Anyone who started watching football in the 2000s is aware of the plethora of talent that Brazil produced. It could be said that it was mandatory that the football gods awarded the public with atleast 1 dynamic Brazilian attacker every year, all known for their own skillset. From Adriano to Ganso to Neymar, Brazilian teenage sensations were never exactly anomalous.
One of the most known name at that time was Alexandre Rodrigues Da Silva, or whom we know as Alexandre Pato.Regardless of the fall off he had in the past decade, it was obvious the amount of talent that was present in him. In this article I would like to analyze his profile, the fairy tale beginning and his sad decline.
Starting his career off at Brazilian club Internacional, Pato quickly rose from academy ranks to the senior men’s squad at just 17, when he made his professional debut against Brazilian giants Palmeiras. He was generally a left winger, but could also play as a center forward and second striker if required. He had a fairytale start when he scored in just the 1st minute of the game and superseded any expectations the fans had on him. He picked up two assists and ended with a lively debut filled with tenacity and continuous dribbles. Perhaps his most defining moment for the Colorados came when he scored against Al Ahly and became the youngest goalscorer in a senior men’s FIFA tournament by breaking Brazilian legend Pele’s record [when he scored vs Wales in the 1958 FIFA WC]. Looking back to the immense debut season he had, it was a no brainer as to why AC Milan paid a hefty 24m pounds to sign the Brazilian maestro.
RISE TO STARDOM AND A QUICK ANALYSIS
After signing for AC Milan in the June window in 2007 and only making his professional debut in January 2008, Pato quickly rose above the ranks in Milan. After making his official debut for Milan against SSC Napoli and scoring in a 5–2 win, Pato immediately owned his spot with a string of beautiful performances and ending the season with 11 G/A [9 Goals and 2 Assists].
He immediately became a fan favourite at the Rossoneri. “Electric and flashy” would possibly be the best choice of words to describe Pato after watching him play in any game during his peak. His use of core strength to create separation and then making a daunting run straight away from his defender fused with his quick combinations and mastery of wing play is what increased his demand and market value quickly. Pato knew to use his body well. Besides his immense core strength, he regularly knew to use his body to ride tackles and to draw fouls in important areas. In one word, he was a menace.
Pato’s close control and first touch were probably his second defining attributes. Pato was quick with his feet, as was and still is every young Brazilian wonderkid in the game. He knew when to take a heavy touch and drift away from his marker, be it a run from the byline and then putting in a quick cross or drifting centrally away from his marker quickly drawing players in and then providing an accurate needle pass to the Milan runner who is making a blindside run. He loved to regularly run with the ball in central areas and then hit a powerful right footed shot to the far post and gained relative success through this move.
Pato was a powerful carrier. He would accumulate large distances all by himself in just a few seconds and had the ability to quickly change the game state. He was an attacking outlet and provided as a big transitional threat against his opponents. Despite his relatively poor out of possession work and easily tiresome legs, his pros far outweighed the cons and he was an incredible asset for a big European team like Milan to have. His on the ball value was far larger than any of his teammates and that made him a solid starter in Milan’s 11 in his best three seasons from 2007–08 to 2010–11. With Kaka leaving Milan, he was evidently seen as the aesthetic successor to the Milan legend. Although they were quite different in their skillsets, the immediate archetype of a skilful Brazilian attacker was evidently fit in with Pato and there were heavy expectations for him to lead Milan to glory in the next decade.
DECLINE
But what failed? Now comes the big question. What caused Alexandre Pato to peak at such a young age and then go on such a dramatic decline afterwards? On first hand, the answer looks relatively simple. Being such a flashy and skilful forward and playing professional games from such a young age, he was obviously overburdened with many minutes at a very physical league in Europe. This along with the fact that Milan was slowly transitioning into a young side from the early 10s. Pato’s peak coincided with most of the Milan starting 11 at the twilight stage of their career. From Seedorf to Pirlo to Inzaghi. A slow but gradual decline of his teammates with whom he had evidently developed socio affective conditions definitely played a role in his decline. Robinho and Owen are just two other players who peaked at a very young age in the game but their post-peak scenarios weren’t as bad as they still managed to remain relatively influential to their clubs for a few seasons.
CONCLUSION
Pato for many reasons couldn’t keep consistent with his prime days and slowly went on a decline after failed stints at Corinthians,Chelsea and Villareal and also to the Chinese league and MLS. But what remains is that Pato was one of the best prospects the game has ever season. Looking back at his good days it would be hard to imagine the growth curve he would probably have if he remained consistent and only improved with age. And the question still remains. What could have been?
