In a sport where goalkeepers are judged by the saves they make, Rogério Ceni built his legacy on the goals he scored.
For 25 years, Ceni stood between the posts for São Paulo, guarding the net with authority while quietly rewriting football history.
When he retired in 2015, he had amassed 1,238 appearances for the club and an astonishing 132 goals, the most ever scored by a goalkeeper.
Sixty-one came from free-kicks, 70 from penalties, and one from open play.
Numbers that sound fictional, yet define a very real and extraordinary career.
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One moment, however, captured the essence of it all. On March 27, 2011, in a heated derby against Corinthians, the then 38-year-old captain placed the ball down for a free-kick with São Paulo leading 1–0. He was on 99 career goals.
The stadium fell into a tense silence as he began his run-up. The strike was vintage Ceni, curling over the wall and dipping into the top corner. As the net rippled, the arena erupted. Shirt off, arms raised, mobbed by teammates, Ceni had reached a century of goals.
It was a milestone no goalkeeper had ever dreamed of, let alone achieved in such style.
Born on January 22, 1973, in Paraná, Brazil, Ceni joined São Paulo as a teenager in 1990. What followed was a lifetime of loyalty in an era increasingly defined by transfers and short-term allegiances.
While many Brazilian stars sought European stages, Ceni stayed home, becoming the embodiment of São Paulo’s identity. His name and number became sacred to supporters.
He was more than a novelty act, taking set pieces. Ceni was a student of technique, obsessively practicing free-kicks after training, perfecting the whip and dip that would leave opposing goalkeepers rooted. When he stepped up, stadiums fell silent in anticipation rather than disbelief.
Beyond the goals, his trophy cabinet gleamed. Three consecutive Brazilian league titles, multiple state championships, a Copa Libertadores crown, and a FIFA Club World Cup triumph where he was named player of the tournament.
FKA/JE
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