The 2013 Confederations Cup was perhaps the best moment in Fred’s career with the Brazilian national side, scoring five goals and finishing joint top scorer to seal the Golden Shoe.
17 goals in 31 international caps so far have seen the former Lyon striker become big part in the plans of Luis Filipe Scolari of late and that is unlikely to change as the opening match of the 2014 World Cup begins against Croatia on Thursday evening.
Not a typical Brazilian striker, Fred’s goalscoring record for club sides is one to behold, scoring 250 goals in 451 appearances so far, however, his failure to impress in European football is perhaps his most frustrating moment.
Joining French side Lyon in 2005, the striker spent four seasons in Ligue 1 but his final two years saw him score just 12 goals in 50 games.
A return to Brazil with Fluminense has seen him score 90 goals in four season and prompty attract interest from a number of top European sides, with Manchester City being one of those.
Whilst, the likes of Neymar, Hulk and Dani Alves will be looked at as Brazil’s best players, the quiet and clinical Fred will be looking to have the same impact he did when he guided his nation to Confederations Cup success last summer.