Deco is one of the few players to have won the UEFA Champions League with two clubs, with Porto in 2004 and Barcelona in 2006.
33 Facts About Deco
2.
Deco was named UEFA Club Footballer of the Year and UEFA Best Midfielder in Porto's Champions League-winning season and was named Man of the Match in the 2004 UEFA Champions League Final.
3.
Deco was the first player to win the UEFA Best Midfielder Award with two clubs, Porto and Barcelona.
4.
Deco was awarded the 2006 FIFA Club World Cup Golden Ball and the Man of the Match award in the final despite losing to Internacional.
5.
Deco earned 75 caps for them, playing at two UEFA European Championships and two FIFA World Cups, reaching the final of Euro 2004, and achieving a fourth-place finish at the 2006 World Cup.
6.
At Salgueiros, Deco was plagued by injuries and only made a few appearances, until Porto purchased him in March 1999, in time to win the league title.
7.
Deco was the UEFA Champions League's top assist provider and suffered the most fouls in the Champions League that season.
8.
That season, Deco won the UEFA Club Footballer of the Year as well as the award for the best midfielder in the competition.
9.
On 14 May 2005, Deco played in the draw against Levante, which gave Barcelona their 17th La Liga title.
10.
Deco scored twice in the 2006 Supercopa de Espana, which Barca won.
11.
Deco won the UEFA Best Midfielder Award yet again for his performance in Barca's UEFA Champions League-winning season, enabling him to join the exclusive group of players that have won the same award more than once with different teams, having won the Champions League previously with Porto.
12.
Deco was awarded the Golden Ball at the FIFA Club World Cup and the Man of the Match award, despite losing the final to Internacional.
13.
Deco was the first signing of new Chelsea coach Luiz Felipe Scolari, who was formerly the head coach of the Portugal national team.
14.
Deco followed up his performance by scoring in his second game for Chelsea, a curling free-kick against Wigan Athletic.
15.
On 6 August 2010, Deco signed a two-year contract with Brazilian club Fluminense on a free transfer, joining former Chelsea and Barcelona teammate Juliano Belletti.
16.
On 26 August 2013, Deco retired, ending a 17-year career.
17.
Deco was never called up to the Brazil national team, as the Brazil squad for the 2002 FIFA World Cup included other attacking midfielders such as Ronaldinho, Rivaldo and Juninho.
18.
Deco was mentioned several times in the media as an option for the Portugal national team.
19.
Deco scored 5 goals in 75 caps for Portugal by June 2010, when his international career ended after the second-round defeat to Spain at the 2010 World Cup.
20.
The win against England in the quarter-final stage led to Portugal's defeat in the semi-final, which Deco was able to participate in.
21.
On 11 June, Deco scored the opening goal in Portugal's second match of Euro 2008, a Group A clash with the Czech Republic.
22.
In February 2010, Deco announced he would be retiring from international football after the 2010 World Cup.
23.
Deco played for Portugal in their opening game against the Ivory Coast.
24.
Deco was fit again for the round of 16 match against Spain, but Portugal head coach Carlos Queiroz chose Tiago over him.
25.
Deco retired from international football with 75 caps and 5 goals.
26.
Deco was initially deployed as a central midfielder under manager Jose Mourinho during his time with Porto, although he was capable of playing as an attacking midfielder, as a deep-lying playmaker or as a winger on either flank.
27.
Deco was an excellent visionary of the ball, who opened up spaces for his teammates through finding passing lanes that no one else saw, and had a notable ability to switch the tempo of play in rapid style.
28.
Deco contributed offensively with occasional goals due to his accurate mid-range shooting ability, and his adeptness at free-kicks.
29.
Deco was well known for his tendency to commit tactical fouls, and he was accused of diving throughout his career.
30.
Deco is the brother-in-law of fellow footballer Alecsandro, who plays for Coritiba Foot Ball Club, and Richarlyson.
31.
Deco is an ambassador for the Laureus Sport for Good Foundation.
32.
Deco has a charitable organisation, the Deco Institute, based in the Brazilian city of Indaiatuba, near Sao Paulo, where he grew up.
33.
Deco was included in the Ultimate Team Legends in FIFA 16.