{{Short description|Brazilian-born Chinese footballer (born 1989)}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2020}} {{Portuguese name|Oliveira|Cardoso}} {{Infobox football biography | name = Elkeson<br> Ai Kesen | image = Elkeson.jpg | caption = Elkeson with China in 2019 | full_name = Ai Kesen | birth_name = Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso<ref name="FCWC 2013">{{cite web |title=FIFA Club World Cup Morocco 2013: List of Players |url=http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2013/pdf/FCWC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |publisher=FIFA |page=6 |date=11 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131211203509/http://www.fifadata.com/document/FCWC/2013/pdf/FCWC_2013_SquadLists.pdf |archive-date=11 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref> | height = 1.80 m | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1989|7|13|df=y}} | birth_place = Coelho Neto, Maranhão, Brazil | currentclub = | clubnumber = | position = Striker | youthyears1 = 2001–2009 | youthclubs1 = Vitória | years1 = 2009–2011 | clubs1 = Vitória | caps1 = 47 | goals1 = 7 | years2 = 2011–2012 | clubs2 = Botafogo | caps2 = 65 | goals2 = 19 | years3 = 2013–2015 | clubs3 = Guangzhou Evergrande | caps3 = 72 | goals3 = 59 | years4 = 2016–2019 | clubs4 = Shanghai SIPG | caps4 = 74 | goals4 = 37 | years5 = 2019–2021 | clubs5 = Guangzhou FC | caps5 = 45 | goals5 = 27 | years6 = 2022 | clubs6 = Grêmio | caps6 = 23 | goals6 = 3 | years7 = 2023–2024 | clubs7 = Chengdu Rongcheng | caps7 = 34 | goals7 = 10 | totalcaps = 360 | totalgoals = 162 | nationalyears1 = 2019–2024 | nationalteam1 = China | nationalcaps1 = 19 | nationalgoals1 = 4 | pcupdate = 2 September 2024 | ntupdate = 1 April 2024 }} {{Infobox Chinese | c = 艾克森 | p = Ài Kèsēn }} '''Elkeson de Oliveira Cardoso''', simply '''Elkeson''' and spelled in Mandarin as '''Ai Kesen''' ({{zh|s=艾克森|p=Ài Kèsēn}}; 13 July 1989), is a former professional footballer who played as a striker. Born in Brazil, he played for the China national team.
Starting out at Vitória, he played mostly as an attacking midfielder and as a winger, but since his final days at Botafogo, he was moved to attack and has played as a striker. Born in Brazil, Elkeson obtained Chinese citizenship in 2019 through naturalization and represents China internationally.<ref>{{cite web|title=Landmark move sees Elkeson named in China PR squad|url=https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/landmark-move-sees-elkeson-named-in-china-pr-squad|access-date=20 August 2019|publisher=The AFC|archive-date=20 August 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190820085915/https://www.the-afc.com/competitions/fifa-world-cup/latest/news/landmark-move-sees-elkeson-named-in-china-pr-squad|url-status=live}}</ref>
==Club career== ===Brazil=== Elkeson first played for Vitória's youth academy before signing with the first team in 2009. During the 2010 season, Elkeson proved himself a breakout success and soon earned himself a move to Botafogo in May 2011.
After two years of being one of Botafogo's star players in the Brasileirão, Guangzhou Evergrande of the Chinese Super League secured his services at the end of the 2012 season.
