2012.

Until his departure for Cruzeiro in May 2024, Cássio has made over 700 appearances for Corinthians and won two Brasileirão titles, four Campeonato Paulista titles, a Copa Libertadores, a Recopa Sudamericana and a FIFA Club World Cup in 2012, where the Timão beat Chelsea in the final. Cássio himself was named man of the match and also awarded the tournament's Golden Ball. Since 2019, he is Corinthians' most decorated player in their history.

Cássio was a Brazilian international from 2007 to 2019 and played at two major tournaments, the 2018 FIFA World Cup and the 2019 Copa América, which Brazil won.

Grêmio
Born in Veranópolis, Rio Grande do Sul, Cássio was a Grêmio youth graduate. He made his first team debut on 12 February 2006, in a 2–1 Campeonato Gaúcho home win over Santa Cruz-RS.

Cássio made his Série A debut on 26 October 2006, replacing injured Rodrigo Galatto in a 2–1 away success over Fluminense. He spent the remainder of his spell at the club as a third-choice behind Marcelo Grohe and Galatto, both also youth graduates at the club.

PSV Eindhoven
He started his first game for PSV in January 2009. Soon after, the 21-year-old former Brazilian U-20 national squad goalkeeper moved to Sparta Rotterdam until the end of the season. In the 2011–12 season he played at the second team. On 28 September 2011 his contract was terminated by mutual consent and Cássio returned to Brazil.

Corinthians
In the end of 2011, after terminating his contract with PSV Eindhoven, Cássio signed with Corinthians. On 27 April 2012, he was made Corinthians' first-choice goalkeeper, replacing Júlio César, the former number one goalkeeper at the club. He made his debut in the Libertadores 2012 on 2 May 2012, in a game against Emelec in the round-of-16. The result was a goalless draw and Cássio was elected Man of the Match following a great display. He went on to make 7 more appearances for Corinthians in the competition, helping the team become champions, including a miraculous save against Vasco da Gama in the second-leg of the quarter-finals. On 16 December 2012, Cássio helped Corinthians beat Chelsea by the score of 1–0 in the FIFA Club World Cup. He was later rewarded the golden ball for the tournament due to his brilliant performances during the competition. In May 17th, 2024, Cássio came out and said he will sadly leave Corinthians, ending a 12-year-old career with the São Paulo club.

International career
He has been capped at Under-20 level for Brazil and played for the U-20 World Cup in Canada.

The first call came in 2007 by Dunga for two friendly matches against Chile and Ghana. He was 19 years old and was called up due to Helton's injury; and also because Dunga was calling some players under the Olympic age to prepare for the 2008 Summer Olympics. Eventually he did make it to the preliminary squad for the Beijing Games, but lost out a place in the final list to Renan and Diego Alves.

In August 2012, Cássio was called up by Mano Menezes for two friendlies against South Africa and China.

He was called up by Brazil coach Dunga in 2015 for two games of 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and was called up again three times by Tite in the second semester of 2017 for four consecutive games of the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification and two friendlies. He was given his first cap with the top eleven team on 10 November 2017, coming in as a substitute for Alisson for the second half of the friendly against Japan. His participation was minimal due to Japan's limited attempts on goal, but he ended up conceding two goals from Makino and Sugimoto, though the latter's was nullified.

In May 2018 he was named in Tite’s final 23 man squad for the 2018 FIFA World Cup in Russia. He also was part of the 2019 Copa América's winning squad.

Honours
PSV
 * Eredivisie: 2007–08
 * Johan Cruyff Shield: 2008

Corinthians
 * Copa Libertadores: 2012
 * FIFA Club World Cup: 2012
 * Campeonato Paulista: 2013, 2017, 2018, 2019
 * Recopa Sudamericana: 2013
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2015, 2017

Brazil
 * 2007 South American U-20 Championship
 * Superclásico de las Américas: 2012
 * Copa América: 2019

Individual
 * FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball: 2012
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2015
 * Best Goalkeeper in Brazil: 2015, 2017, 2022
 * Campeonato Paulista Team of the Year: 2019, 2020
 * Craque da Galera do Campeonato Paulista: 2019
 * Bola de Prata: 2022
 * Best Goalkepper in Copa do Brasil: 2022

Literature

 * Celso Unzelte: "Cássio: a trajetória do maior goleiro da história do Corinthians", Universo dos Livros, São Paulo, 2019. ISBN 855030462X