Top 10 Incredible Facts about Fabinho

Fabinho. Photo by Steffen Prößdorf. Wikimedia Commons

Top 10 Incredible Facts about Fabinho

Fábio Henrique Tavares nicknamed Fabinho, is a Brazilian professional footballer. Fabinho, who was born in October 1993, made only a few appearances in Brazil before heading to Europe. He graduated from the Fluminense academy as a right-back but was quickly transferred to Rio Ave and, after only a few months with the Portuguese club, he was transferred to Real Madrid and their Castilla development squad.

Fabinho won the UEFA Champions League in his first season at Liverpool. He won the UEFA Super Cup in 2019 and was instrumental in leading Liverpool to the Premier League title in 2020, the club’s first in 30 years.

1. He was born in Campinas

Fabinho began his career at Fluminense after being born in Campinas, So Paulo. On 20 May 2012, he was called into a first team match day squad for the first time, as an unused substitute in a 1-0 win over Corinthians in Série A.

2. Fabinho signed a six-year contract with Rio Ave in 2012

Fabinho. Photo by Kevin Walsh. Wikimedia Commons

Fabinho signed a six-year contract with Rio Ave in the Portuguese Primeira Liga on June 8, 2012. On July 19, Fabinho joined Real Madrid Castilla on a season-long loan after spending one month at Rio Ave. He made his professional debut on August 17, the first day of the Spanish Segunda División season, playing 90 minutes in a 2-1 loss to Villarreal. On April 28, 2013, he scored his first goal, heading an extra-time equalizer in a 3-3 tie against CD Numancia.

He made his Real Madrid debut on May 8, 2013, replacing Fábio Coentro for 14 minutes and assisting Di Mara’s sixth goal in a 6-2 La Liga victory over Málaga at the Santiago Bernabéu Stadium.

3. His net worth is estimated to be $8.66 million

Dollar sign. Photo by Irina Gutyryak. Unsplash

The wealthy Brazilian midfielder has an estimated net worth of $8.66 million. This sum represents the sum of his lifetime career earnings, assets, and earnings from various endorsement deals. According to various statistics, he is one of the richest Premier League players. 

The talented Liverpool midfielder is paid $9.88 million per year.

4. Fabinho joined Monaco on a season-long loan in 2013

On 10 August, he made his debut at the Stade Chaban-Delmas in Monaco’s first Ligue 1 match of the 2013-14 season, playing the entire match against Bordeaux, which Monaco won 2-0. On March 26, 2014, he scored his first goal for Monaco in the 58th minute of their 6-0 home win over Lens in the quarter-finals of the 2013-14 Coupe de France.

He returned to the club in 2014 on loan for another year after finishing his one-year loan at Monaco. On 9 December 2014, he scored the game-winning goal in Monaco’s 2-0 home win over Zenit St Petersburg in Group C (his first UEFA Champions League or UEFA Europa League goal), allowing the club to qualify for the 2014-15 UEFA Champions League knockout phase as group winners. 

5. His house was robbed in 2020

Robber breaking in house. Photo by South_agency. Unsplash

Fabinho’s house was reportedly broken into on the night Liverpool won the Premier League. The Brazilian midfielder’s home is thought to have been broken into while no one was at home. It’s believed thieves broke into his home while he was at Anfield celebrating Liverpool’s historic trophy win.

According to police, a gray Audi RS6 and a number of jewelry items were stolen in a Formby burglary. The car was later discovered and recovered in the Wigan area.

6. Fabinho joined Liverpool in 2018

Liverpool fans. Photo by Fleur. Unsplash

Fabinho agreed to join Liverpool just days after the Champions League final defeat in Kiev in May 2018, giving fans hope. On May 28, 2018, he settled to terms and became a Liverpool player on July 1, 2018. 

He signed a long-term contract with the club for a reported initial fee of £39 million.

7. Fabinho did not play immediately after joining Liverpool

Fabinho. Photo by Kevin Walsh. Wikimedia Commons

To adjust to Klopp’s (Liverpool’s manager) rigorous fitness and training methods, Fabinho had to be patient, and he didn’t play until an injury-time substitution against Paris Saint-Germain in the Champions League on September 18.

The following week, he made his League Cup debut against Chelsea. Fabinho, despite having to wait for his chance, had arguably established himself as the first midfield name on Klopp’s team sheet by the end of the season.

8. He quickly rose to the position of center back

Aerial view of football field. Photo by Bence Balla-Schottner. Unsplash

His ability to dominate the midfield and intercept and make a simple pass to a teammate that could drive the team forward was a key factor in Liverpool’s title race and European triumph.

When Virgil Van Dijk was suspended against Bayern Munich in the Champions League knockout stage, Fabinho was called up to fill in at center-back. When the season ended, he was left out of Brazil’s Copa América squad, which included compatriots Alisson and Robert Firmino.

His manager Jurgen Klopp praised him, calling him a “new center-back option.” 

9. Fabinho is widely regarded as one of the world’s best defensive midfielders

Sky Sports pundit and former Manchester United player Gary Neville declaring, “Fabinho, for me, is the best.” He is a strong, agile midfielder who is valued for his ability to win back the ball and quickly recycle possession.

His role as a defensive midfielder sometimes necessitates him dropping further back to cover for Liverpool fullbacks Andy Robertson and Trent Alexander-Arnold. His game reading is regarded as exceptional, earning him the nickname ‘The Lighthouse’ from Liverpool assistant coach Pepijn Lijnders and his teammates. 

10. He was named in Brazil’s squad for the 2021 Copa América

Fabinho. Photo by Kevin Walsh. Wikimedia Commons

Fabinho made his debut in a warm-up match against Mexico on 7 June 2015, as a half-time substitute for Danilo in a 2-0 victory at Allianz Parque in So Paulo, as part of coach Dunga’s 23-man squad for the 2015 Copa América in Chile. Fabinho did not play at the Copa América, where Brazil reached the quarter-finals, because Dani Alves played the entire tournament at right-back.

He was named to Brazil’s Copa América Centenario squad, but he did not appear in any of the country’s three matches at the tournament.