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| Marcelo Martins Moreno | |
|---|---|
| Name | Marcelo Martins Moreno |
| Caption | Marcelo Martins in 2015 |
| Fullname | Marcelo Martins Moreno |
| Birth date | 18 June 1987 |
| Birth place | Santa Cruz de la Sierra, Bolivia |
| Height | 1.86 m |
| Position | Forward |
| Currentclub | Cruzeiro |
Marcelo Martins Moreno is a Bolivian professional footballer who plays as a striker for Cruzeiro and the Bolivia national team. Known for his physical presence, aerial ability and goal-scoring from diverse competitions, he has had a career spanning clubs in Bolivia, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, China, Spain, Paraguay and Mexico. He is Bolivia's leading goalscorer in international history and a prominent figure in South American football.
Born in Santa Cruz de la Sierra to a Bolivian mother and a Brazilian father, he developed in local youth setups before joining the academy of Oriente Petrolero. During his adolescence he attracted attention from scouts linked to Cruzeiro and Grêmio while balancing education in Santa Cruz de la Sierra. His dual heritage allowed registration pathways with clubs in Brazil and facilitated transfers across South America and Europe.
He began his senior career at Oriente Petrolero before moving to Cruzeiro where he featured in Brazilian Série A competitions. A loan to FC Basel introduced him to Swiss Super League action and appearances in UEFA Champions League qualifiers. Subsequent transfers took him to VfL Wolfsburg and a loan to FK Austria Wien where he played in the Austrian Football Bundesliga. Returning to Brazil, he had spells with Grêmio and continued moves led him to Shakhtar Donetsk-style markets and then the Russian Premier League with FC Rubin Kazan.
His career then included a high-profile contract in the Chinese Super League with Shandong Luneng and loans to Internacional and Cruzeiro again. A stint in La Liga with Getafe CF and time at Corinthians broadened his résumé, followed by competitive seasons with O'Higgins-type clubs in Paraguay and Mexico with Club América-level teams. He returned to Cruzeiro where he continued to contribute in Série B and Copa do Brasil fixtures.
He debuted for the Bolivia national under-20 football team and soon progressed to the senior national team, representing Bolivia in FIFA World Cup qualification cycles, Copa América tournaments and international friendlies. He became Bolivia's top scorer, eclipsing records set during eras featuring players from Bolívar and The Strongest. Key performances include goal-scoring in World Cup qualifiers and appearances at the 2015 Copa América and 2019 Copa América, facing national teams such as Argentina, Brazil, Chile and Uruguay.
A centre-forward noted for his height and heading ability, he blends attributes reminiscent of strikers who succeeded in Serie A and Premier League contexts, adapting to systems used by clubs such as Cruzeiro, Grêmio and FC Basel. Commentators compared his movement to profiles seen at Shakhtar Donetsk and praised his hold-up play in matches against teams like River Plate and Boca Juniors. Managers at Rubin Kazan and Shandong Luneng highlighted his work-rate and finishing, while critics pointed to periods of inconsistency during tenures at Getafe CF and in the Chinese Super League.
Off the pitch he maintains ties to Santa Cruz de la Sierra and has been involved in charitable initiatives in Bolivia and Brazil. He holds dual nationality (Bolivia and Brazil) and his family background has been discussed in profiles published by outlets covering CONMEBOL competitions. Personal milestones included marriage and public appearances at events associated with clubs like Cruzeiro and Oriente Petrolero.
Club - Appearances and goals across clubs in Bolivia, Brazil, Switzerland, Austria, Russia, China, Spain, Paraguay and Mexico spanning domestic leagues, Copa Libertadores, Copa Sudamericana, UEFA Europa League and UEFA Champions League qualifiers.
International - Bolivia senior team: over 90 caps and a national record goal tally, including goals in FIFA World Cup qualification and Copa América tournaments.
- Domestic league titles and cup honours with clubs such as Cruzeiro and Grêmio. - Individual: Bolivia all-time top goalscorer; top scorer awards in club competitions and recognition in CONMEBOL tournament squads. - Participation in major tournaments: multiple Copa América editions and successive FIFA World Cup qualification campaigns.
Category:1987 births Category:Living people Category:Bolivian footballers Category:Association football forwards