Legends: Lucio, the Brazilian elemental force

three times a runner-up with Bayer 04, world cup winner with brazil

From 2001 to 2004, alongside Jens Nowotny he typified the Werkself defence with his powerful game, his solo runs, his inexhaustible commitment and his exceptional ability to start build-ups from defence. In the Bayer 04 jersey he not only impressed as an uncompromising defender but also with his ability to pose a goal threat with headers and free kicks. Particularly in the three times runners-up season of 2001/02 when Leverkusen reached the final of the Champions League, lost to Schalke 04 in the DFB Pokal final and gave away the German league title at the end of the Bundesliga campaign, Lucio went beyond his limits.

Unforgotten is his crucial strike in the 4-2 win against Liverpool that took Bayer 04 to the semi-finals of the Champions League. In the 2-1 defeat to Real Madrid in the final he scored the equaliser with a header. He was unable to win a trophy with his club. But he did finally secure a great triumph with the Selecao: Brazil won the World Cup in South Korea and Japan in 2002 with Lucio.

big success with Bayern and Inter milan

After three and a half impressive years with Bayer 04, where he made 122 appearances and scored 21 goals, the now 26-year-old joined Bayern Munich in 2004. He was straightaway a key figure in their defence. He won three German league titles with Bayern, the DFB Pokal three times and several Supercups. In Munich, Lucio – calm, professional and always ambitious – not just on the pitch also as a personality.

He celebrated his biggest club success with Inter Milan in 2010. Under coach José Mourinho, Lucio won the treble – consisting of the Italian league title, the domestic cup and the Champions League. He played every minute of every game in the Champions League season and he was one of the key players in the victory in the final against FC Bayern – his former club.

career ends at age of 41

Lucio played 105 internationals for Brazil and that makes him the most experienced defender in the history of the Selecao. After playing in Italy, Brazil, India and finally back in his home country Lucio finally ended his playing career at the age of 41. Today the father of three children lives with his family in Brazil.