Thiago Neves

Thiago Neves Augusto (born 27 February 1985) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as an attacking midfielder.

Club career
Born in Curitiba, Thiago Neves began his professional career with Paraná aged 20. His performances attracted attention overseas, and for the 2006 season he was loaned out to Vegalta Sendai of the J2 League.

In 2007, he joined Fluminense on a season-long loan. The Rio-based club made the move permanent after he impressed, scoring fourteen times in 42 appearances and also being crowned Copa do Brasil champion, his first title as a professional player.

In the 2008 Serie A, he was limited to only five appearances. However, Thiago Neves impressed in the Copa Libertadores, scoring seven in thirteen matches, including a hat-trick in the second leg of the Copa Libertadores final – (Thiago Neves had by then already scored once in the away leg) but ending up on the losing side, as Fluminense drew 5–5 on aggregate with LDU Quito and were eventually downed in the penalty shootout, with Neves missing his penalty in the shoootout.

On 30 August 2008, Neves joined German club Hamburger SV and was seen as the ideal replacement for the outgoing Rafael van der Vaart. Fluminense received 30% of the profit of R$ 3,502 thousand and the rest of them belonged to a third party owner called DIS Esporte. After only nine appearances, he left the club on 31 January 2009 and joined Al-Hilal for €7 million. However, the player did not play for the Saudi club and agreed to return to Fluminense, again on loan.

Neves returned to Brazil in 2011, joining Flamengo in January. In 2012, he rejoined Fluminense for the exact fee he was sold and at the end of that season he won three trophies as his club had a historic season.

In July 2013 he was sold back to Al-Hilal for €6 million, and in 2016 to Al Jazira. After almost four years in the Middle East, on 5 January 2017 Cruzeiro agrees to hire Thiago until 2019. Neves was instrumental in Cruzeiro's 2017 and 2018 Copa do Brasil titles, while playing some of his best football, scoring 17 goals in 2017 and 15 in 2018.

On 27 January 2020, after leaving Cruzeiro, Thiago joined Grêmio, but after fourteen matches he has his contract terminated by the board. On 19 September 2020 Thiago was presented as a Sport Recife player, but after a year his contract was terminated.

International career
Thiago Neves made his international debut in a friendly match against Sweden on 26 March 2008. Later that year, he was called up to the Brazil U23 team for the 2008 Summer Olympics. In the Group C match against China, he scored two goals in the 3-0 win. Brazil eventually finished third.

Neves was placed in the preliminary squad list for the 2011 Copa América by Mano Menezes, but later missed out on a place in the final list for the tournament. He was also called for the 2011 and 2012 editions of the Superclásico de las Américas.

Honours
Fluminense
 * Série A: 2012
 * Copa do Brasil: 2007
 * Taça Guanabara: 2012
 * Campeonato Carioca: 2012

Al-Hilal
 * Saudi Premier League: 2009, 2010
 * Crown Prince Cup: 2010
 * Kings Cup: 2015

Flamengo
 * Taça Guanabara: 2011
 * Taça Rio: 2011
 * Campeonato Carioca: 2011

Cruzeiro
 * Copa do Brasil: 2017, 2018
 * Campeonato Mineiro: 2018, 2019

Grêmio
 * Campeonato Gaúcho: 2020

Brazil
 * 2008 Summer Olympics: Bronze medal winner
 * Superclásico de las Américas: 2012

Individual
 * Bola de Prata: 2007, 2017
 * Bola de Ouro: 2007
 * Best Player of Campeonato Paranaense Under-20: 2004
 * Saudi Professional League Player of the Round: Round 11
 * 2011 Campeonato Carioca Best Attacking Midfielder
 * 2011 Campeonato Carioca Best Player (People's Choice)
 * 2011 Campeonato Carioca Best Player
 * Campeonato Brasileiro Team of the year: 2017