During Cruzeiro Esporte Clube’s journey, we’ve seen a number of talented players in various positions, especially as strikers. But do you know who the best strikers in Cruzeiro’s history are? Take a look at this list!
It’s worth remembering that a striker is a player who plays further up the pitch and is responsible for scoring goals and finishing off moves.
The main objective of strikers is to score goals and they are often the heroes of matches due to their finishing skills and ability to decide games.
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Best strikers in Cruzeiro’s history
Tostão
Tostão, who played for Cruzeiro from 1963 to 1972, is one of Brazilian soccer’s greatest icons. He stood out as a striker for his tactical intelligence, precision in shooting and finishing ability.
Titles:
- Brazil Cup (1966)
- Mineiro Championship (1965, 1966, 1967, 1968, 1969)
Curiosity:
- Tostão was top scorer in the 1970 Brazilian Championship and is remembered for his crucial role in the Brazilian national team at the 1970 World Cup.
Ronaldo
Ronaldo, the “Phenomenon”, began his career at Cruzeiro in 1993, playing until 1994. He quickly stood out for his speed, ball skills and goalscoring instincts.
Titles:
- Campeonato Mineiro (1994)
Curiosity:
- Ronaldo scored five goals in a single match against Bahia, a feat that impressed the soccer world and boosted his international career.
Marcelo Ramos
Marcelo Ramos played for Cruzeiro twice (1995-1999 and 2003-2005). He was known for his opportunism and accurate finishing.
Titles:
- Copa do Brasil (1996, 2003)
- Copa Libertadores (1997)
- Mineiro Championship (1996, 1997, 1998, 2004)
Fun facts:
- Marcelo Ramos is one of the top scorers in Cruzeiro’s history, with over 160 goals for the club.
Fábio Júnior
Fábio Júnior played for Cruzeiro several times (1997-2000, 2002, 2005-2006). He stood out for his technical skill and ability to decide important games.
Titles:
- Copa Libertadores (1997)
- South American Cup Winners’ Cup (1998)
- Brazilian Cup (2000)
- Mineiro Championship (1997, 1998, 2002, 2006)
Curiosity:
- Fábio Júnior also had a successful career in Europe, playing for Italian club Roma.
Marcelo Moreno
Marcelo Moreno, known for his physical strength and ability in the air, had several spells with Cruzeiro (2007-2008, 2014-2015, 2020-2021).
Titles:
- Mineiro Championship (2008, 2014)
- Copa do Brasil (2017, 2018)
Curiosity:
- Marcelo Moreno is one of the few players to win Placar magazine’s Silver Ball playing for Cruzeiro.
Joãozinho
Joãozinho, who played for Cruzeiro from 1973 to 1982, was a striker known for his quick dribbling and accurate shooting.
Titles:
- Copa Libertadores (1976)
- Mineiro Championship (1973, 1974, 1975, 1977)
Curiosity:
- Joãozinho scored the decisive goal in the 1976 Libertadores final against River Plate.
Dida
Dida, not to be confused with the goalkeeper of the same name, played for Cruzeiro from 1968 to 1971 and was one of the team’s great strikers.
Titles:
- Brazil Cup (1968)
- Mineiro Championship (1968, 1969)
Curiosity:
- Dida was top scorer in the 1969 Campeonato Mineiro.
Reinaldo
Reinaldo played for Cruzeiro between 1987 and 1988. He stood out for his technical ability and accurate shooting.
Titles:
- Campeonato Mineiro (1987)
Curiosity:
- Reinaldo is most famous for his career with Atlético Mineiro, but he had a productive spell with Cruzeiro.
Aristizábal
Aristizábal, a Colombian striker, had a remarkable spell with Cruzeiro in 2003.
Titles:
- Mineiro Championship (2003)
- Brazilian Cup (2003)
- Brazilian Championship (2003)
Curiosity:
- Aristizábal was one of Cruzeiro’s key players in winning the Triple Crown in 2003.
Fred
Fred, known for his finishing ability and presence in the penalty area, played for Cruzeiro in two spells (2004-2005 and 2018-2020).
Titles:
- Campeonato Mineiro (2004, 2018, 2019)
Curiosity:
- Fred is one of the top scorers in the history of the Campeonato Brasileiro.
Wellington Paulista
Wellington Paulista played for Cruzeiro between 2009 and 2012 and had a brief spell in 2013. He was known for his physical strength and goalscoring instinct.
Titles:
- Campeonato Mineiro (2009, 2011)
Curiosity:
- Wellington Paulista is remembered for his hat-trick against Estudiantes in the 2009 Copa Libertadores.
Ramón Ábila
Ramón Ábila, known as “Wanchope”, played for Cruzeiro between 2016 and 2017. He stood out for his strength and nose for goal.
Titles:
- Copa do Brasil (2017)
Curiosity:
- Ábila was top scorer in the 2017 Copa do Brasil for Cruzeiro.
Kleber
Kleber, the “Gladiator”, played for Cruzeiro between 2009 and 2011. His physical strength and technical ability made him one of the team’s highlights.
Titles:
- Campeonato Mineiro (2009, 2011)
Curiosity:
- Kleber is known for his commitment on the pitch and his combative temperament.
Charles
Charles played for Cruzeiro between 1987 and 1991. He was a fast and skillful striker, known for his ability to score important goals.
Titles:
- Campeonato Mineiro (1987, 1990)
Curiosity:
- Charles was top scorer in the 1987 Copa Libertadores.
Roberto Gaúcho
Roberto Gaúcho, a versatile striker, played for Cruzeiro between 1992 and 1996. He was known for his dribbling ability and nose for goal.
Titles:
- Copa do Brasil (1993, 1996)
- Mineiro Championship (1994, 1996)
Fun fact:
- Roberto Gaúcho scored the decisive goal in the 1996 Copa do Brasil final.
Complete list: the best strikers in Cruzeiro’s history
- Tostão
- Ronaldo
- Marcelo Ramos
- Fábio Júnior
- Marcelo Moreno
- Joãozinho
- Dida
- Reinaldo
- Aristizábal
- Fred
- Wellington Paulista
- Ramón Ábila
- Kleber
- Charles
- Roberto Gaúcho
The history of Cruzeiro Esporte Clube is rich and full of achievements, much due to the talent and dedication of those players who played as strikers, leaving a legacy of skill, passion and victories that continue to inspire new generations of fans and players.
And if you enjoyed checking out the list of the best strikers in Cruzeiro’s history, keep following our articles to learn more about the careers of Brazilian soccer’s idols.