===Guangzhou Evergrande=== On 24 December 2012, Guangzhou Evergrande officially announced that they had signed Elkeson on a four-year deal for a fee of €5.7 million.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131112181057/http://www.fifa.com/world-match-centre/news/newsid/197/709/5/index.html China champs Guangzhou sign Elkeson]</ref><ref>[http://www.gzevergrandefc.com/show_content.php?id=4494 埃尔克森（ELKESON）正式加盟广州恒大] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121226233417/http://www.gzevergrandefc.com/show_content.php?id=4494 |date=26 December 2012 }} {{in lang|zh}}</ref> He was not initially included in Guangzhou's 30-player squad for the 2013 AFC Champions League due to the limit on foreign players. On 3 March 2013, he made his debut for Guangzhou in the 2013 Chinese FA Super Cup which Guangzhou Evergrande lost to Jiangsu Sainty 2–1. On 8 March 2013, Elkeson scored his first two goals in China in the opening match of the 2013 Chinese Super League against Shanghai Shenxin, which ensured Guangzhou Evergrande's 5–1 victory. He scored thirteen goals in his first seven matches in the league.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/46640_former_botafogo_star_elkeson_happy_with_life_in_china.html |title=Former Botafogo star Elkeson happy with life in China |access-date=12 November 2013 |archive-date=12 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131112203949/http://www.sambafoot.com/en/news/46640_former_botafogo_star_elkeson_happy_with_life_in_china.html |url-status=live }}</ref> In July 2013, Elkeson was named in the squad which was submitted for the next stage of the AFC Champions League, replacing Lucas Barrios, who had decided to return to Europe.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-07-19/19466678902.shtml |title=恒大火速为郑龙补报亚冠资格 埃尔克森替巴里奥斯 |access-date=12 November 2013 |archive-date=27 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190327090743/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-07-19/19466678902.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
He scored twenty-four goals in twenty-eight appearances in the Super League which made him the top goalscorer of the season, eight more than the second-placed Carmelo Valencia. He scored six goals in six matches in the AFC Champions League, including two goals across both legs of the 2013 AFC Champions League Final against FC Seoul as Guangzhou was crowned champion of the competition for the first time.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl-news/acl-all-news/27185-elkeson-sets-sights-111113.html |title=Elkeson sets sights on Club World Cup |access-date=12 November 2013 |archive-date=13 November 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131113062015/http://www.the-afc.com/en/acl-news/acl-all-news/27185-elkeson-sets-sights-111113.html |url-status=live }}</ref> The win in the final was the first time a Chinese club had won the trophy in 23 years.<ref name="AFC move" />
On 1 December 2013, in the first leg of the 2013 Chinese FA Cup final against Guizhou Renhe, he was sent off after striking Yang Hao in the face with his hand.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-12-01/16346912241.shtml |title=埃神又昏了头！愤怒报复染红下场 不是第一次了 |access-date=25 December 2013 |archive-date=6 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131206001914/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2013-12-01/16346912241.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref> On 5 December, he received a ban of 4 matches and was fined ¥20,000 by the Chinese Football Association discipline committee.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://sports.163.com/13/1205/07/9FAKLRVK00051C89.html |title=埃尔克森被追加停赛 |access-date=25 December 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131226032754/http://sports.163.com/13/1205/07/9FAKLRVK00051C89.html |archive-date=26 December 2013 |url-status=dead}}</ref>
Guangzhou Evergrande finally lost to Guizhou Renhe 3–2 on aggregate, failing to defend the FA Cup title. Elkeson played all three matches for Guangzhou Evergrande in the 2013 FIFA Club World Cup. On 14 December 2013, he scored Guangzhou's first goal in the FIFA Club World Cup against African champions Al Ahly in the quarter-finals, helping Guangzhou win the match 2–0.<ref>[https://web.archive.org/web/20131214200238/http://www.fifa.com/clubworldcup/matches/round=259709/match=300260479/report.html Guangzhou Evergrande FC 2–0 Al Ahly SC]</ref>
In March 2015, after a match against Changchun Yatai, he was heavily criticised for annulling teammate Gao Lin's certain bicycle kick goal by attempting to poach the goal for himself by just brushing the ball on the line with his head, which meant ultimately that the goal was (correctly) ruled offside and the team only drew the match 1–1.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://talksport.com/football/video-footballer-shows-how-ruin-team-mates-goal-china-150324140965 |title=Video: How to ruin a team-mate's goal! |date=24 March 2015 |access-date=24 March 2015 |archive-date=26 March 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150326201628/http://talksport.com/football/video-footballer-shows-how-ruin-team-mates-goal-china-150324140965 |url-status=live }}</ref>
