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Hulk( footballer) photo by Vyacheslav Evdokimov

Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Hulk (Footballer)

Givanildo Vieira de Sousa who is known as Hulk . He is a Brazilian Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atlético Mineiro. And including the Brazil national team.

Hulk was previously married to Iran Angelo de Souza, who he met in Japan. The pair married in 2007 before separating in 2019. They have two sons, Ian and Tiago, and a daughter, Alice. After splitting from Iran, Hulk began dating her niece, Camila Angelo in October 2019.

It was reported in 2020 that Hulk had married Camila, in part due to her needing a visa to stay in China with Hulk. They have since revealed they are expecting their first baby together. The baby who is be Hulk’s fourth child.

 Hulk started playing professionally with Esporte Clube Vitória in Salvador, Bahia, then went on loan to Japan to play for Kawasaki Frontale. Despite having been purchased on 15 January 2006. He was loaned to second division Consadole Sapporo, effective on 1 February, where he played all the 2006 season and scored 25 goals, one less than the top.

Here’s the Top 10 Fascinating Facts about Hulk (Footballer)

1. He gained his nickname Hulk due to his likeness to actor Lou Ferrigno

Hulk 2015 photo by Kiril Venediktov

He has been described by FIFA’s official website as “a direct powerhouse of a centre- or wide-forward who knows his way around the box”. He is strongly built for a footballer and acquired his nickname due to his likeness to actor Lou Ferrigno, who played the Incredible Hulk on the eponymous television show in the 1970s.

2. Hulk has won 10titles with Porto

After playing three years in Japan, he played several seasons in Portugal with Porto, winning ten titles. This including the 2010–11 UEFA Europa League and three national championships.

3. He has been crowned once as the top scorer

Hulk 2015 photo by Vyacheslav Evdokimov

He was crowned the league’s top scorer once. In 2012, he joined Russian Premier League side Zenit Saint Petersburg for €60 million, winning all three domestic honours and being named the competition’s best player and being top scorer, once each. He was transferred to Shanghai SIPG for an Asian record €58.6 million in 2016.

4. Hulk managed scoring 16 times in his first 16 official matches in the 2010–11 season

He started the 2010–11 season scoring 16 times in his first 16 official matches, including a hat-trick against K.R.C. Genk in the UEFA Europa League play-off stage, in 2010 (4–2 home win, 7–2 on aggregate). 

He won the Portuguese Championship Player of the Month, making him the only player to have won the award six times. Also in 2010, he scored the last two goals as Porto trounced Benfica 5–0 at home, creating a ten-point difference between the two teams. With the northerners leading the league, and eventually winning it, with the player leading the goal scoring charts.

5. He was voted the Player of the Month for April for a record sixth time

Brazil and Croatia match at the FIFA World Cup 2014-06-12 photo by copa2014.gov.br

In 2012, Hulk scored the solitary goal as Porto defeated S.C. Braga away to go four points clear at the top of the Primeira Liga table. He scored six goals in the following three matches, including a brace in a 2–0 home defeat of Sporting CP,and finished the 2011–12 season with 16 league goals as his team won another national championship. In 2012, he was voted the Player of the Month for April for a record sixth time. And he added 11 assists, a competition best.

6. Hulk was named by UEFA as one of the top XI players of the 2015–16 UEFA Champions League group stage.

In 2015, Hulk had signed two-year contract extension with the club. His free kick in a 1–1 draw at FC Ufa gave Zenit the league title with two matches to spare.

UEFA selects its team of the group stage, featuring a goalkeeper who was beaten just once, a midfielder who got five goals and the competition’s all-time top scorer

7. Hulk had made a total of 145 appearances and scored a total of 77 goals during his time in Shanghai

In 2016, Hulk joined Chinese club Shanghai SIPG from Zenit for a reported £45 million, an Asian football record. He would earn £320,000 per week, accumulating to £16.6 million per year.

Hulk forced Ryan McGowan’s own goal nine minutes into his debut in a 5–0 win over Henan Jianye. However, just 12 minutes later, he was stretchered off the pitch with a muscle injury. Hulk scored his first two goals for Shanghai SIPG against Beijing Guoan after a two-month injury lay-off. He made 145 appearance and scored 77 goals since he joined Shanghai.

8. He was the country’s top scorer in 2021

In 2021, Hulk returned to Brazil and joined Atlético Mineiro on a two-year contract. He made his debut on 7 March, assisting the fourth goal for Diego Tardelli in a 4–0 Campeonato Mineiro win over Uberlândia. He scored his first goal for the club, from a penalty kick, in a 3–0 win over Coimbra.

Hulk scored both goals in a 2–1 turnaround win over Corinthians, in the Série A. In the next round, he again scored twice in a 3–0 win over Bahia. He became top scorer of the league after yet another brace in a 2–0 win over Juventude.

When Atlético played for the league title and was 2–0 down against Bahia at the Fonte Nova arena. Hulk kick-started a comeback by scoring from a penalty; five minutes later, a brace from Keno snatched the three points that secured the 2021 Série A trophy to Galo. In the following match, a 4–3 win over Red Bull Bragantino at the Mineirão.

Hulk had scored his 19th goal in 35 appearances, ending the league season as top scorer. He became the country’s top scorer in with a total of 36 goals in 68 appearances, while also providing 13 assists. 

9. Hulk represented Brazil at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup

Hulk photo by Vyacheslav Evdokimov

In 2013, Hulk represented Brazil at the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup. He played in every match as the team’s starting right-winger, including the final, where Brazil defeated world champions Spain to win its fourth Confederations Cup title.

10. He has received several Awards

His central role in Atlético’s treble-winning season earned him the Bola de Ouro, Craque do Brasileirão and Copa do Brasil Golden Ball awards. He was also included in CONMEBOL’s Libertadores Team of the Tournament and El País’ South American Team of the Year.