Alex Teixeira
A Brazilian forward whose explosive scoring in Ukraine made him a global transfer target, embodying the modern journeyman footballer.
Born 1990 (age 36)·Brazilian footballer·Birthday: January 6·Millennials
Biography
Born in Rio de Janeiro, Alex Teixeira's football journey began in the famed academy of Vasco da Gama. His technical flair and eye for goal quickly marked him as a prospect, but it was his move to Ukraine's Shakhtar Donetsk in 2010 that defined his career. There, under the guidance of manager Mircea Lucescu, he evolved into a relentless attacking force, terrorizing defenses in the Ukrainian league and the Champions League. His peak season in 2015-16, where he scored 26 goals before the winter break, triggered a massive, publicized bid from Liverpool, though he ultimately signed for Jiangsu Suning in China, becoming a symbol of the Chinese Super League's financial pull. Later moves to Besiktas and Panserraikos illustrated the winding path of a talent whose prime years were spent away from Europe's most visible stages, yet whose goal-scoring prowess in Eastern Europe remains unforgettable.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Alex was born in 1990, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Alex Was Born
The biggest hits of 1990
#1 Movie
Home Alone
Best Picture
Dances with Wolves
#1 TV Show
Roseanne
Alex's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1990Born
Hubble Space Telescope launched; Germany reunifies
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.80/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Hold On" — Wilson PhillipsBest Picture: Dances with Wolves
1995Started school
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2003Became a teenager
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2006Could drive
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2008Could vote
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2011Turned 21
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2020Turned 30
COVID-19 pandemic shuts down the world
Gas: $2.17/galHome: $248,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Blinding Lights" — The WeekndBest Picture: Nomadland
2026Age 36 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won six Ukrainian Premier League titles and four Ukrainian Cups during his tenure with Shakhtar Donetsk.
- Scored 89 goals in 222 appearances for Shakhtar Donetsk, becoming one of the club's most prolific foreign scorers.
- Named the Ukrainian Premier League's Footballer of the Year in 2015 after a standout season.
- Helped Shakhtar Donetsk reach the UEFA Champions League round of 16 on multiple occasions.
Did You Know?
He was given the nickname "Texa" by Shakhtar Donetsk fans.
In January 2016, he was the subject of a £32 million transfer bid from Liverpool, which Shakhtar rejected.
He made his senior debut for Vasco da Gama at the age of 18.
He holds a Portuguese passport, which facilitated his move to European football.
“In Donetsk, we learned to play through any condition.”