Elkeson scored the winner as Guangzhou beat Al-Ahli of the UAE to win a second AFC Champions League in three years on 21 November 2015.<ref name="AFC move" />
===Shanghai SIPG=== On 21 January 2016, Elkeson moved to fellow Super League side Shanghai SIPG with a fee of ¥132 million (€18.5 million).<ref>{{cite web |title=Time de Conca na China anuncia a contratação do brasileiro Elkeson |url=http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/2016/01/time-de-conca-na-china-anuncia-contratacao-do-brasileiro-elkeson.html |website=Globo Esporte |date=21 January 2016 |access-date=21 January 2016 |language=pt |archive-date=24 January 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160124012643/http://globoesporte.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/2016/01/time-de-conca-na-china-anuncia-contratacao-do-brasileiro-elkeson.html |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 4 April 2018, Elkeson scored his side's only goal in their 1–1 draw with Kawasaki Frontale in the group stage of the AFC Champions League.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/12904 |title=Shanghai SIPG FC (CHN) 1–1 Kawasaki Frontale (JPN) |work=AFC |date=4 April 2018 |access-date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=5 August 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180805082956/http://stats.the-afc.com/match_report/12904 |url-status=live }}</ref> The goal was Elkeson's 27th in the competition proper, moving him to fourth all time in the top scoring charts.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-champions-league/958900/5-top-goalscorers-afc-champions-league/ |work=Fox Sports |title=Five all-time leading goalscorers in AFC Champions League |date=23 October 2018 |access-date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=7 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107010552/https://www.foxsportsasia.com/football/asian-football/afc-champions-league/958900/5-top-goalscorers-afc-champions-league/ |url-status=dead }}</ref>
On 18 September 2018, Elkeson scored the winning goal for Shanghai SIPG, as the club recorded its first ever win in the Super League against his former club Guangzhou Evergrande. The win cemented SIPG's position in first place at the top of the league table.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2164824/chinese-super-league-title-race-takes-another-twist-wu-lei-and-elkeson |title=Chinese Super League title race takes another twist as Wu Lei and Elkeson help Shanghai SIPG hold on to beat Guangzhou Evergrande |work=South China Morning Post |date=19 September 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018 |archive-date=7 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107103958/https://www.scmp.com/sport/china/article/2164824/chinese-super-league-title-race-takes-another-twist-wu-lei-and-elkeson |url-status=live }}</ref> On 7 October, Elkeson scored again as SIPG recorded a 5–0 win over bottom-of-the-table Guizhou Hengfeng to extend their lead over his former club at the top of the table to 4 points with just over a month of the season left.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.nasdaq.com/article/soccerwus-double-keeps-sipg-clear-at-summit-20181007-00053 |title=Wu's double keeps SIPG clear at summit |work=Nasdaq |date=7 October 2018 |access-date=6 November 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025815/https://www.nasdaq.com/article/soccerwus-double-keeps-sipg-clear-at-summit-20181007-00053 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 7 November, Elkeson played a part in Shanghai's 2–0 win over Beijing Renhe in the penultimate round of fixtures.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=507952 |title=Shanghai SIPG 2–1 Beijing Renhe |work=ESPN |date=7 November 2018 |access-date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=7 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181107124327/http://www.espn.com/soccer/match?gameId=507952 |url-status=live }}</ref> The win secured Shanghai SIPG's first Chinese Super League title and ended Guangzhou Evergrande's seven-year title reign.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://kwese.espn.com/soccer/chinese-super-league/story/3692644/shanghai-sipg-win-chinese-super-league-to-end-guangzhou-evergrande-dominance |title=Shanghai SIPG win Chinese Super League to end Guangzhou Evergrande dominance |work=ESPNFC |date=7 November 2018 |access-date=7 November 2018 |archive-date=8 November 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181108025757/http://kwese.espn.com/soccer/chinese-super-league/story/3692644/shanghai-sipg-win-chinese-super-league-to-end-guangzhou-evergrande-dominance |url-status=live }}</ref>
