Marcelo returns to Fluminense: see who also returned to Laranjeiras having experience in the World Cup

Fluminense surprised by announcing the repatriation of left-back MARCELO last Friday.

Unveiled by the club in 2005, the full-back made Real Madrid history and was at Olympiacos (GRE). He returns to Tricolor das Laranjeiras with experience playing for the Brazilian national team in the 2014 and 2018 World Cups. THE SHOOT! remember other players who played in the World Cup for the national team and then moved on to Fluminense.

BRANCO was at Fluminense when he was a four-time world champion with the Brazilian national team. The left-back played at the 1986, 1990 and 1994 World Cups.

Hero of the “gut goal” in the 1995 Carioca Championship and after having also worked as a coach at the club, RENATO GAÚCHO arrived at Fluminense with a memory of the tournament: he was among the squad for the 1990 World Cup.

After being world champion four times with the Brazilian national team, RICARDO ROCHA has accepted the offer to defend Fluminense. The ‘Sheriff’, who played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, played for the club in 1996.

Tricolor das Laranjeiras had another four-time world champion: ZETTI was announced as a goal reinforcement in 2000. However, the goalkeeper of the Selection in the United States Cup did not repeat his performances and soon left the club.

Foreign reinforcements also arrived in Laranjeiras. Colombia’s protagonist at the 1994 and 1998 World Cups, FAUSTINO ASPRILLA had a promising start when he arrived in Laranjeiras for the João Havelange Cup in 2000. However, his transition was very bumpy and marked by injuries.

In the year of its centenary of foundation, Fluminense announced the signing of the four times world champion JORGINHO. At the time, playing both wing and centre, he also played a few games for the club but left Laranjeiras in April following the resignation of Oswaldo de Oliveira.

In 2002, the genius of the ROMÁRIO area was made official as a novelty for the Tricolor das Laranjeiras. Baixinho, who played in the 1990 and 1994 World Cups, made his debut with a win and two goals scored in a 5-1 defeat against Cruzeiro. He stayed until 2003.

After joining Al Sadd (QAT), Romário returned to Fluminense and played until the following year. There were 48 goals in 77 games but not even alongside a stellar squad did he manage to lead Fluminense to the title. He left the club in 2004.

Fluminense announced EDMUNDO as one of the stars in their 2004 reinforcement ‘package’. The star, who was in the squad for the 1998 World Cup, played alongside Romário, Ramon and Roger. However, he had injuries and didn’t get a streak of games.

FRED had played in the 2006 World Cup for the Brazil national team when, in 2009, he was signed to play for Fluminense. After starting with injuries, the number 9 did not disappoint.

He was an idol and won the Brasileirão titles in 2010 and 2012. He also defended the Brazil national team later in the 2014 World Cup.

Fred went down in history as the second best scorer in Fluminense history, with 199 goals. Also, thanks to goals for Tricolor das Laranjeiras, he became the second top scorer in the Brazilian league (158 goals) and the top scorer in the “accumulated points era”. For the club he also won two state championships and a Primeira Liga.

World champion in 2002, BELLETTI was made official as a reinforcement of Fluminense in 2010. However, he was short-lived at the club. There were nine games

Another “foreign” reinforcement is part of the Fluminense list. A Brazilian who played in the 2006 and 2010 World Cups with Portugal, DECO arrived in Laranjeiras in 2010. Despite injuries, the midfielder was champion of the Brazilian championship in 2010 and 2012. In 2013 he hung up his boots due to successive injuries.

Five times world champion in 2002 and star of the 2006 Cup, RONALDINHO GAÚCHO finished 100% with Fluminense in mid-2015. But the initial euphoria soon turned into frustration: nine games played, no goals scored and contract terminated . He also made a brief comeback exclusively to play in the 2016 Florida Cup, but was unsuccessful.

Holder of the 2010 World Cup, FELIPE MELO became a reinforcement for Fluminense in late 2021. The veteran remains a point of reference for the club and was part of the squad that won Carioca in 2022.