Hulk: the billionaire star who does not go to the big leagues

Soccer is as big as its ability to be played anywhere. Greatness can be achieved everywhere. Marking between the two jerseys, on an asphalt field or in a dirt paddock. Or in the biggest stadiums. Getting to touch it does not necessarily imply going through these.

The best example is that of Givanildo Vieira de Souza, much better known for his characteristic Hulk-like physique. More than being, like the Marvel character, he continues to triumph over the green at 36 years old without having gone through any of the five major European leagues.

The Brazilian started his career at EC Vitoria and it was Asian football that always brought him the best opportunities. In 2005 he arrived at Kawasaki Frontale and became a star in the J-League passing through it, Sapporo and finally Tokyo Verdy.

Porto found him there and bet heavily on his talent, investing 19 million euros for him. His first big signing would be his first European experience. In Porto he lived a golden age. Hulk was not yet the big star, but he was champion in Porto where Falcao was the one who scored all the goals under Andre Villas-Boas. A Porto that brought together different talented players to distribute around Europe, such as the Colombian nine himself, James Rodríguez, Freddy Guarín, Joao Moutinho, Otamendi, Beto or Raul Meireles, among others.

Hulk became a star and captain after Falcao’s departure as Portugal’s top scorer in 10-11 and leading the sutos until 2012. There, Russia wanted to grow its football to fight for everything and began a batch of great signings. The Brazilian was part of this ‘bubble’ and Zenit Saint Petersburg signed him in exchange for 40 million euros.

In Russia he shone in the Champions League and his level meant that wherever he played he never left the national team completely, withn which adds 49 caps. From St. Petersburg, the Brazilian was immersed in the next football bubble from Asia, the Chinese.

The Chinese Super League launched an ambitious project to compete with the greats of Europe trying to attract high-level players with stratospheric contracts. Drogba, Tévez and many others passed through there… also, our protagonist being the most expensive signing in the history of the League at the time. The Shanghai SIPG paid up to 55.8 million euros for the player to go to the Asian giant.

After six seasons in China, in February 2021, Hulk signed for Atlético Mineiro and shared the lead with Diego Costa. The one from Campina Grande dHe shows that he is still more than fit, being the top scorer in the League and Cup last season and adding 20 goals in 32 games this season.

Already in the final stage of his career, Hulk is not expected to increase his enormous records (357 official goals) in any of the major leagues, but outside these scenarios he has managed to be the great billionaire star of the others, with a cumulative transfer in his career of more than one hundred million euros.