===Return to Guangzhou Evergrande=== On 9 July 2019, Elkeson returned to his former club Guangzhou Evergrande.<ref name="golden boot" /> Elkeson reportedly agreed a €10 million (US$11.2 million) annual salary to return, up from €6 million in Shanghai.<ref name="golden boot" /> At the time of his transfer, the two clubs were level on points, and were two points behind leaders Beijing Guoan. Elkeson marked his return to Guangzhou with goals in his first two games, and a hat-trick against local rivals Guangzhou R&F in his third match on 20 July.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1362861/Preview/China-Super-league-2019-Guangzhou-R-F-F-C-Guangzhou-Evergrande |title=Guangzhou R&F F.C. 0 : 5 Guangzhou Evergrande |publisher=Who Scored |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721165009/https://www.whoscored.com/Matches/1362861/Preview/China-Super-league-2019-Guangzhou-R-F-F-C-Guangzhou-Evergrande |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 13 December 2021, Elkeson confirmed his departure from Guangzhou FC, having terminated his contract with the club by mutual consent.<ref>{{Cite web |date=13 December 2021 |title=Elkeson rescinde com Guangzhou FC após nove anos e se despede da China |url=https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/elkeson-rescinde-com-guangzhou-fc-apos-nove-anos-e-se-despede-da-china.ghtml |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=ge |language=pt-BR |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206111354/https://ge.globo.com/futebol/futebol-internacional/noticia/elkeson-rescinde-com-guangzhou-fc-apos-nove-anos-e-se-despede-da-china.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Return to Brazil === On 12 April 2022, Elkeson officially joined Série B side Grêmio, signing a contract until the end of the year and returning to Brazil after ten years abroad.<ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2022 |title=Grêmio anuncia o atacante Elkeson como novo reforço |url=https://www.gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/25159 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Grêmio FBPA |language=pt-BR |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112858/https://www.gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/25159 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=12 April 2022 |title=Grêmio oficializa contratação de Elkeson até o fim do ano |url=https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2022/04/12/gremio-oficializa-contratacao-de-elkeson-ate-o-fim-do-ano.ghtml |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=ge |language=pt-BR |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206111356/https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2022/04/12/gremio-oficializa-contratacao-de-elkeson-ate-o-fim-do-ano.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref> Having scored four goals in 23 matches, he helped ''O Tricolor'' gain automatic promotion back to the Brazilian top tier at the end of the 2022 season.<ref>{{Cite web |date=23 October 2022 |title=Grêmio faz 3 a 0 no Náutico e confirma retorno à Série A do futebol brasileiro |url=https://www.gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/25735 |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=Grêmio FBPA |language=pt-BR |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206112858/https://www.gremio.net/noticias/detalhes/25735 |url-status=live }}</ref> On 9 November, he announced his official departure from the club.<ref>{{Cite web |date=5 November 2022 |title=Elkeson se despede do Grêmio: "Sentimento de gratidão e dever cumprido" |url=https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2022/11/05/elkeson-se-despede-do-gremio-sentimento-de-gratidao-e-dever-cumprido.ghtml |access-date=6 February 2023 |website=ge |language=pt-BR |archive-date=6 February 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230206111357/https://ge.globo.com/rs/futebol/times/gremio/noticia/2022/11/05/elkeson-se-despede-do-gremio-sentimento-de-gratidao-e-dever-cumprido.ghtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
=== Chengdu Rongcheng === On 7 April 2023, Elkeson returned to China and signed with Chinese Super League side Chengdu Rongcheng.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/2023-04-07/doc-imypphui1874273.shtml|title=官宣：现役国脚艾克森正式加盟成都蓉城俱乐部|publisher=Sina Sports|date=7 April 2023|access-date=7 April 2023|language=zh|archive-date=7 April 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230407022004/https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/2023-04-07/doc-imypphui1874273.shtml|url-status=live}}</ref> On 21 April 2023, he scored his first goal for Rongcheng in a 2–1 home win against Cangzhou Mighty Lions.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://m.dongqiudi.com/article/3399521.html|title=成都2–1沧州拿下首胜，艾克森打入回归中超首球，金敃友破门|date=21 April 2023|publisher=Dongqiudi|accessdate=18 October 2023}}</ref>
==International career== thumb|Elkeson during his first training for the national team as a Chinese player In September 2011, Elkeson received his first call up for the Brazil national football team by Mano Menezes for the second leg of the 2011 Superclásico de las Américas against Argentina.<ref>[http://www.cbf.com.br/noticias/selecao-brasileira/2011/9/22/convocacao-para-o-superclassico-(1) Os convocados para o Superclássico] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110924054026/http://www.cbf.com.br/noticias/selecao-brasileira/2011/9/22/convocacao-para-o-superclassico-%281%29 |date=24 September 2011 }} cbf.com.br {{in lang|pt}}</ref> However, he did not make an appearance once.
