| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier | ||
| Date of birth | 23 March 1983 | ||
| Place of birth | São José da Tapera, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in) | ||
| Playing position | Attacking midfielder | ||
| Club information | |||
| Current club | Metalist Kharkiv | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| CSA | |||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† |
| 2001–2002 | CSA | ||
| 2002–2008 | Internacional | 68 | (5) |
| 2005 | → Sport Recife (loan) | ||
| 2005 | → Brasiliense (loan) | ||
| 2006 | → Gama (loan) | ||
| 2006 | → Marília (loan) | ||
| 2007–2008 | → Figueirense (loan) | 61 | (12) |
| 2009–2010 | Palmeiras | 88 | (17) |
| 2010– | Metalist Kharkiv | 43 | (13) |
| National team | |||
| 2003 | Brazil U20 | 5 | (0) |
| 2009– | Brazil | 0 | (0) |
| * Senior club appearances and goals counted for the domestic league only and correct as of 04 Dec 2011. † Appearances (Goals). |
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Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier (born 23 March 1983 in São José da Tapera, Alagoas) is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Ukrainian Premier League club FC Metalist Kharkiv and the Brazilian national team. He is known by his powerful and accurate free kicks, dribbling skills and passes.
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In his early career, Cleiton Xavier played for CSA and Internacional, and was loaned out various times.
In early 2009, Palmeiras signed Cleiton from the relegated Figueirense. Cleiton Xavier proved he had good talent in Palmeiras's first matches in the Libertadores Cup and in the São Paulo State Championship. On April 29, 2009 Cleiton Xavier scored a 87th minute away-goal against Colo-Colo in the Libertadores Cup that secured Palmeiras' progression to the knockout stages of the tournament, it was a very long-range shot inside the goalkeeper's right angle.[1]
Later in the Série A alongside teammate Diego Souza, Cleiton Xavier made a outstanding season with Palmeiras, leading the competition for 19 rounds, however Palmeiras finished 5th due to losses in the final matches and did not qualify for the Libertadores Cup. Cleiton Xavier was elected the 3rd best player of the season, even though he had an injury. In 2010, Cleiton Xavier remained with Palmeiras and also started well the year. He participated in Palmeiras's first ten goals in the São Paulo State Championship.
On July 14, 2010, Cleiton Xavier transferred to FC Metalist Kharkiv for €4.5 million.[2]
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