Leonardo (footballer, born 1974)

Leonardo Pereira da Silva, simply known as Leonardo, was a Brazilian professional footballer who played as a forward.

Career

He emerged as champion of Piauí in 1991, at Picos. Negotiated with Sport, he won the Pernambuco championship three times and the 1994 Copa do Nordeste. He was negotiated with Vasco and later with Corinthians and Palmeiras, but he did not take revenge. Upon his return to Sport, he established himself as the club's biggest star, winning the state championship once again three more times.
In 1995 he was part of the Brazil under-20 team at the Toulon Tournament.
For Sport Recife he had 367 appearances and scored 133 goals.

Honours

;Picos

Campeonato Piauiense: 1991

;Sport

Campeonato Pernambucano: 1992, 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2000
Copa do Nordeste: 1994, 2000

;Brazil U20

Toulon Tournament: 1995

;Individual

Campeonato Pernambucano top scorer: 1997, 1999

Death

Leonardo was hospitalized at Restauração Hospital, Recife, on 3 February 2016 after suffering from a seizure. After MRI examinations, a large brain lesion was revealed, caused by neurocysticercosis. On March 1, he died at the age of 41. His body was laid to rest at the Sport Recife headquarters.