Elkeson was called up to the Chinese national team in August 2019, following the gaining of Chinese citizenship via naturalisation. Elkeson subsequently became the first player to be called up for China without any Chinese ancestry.<ref>{{cite news |date=18 August 2019 |title=Brazil-born Elkeson included in China squad in landmark move |url=https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/brazil-born-elkeson-included-in-china-squad-in-landmark-move-11819050 |work=CNA |access-date=19 August 2019 |archive-date=14 September 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190914055814/https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/brazil-born-elkeson-included-in-china-squad-in-landmark-move-11819050 |url-status=dead }}</ref>
Following his naturalisation as a Chinese citizen, his name was rendered as '''Ai Kesen''' in Chinese ({{zh|c=艾克森|p=Ài Kèsēn}}).<ref>{{cite web |title=国足公布26人集训名单:归化球员艾克森和李可入选 |url=https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-08-30/doc-iicezueu2288153.shtml |website=news.sina.com.cn |date=30 August 2019 |publisher=中国新闻网 |access-date=31 August 2019 |language=zh |archive-date=31 August 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190831015457/https://news.sina.com.cn/c/2019-08-30/doc-iicezueu2288153.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
On 10 September 2019, Elkeson made his international debut and scored his first 2 goals for China in a 5–0 away win against Maldives in the opening game of the second round of 2022 FIFA World Cup qualification.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://sports.sina.com.cn/china/national/2019-09-11/doc-iicezzrq4967360.shtml|title=世预赛-完美开门红！艾克森双响武磊破门 国足5–0|date=11 September 2019|publisher=Sina Sports|accessdate=18 October 2023}}</ref>
==Career statistics== ===Club=== {| class=wikitable style=text-align:center |+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competition |- !rowspan="2"|Club !rowspan="2"|Season !colspan="3"|League !colspan="2"|National cup{{efn|Includes Copa do Brasil, Chinese FA Cup}} !colspan="2"|State league{{efn|Includes Campeonato Baiano, Campeonato Carioca}} !colspan="2"|Continental !colspan="2"|Other !colspan="2"|Total |- !Division!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="4"|Vitória |2009 |Série A |12||1||colspan=2|—||1||0||1{{efn|name=CS}}||1||colspan="2"|—||14||2 |- |2010 |Série A |34||6||10||1||13||2||2{{efn|name=CS}}||0||4{{efn|Appearances in Copa do Nordeste}}||0||63||9 |- |2011 |Série B |1||0||2||0||18||7||0||0||colspan="2"|—||21||7 |- !colspan="2"|Total !47!!7!!12!!1!!32!!9!!3!!1!!4!!0!!98!!18 |- |rowspan="3"|Botafogo |2011 |Série A |34||8||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||3{{efn|name=CS|Appearances in Copa Sudamericana}}||0||colspan="2"|—||37||8 |- |2012 |Série A |31||11||5||2||16||5||2{{efn|name=CS}}||0||colspan="2"|—||54||18 |- !colspan="2"|Total !65!!19!!5!!2!!16!!5!!5!!0||colspan="2"|—||91!!26 |- |rowspan="4"|Guangzhou Evergrande |2013 |Chinese Super League |28||24||3||1||colspan="2"|—||6{{efn|name=AFC|Appearances in AFC Champions League}}||6||4{{efn|One appearance in Chinese FA Super Cup, three appearances and one goal in FIFA Club World Cup}}||1||41||32 |- |2014 |Chinese Super League |28||28||1||0||colspan=2|—||10{{efn|name=AFC}}||6||colspan=2|—||39||34 |- |2015 |Chinese Super League |16||7||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||11{{efn|name=AFC}}||3||4{{efn|One appearance in Chinese FA Super Cup, three appearances in FIFA Club World Cup}}||0||31||10 |- !colspan="2"|Total !72!!59!!4!!1||colspan="2"|—||27!!15!!8!!1!!111!!76 |- |rowspan="5"|Shanghai SIPG |2016 |Chinese Super League |26||11||1||0||colspan="2"|—||9{{efn|name=AFC}}||4||0||0||36||15 |- |2017 |Chinese Super League |17||11||1||2||colspan=2|—||12{{efn|name=AFC}}||5||0||0||30||18 |- |2018 |Chinese Super League |16||7||2||0||colspan=2|—||8{{efn|name=AFC}}||4||0||0||26||11 |- |2019 |Chinese Super League |15||8||1||0||colspan=2|—||8{{efn|name=AFC}}||2||1{{efn|Appearance in Chinese FA Super Cup}}||0||25||10 |- !colspan="2"|Total !74!!37!!5!!2||colspan="2"|—||37!!15!!1!!0!!117!!54 |- |rowspan="4"|Guangzhou Evergrande |2019 |Chinese Super League |13||10||0||0||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|name=AFC}}||0||0||0||17||10 |- |2020 |Chinese Super League |19||6||0||0||colspan=2|—||4{{efn|name=AFC}}||1||colspan=2|—||23||7 |- |2021 |Chinese Super League |13||11||0||0||colspan=2|—||0{{efn|name=AFC}}||0||colspan=2|—||13||11 |- !colspan="2"|Total !45!!27!!0!!0||colspan="2"|—!!8!!1!!0!!0!!40!!17 |- |Grêmio |2022 |Série B |23||3||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan="2"|—||23||3 |- |rowspan="3"|Chengdu Rongcheng |2023 |Chinese Super League |27||8||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan=2|—||colspan="2"|—||27||8 |- |2024 |Chinese Super League |7||2||1||0||colspan=2|—||0{{efn|name=AFC}}||0||colspan=2|—||8||2 |- !colspan="2"|Total !34!!10!!1!!0!!0!!0!!0!!0||colspan="2"|—||35!!10 |- !colspan="3"|Career total !358||161||27||6||48||14||80||32||13||1||524||214 |}
{{notelist}}
===International=== {| class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" |+ Appearances and goals by national team and year !National team!!Year!!Apps!!Goals |- |rowspan="5"|China |- |2019||4||3 |- |2021||9||1 |- |2023||5||0 |- |2024||1||0 |- !colspan="2"|Total!!19!!4 |}
:''Scores and results list China's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Elkeson goal.'' {| class="wikitable sortable plainrowheaders" |+ International goals by date, venue, cap, opponent, score, result and competition |- !scope=col|No. !scope=col data-sort-type=date|Date !scope=col|Venue !scope=col|Cap !scope=col|Opponent !scope=col|Score !scope=col|Result !scope=col|Competition |- |align=center |1 |rowspan=2|10 September 2019|| rowspan=2|National Football Stadium, Malé, Maldives || rowspan=2; align=center|1|| rowspan=2|{{fb|MDV}} || align=center|4–0|| rowspan="2" align="center" |5–0|| rowspan=4|2022 FIFA World Cup qualification |- |align=center |2 |align=center|5–0 |- |align=center |3 |10 October 2019|| Tianhe Stadium, Guangzhou, Guangdong, China || align=center|2|| rowspan=2|{{fb|GUM}} || align=center|7–0|| rowspan=2; align="center" |7–0 |- |align=center |4 |30 May 2021|| Suzhou Olympic Sports Centre, Suzhou, Jiangsu, China || align=center|5|| align=center|5–0 |- |}
==Honours== '''Vitória''' * Campeonato Baiano: 2009, 2010 * Copa do Nordeste: 2010
'''Botafogo''' * Taça Rio: 2012
'''Guangzhou Evergrande''' * Chinese Super League: 2013, 2014, 2015,<ref name="AFC move">{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/21/chinese-champions-guangzhou-sell-top-scorer-rivals-national-glory |title=Chinese champions Guangzhou sell top scorer to rivals 'for national glory' |work=The Guardian |date=21 January 2016 |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721165502/https://www.theguardian.com/football/2016/jan/21/chinese-champions-guangzhou-sell-top-scorer-rivals-national-glory |url-status=live }}</ref> 2019 * AFC Champions League: 2013,<ref name="AFC move" /> 2015<ref name="golden boot" />
'''Shanghai SIPG''' * Chinese Super League: 2018<ref name="golden boot" /> * Chinese FA Super Cup: 2019<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2019-02-23/doc-ihrfqzka8555460.shtml |title=新王诞生!上港队史首夺超级杯 历史第9支冠军队伍 |work=Sina Sports |date=23 February 2019 |access-date=25 February 2019 |language=zh |archive-date=25 February 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190225103235/http://sports.sina.com.cn/china/j/2019-02-23/doc-ihrfqzka8555460.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
'''Grêmio''' *Recopa Gaúcha: 2022
'''Brazil''' * Superclásico de las Américas : 2011
