{{Short description|Brazilian footballer (born 1979)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=July 2023}} {{Infobox football biography |name = Elenildo de Jesus |image = |full_name = |birth_date = {{birth date and age|1979|9|7}} |birth_place = Brazil |height = 1.80 m |position = [[Forward (association football)|Forward]] |currentclub = |youthyears1 = |youthclubs1 = |years1 = 2006–2007 |clubs1 = [[Ho Chi Minh City FC|Saigon Port]] |years2 = 2008–2009 |clubs2 = [[Haiphong FC|Hải Phòng]] |years3 = 2010–2011 |clubs3 = [[Becamex Binh Duong|Bình Dương]] |years4 = 2012 |clubs4 = [[Ho Chi Minh City FC|TPHCM]] |years5 = 2013 |clubs5 = [[SHB Vientiane F.C.|SHB Vientiane]] }}
'''Elenildo de Jesus''' (born 9 July 1979) is a Brazilian former professional [[association football|footballer]] who played as a [[forward (association football)|forward]].
==Early life== He was born in 1979 in Brazil and grew up poor.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bongdaplus.vn/v-league/cuu-tien-dao-elenildo-de-jesus-tu-ke-an-xin-den-vua-doi-bom-v-league-2948022004.html|title=Elenildo De Jesus: Từ 'Kẻ ăn xin' đến 'Vua dội bom' V.League|publisher=bongdaplus.vn}}</ref> He played street football in Brazil.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/bong-da/almeida-va-de-jesus-deu-la-hang-hieu-o-v-league-1207674.html|title=Elenildo de Jesus - "máy ủi" có tốc độ kinh hồn|publisher=vnexpress.net}}</ref>
==Career== He started his V-League career with Vietnamese side [[Ho Chi Minh City FC|Saigon Port]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://plo.vn/the-thao/thay-chinh-va-tro-ngoai-276847.html|title=Thầy Chỉnh và trò... ngoại|publisher=plo.vn}}</ref> He was top scorer of the [[2006 V-League]] with eighteen goals and was named as the best foreign player of the year.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://baomoi.com/top-10-cau-thu-goc-brazil-thanh-cong-nhat-tai-viet-nam/c/10675859.epi|title=Elenildo de Jesus - Bao Moi article}}</ref> During the 2007 season, he scored fourteen league goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://bongda24h.vn/tin-tuc-tong-hop/dieu-samba-tren-san-co-vleague-205-8054.html|title=Elenildo de Jesus - Bong Da article|publisher=Bongda24h.vn}}</ref> Before the 2008 season, he signed for Vietnamese side [[Haiphong FC|Hải Phòng]], where he stayed for two seasons.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://thethaovanhoa.vn/bong-da-viet-nam/elenildo-de-jesus-so-phan-cua-nguoi-danh-vong-thi-truong-n2009111610494233.htm|title=Elenildo De Jesus: Số phận của người "đánh võng" thị trường|publisher=thethaovanhoa.vn}}</ref> He has been in the all-time top ten strikers with the most goals in the V-League with sixty goals.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.baodanang.vn/channel/5423/201303/top-10-cau-thu-goc-brazil-thanh-cong-nhat-tai-viet-nam-2230021/|title=Elenildo De Jesus - Bay Da Nang article}}</ref> In 2013, he signed for Laotian side [[SHB Vientiane F.C.|SHB Vientiane]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/doi-bong-cua-bau-hien-vo-dich-lao-premier-league-2820170.html|title=Đội bóng của bầu Hiển vô địch Lao Premier League|publisher=vnexpress.net}}</ref>
==Style of play== He mainly operated as a striker and was known for his agility and speed.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://vnexpress.net/bong-da/elenildo-de-jesus-vua-pha-luoi-moi-cua-v-league-820333.html|title=Elenildo De Jesus, Vua phá lưới mới của V-League|publisher=vnexpress.net}}</ref>
==Personal life== After retiring from professional football, he lived with his family in [[Ho Chi Minh City]], Vietnam.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://danviet.vn/tien-dao-elenildo-de-jesus-anh-tay-ba-lo-doi-doi-nho-viet-nam-1081403.htm|title=Elenildo De Jesus: Anh "Tây ba-lô" đổi đời nhờ Việt Nam|publisher=danviet.vn}}</ref>
==References== {{reflist}}
{{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = gold | fg = navy | list1 = {{V-League top scorers}} {{V.League 1 Player of the Year}} }}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Jesus, Elenildo de}} [[Category:Living people]] [[Category:1979 births]] [[Category:Brazilian men's footballers]] [[Category:Men's association football forwards]] [[Category:Cong An Ho Chi Minh City FC players]] [[Category:Haiphong FC players]] [[Category:Becamex Binh Duong FC players]] [[Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers]] [[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Vietnam]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Vietnam]] [[Category:Brazilian expatriate sportspeople in Laos]] [[Category:Expatriate men's footballers in Laos]]
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