Every Brazilian to play for Liverpool – ranked

With the departures of Roberto Firmino and Fabinho to Saudi Arabia, it looks like Alisson is going to be left by himself at the backyard BBQs in Liverpool.

Though there is only one currently remaining, there have been nine Brazilians to see competitive first-team game time at Liverpool FC.

Here we rank them all from worst to best.

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9. Arthur Melo

After only 13 minutes of first-team football in Merseyside, Arthur Melo surely goes down as the worst Brazilian to have worn the Liverpool shirt – and probably one of the club's worst signings period.

In what was clearly a panic buy on deadline day in the summer of 2022, Arthur made his debut for Liverpool as a substitute in an abysmal 4-1 loss to Napoli in September 2022.

Incredibly, that would go on to be the only appearance Arthur made in an incredibly disappointing season-long loan move from Juventus, with injuries meaning he never even really stood a chance to prove the doubters wrong.

8. Diego Cavalieri

Goalkeeper Cavalieri spent two years with the Reds from 2008 until 2010, and was even handed the number one shirt vacated by Jerzy Dudek.

However, despite his squad number the Brazilian was always destined to play back-up and failed to make a single league appearance in just over two seasons at Anfield.

He did, however, turn out 10 times for the Reds in various cup competitions, before moving to Cesena, where he also struggled for game time.

Cavalieri eventually found the right club, making 214 league appearances for Fluminense in a seven-year spell after departing Merseyside.

7. Doni

Another goalkeeper in this list, Doni signed for the Reds in 2011 after a six-year spell with Roma, where he made over 150 appearances.

However the goalkeeper came no where near that number for Liverpool, leaving two years later with only four league appearances to his name.

The final league appearance for Liverpool would go on to be the last in his career sadly, as Doni suffered a heart attack in a routine medical in the summer of 2012, and soon after retired from professional football.

6. Fabio Aurelio

The very first Brazilian to play for the Reds was signed on a free by Rafael Benitez in 2006.

The left-back/winger had been part of Benitez’ two-time La Liga winning Valencia, and became a hit with the Kop for his sweet left foot and set-piece abilities.

In a six-year spell at Anfield, the Brazilian made 87 league appearances, though it might've been many more but for a number of injuries.

Aurelio departed Liverpool in the summer of 2012, and returned to Brazil to sign for Gremio. However more injuries led to his retirement a year later.

5. Lucas Leiva

Officially retiring from professional football this summer, Lucas will surely be best remembered from his time at Liverpool between 2007 and 2017.

During that period, the Brazilian made 346 appearances for the Reds and won a Player of the Year award in the 2010/11 season.

Known for his desire and constant hard work, Lucas was unfortunate to have arrived right between the high points of the Benitez and Jurgen Klopp eras and had to settle for only lifting a League Cup during his decade at Liverpool.

He did at least get a Special Recognition award presented to him by legend Kenny Dalglish before his departure.

4. Philippe Coutinho

One of Liverpool’s greatest ever technicians Coutinho might have found himself nearer the top of this list if he had committed to a couple more years at Anfield.

Brought in for £8.5m in 2013 from Inter, the attacking midfielder soon became the club's star man, with his outrageous skill and long-range wonderstrikes.

However, interest from Barcelona firmly swerved Coutinho’s head and a move to the Nou Camp and eventually agreed for a whopping £142m including add-ons in January 2018.

While Coutinho's legacy was tainted by the exit, the transfer fee allowed the Reds to re-invest in Virgil van Dijk and another Brazilian later in this list, who became catalysts in both the 2019 Champions League and 2020 Premier League wins.

3. Fabinho

READ MORE: Fabinho — the rise and decline of Liverpool's quiet superstar

The most recent man in this list to depart Anfield is Fabinho, who spent five years with Liverpool between 2018 and 2023.

Capping a total of 151 league appearances for the Reds, the man who broke through as a right back in Brazil became first choice as a midfield anchor in the Liverpool team that won the lot, and was even dubbed 'the lighthouse' for his guiding influence on the team.

While his 2022/23 form started to hint at a decline, the former Monaco man will for certainly go down as one of the greatest defensive midfielders ever to have worn Red in Merseyside.

Between the years of 2019 and 2022, there was simply no one better in his position.

2. Roberto Firmino

The Bobby Dazzler, where do you start with this man?

In an eight-year spell at Anfield, Firmino made 256 league appearances for the Reds, scoring 82 times.

The silky Brazilian, known for his tricks, flicks and no-looks, created his own position and has become the dictionary definition of a ‘false-9’.

One third of the Reds greatest attack, Firmino was selflessly instrumental in the success that Liverpool have generated under Klopp and his influence (and smile) will be missed incredibly after his departure.

1. Alisson

Simply put: the world's best goalkeeper, and one of the greatest the Premier League has ever seen.

Since his big-money move from Roma in that transformative summer of 2018, Alisson has made 173 league appearances, twice winning the Premier League's Golden Glove, among a host of other honours.

Famed for his incredible reflexes, penalty box domination and the ability close down any one on one, it's not an exaggeration to say that without the the Brazilian in goal over the last five years, the Reds probably wouldn't have achieved half of what they have.

The Napoli save, the FA Cup penalty shootout, the assists vs City and United... the West Brom goal, there are so many iconic and pivotal moments to mention, and that is why Alisson goes down as the greatest ever Brazilian to have played for Liverpool.