'''Individual''' * AFC Champions League Dream Team: 2013,<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559821994087696&set=a.228540597215839.49977.152840578119175&type=1 |title=AFC Champions League 2013 Dream Team |publisher=AFC Champions League (Official) Facebook Page |date=15 November 2013 |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=23 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210523142554/https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=559821994087696&set=a.228540597215839.49977.152840578119175&type=1 |url-status=live }}</ref> 2014<ref>{{cite news |author=John Greco |url=http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/four-wanderers-in-acl-dream-team/17khescdjpnd916s2bx55kqwkl |title=Four Wanderers in ACL Dream Team |publisher=Football Federation Australia |date=11 November 2014 |access-date=12 June 2016 |archive-date=8 August 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160808073751/http://www.footballaustralia.com.au/article/four-wanderers-in-acl-dream-team/17khescdjpnd916s2bx55kqwkl |url-status=live }}</ref> * Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year: 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/china-land/ |title=Player of the year » China |publisher=World Football |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=30 March 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190330125241/https://www.worldfootball.net/footballer_of_the_year/china-land/ |url-status=dead }}</ref> * Chinese Super League Golden Boot: 2013, 2014<ref name="golden boot">{{cite web |url=https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3017229/elkeson-joins-guangzhou-evergrande-shanghai-sipg-ahead |title=Elkeson joining Guangzhou Evergrande from Shanghai SIPG ahead of naturalisation to play for China |date=4 July 2019 |publisher=SCMP |access-date=21 July 2019 |archive-date=20 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190720111440/https://www.scmp.com/sport/football/article/3017229/elkeson-joins-guangzhou-evergrande-shanghai-sipg-ahead |url-status=live }}</ref> * Chinese Super League Team of the Year: 2013, 2014<ref>{{cite web |url=http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2014-11-06/21257399801.shtml |title=Team of the Year 2014 |work=sports.sohu.com |access-date=16 May 2016 |archive-date=21 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190721164701/http://sports.sina.com.cn/j/2014-11-06/21257399801.shtml |url-status=live }}</ref>
== See also == *List of Chinese naturalized footballers
==References== {{reflist|2}}
==External links== {{commons category}} * {{FIFA}} * {{Soccerway}} * [http://esporte.ig.com.br/futebol/elkeson/l1237865230113.html Elkeson] on IG Esporte {{in lang|pt}}
{{Navboxes | title = Awards | bg = gold | list1 = {{Chinese Football Association Footballer of the Year}} {{Chinese Football Association Golden Boot awardee}} {{2013 Chinese Super League Team of the Year}} {{2014 Chinese Super League Team of the Year}} }} {{Authority control}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Elkeson}} Category:1989 births Category:Living people Category:Footballers from Maranhão Category:Chinese men's footballers Category:China men's international footballers Category:21st-century Chinese sportsmen Category:Brazilian men's footballers Category:Brazilian expatriate men's footballers Category:Esporte Clube Vitória players Category:Botafogo FR players Category:Grêmio FBPA players Category:Guangzhou F.C. players Category:Shanghai Port F.C. players Category:Chengdu Rongcheng F.C. players Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série A players Category:Campeonato Brasileiro Série B players Category:Chinese Super League players Category:Brazilian emigrants to China Category:Men's association football forwards Category:Naturalized citizens of China Category:Naturalised association football players Category:AFC Champions League Elite–winning players Category:21st-century Brazilian sportsmen Category:Chinese people of Brazilian descent