Danilo (footballer, born 2001)
A dynamic Brazilian midfielder whose commanding presence for Botafogo earned him a call-up to the storied national team.
Born 2001 (age 25)·Brazilian footballer·Birthday: April 29·Generation Z
Biography
Danilo, full name Danilo dos Santos de Oliveira, emerged from Brazil's fertile football landscape as a modern, box-to-box midfielder. His professional journey gained significant traction at Palmeiras, where his development in the youth academy laid the groundwork for his robust playing style. A move to Botafogo became a defining chapter, where his performances in the heart of midfield—combining defensive steel with an ability to drive play forward—made him a fan favorite and a lynchpin for the team. His consistent excellence in Brazil's top flight did not go unnoticed; it culminated in a coveted summons to the Brazilian national team, fulfilling a dream and placing him among the selectors for one of football's most talent-rich squads. Danilo's path underscores the enduring pipeline of midfield talent in Brazil, where technical skill is matched by physical intensity.
Generation Z
1997–2012
Born into smartphones, social media, and school shootings. The most diverse generation in history. Pragmatic about money, fluid about identity, anxious about the climate. They do not remember a world before the internet.
Danilo was born in 2001, placing them squarely in the Generation Z. The events that shaped this generation — social media, climate anxiety, and a pandemic — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Danilo Was Born
The biggest hits of 2001
#1 Movie
Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone
Best Picture
A Beautiful Mind
#1 TV Show
Survivor
Danilo's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
2001Born
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2006Started school
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
2014Became a teenager
Russia annexes Crimea; Ebola outbreak in West Africa
Gas: $3.37/galHome: $160,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Happy" — Pharrell WilliamsBest Picture: Birdman
2017Could drive
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2019Could vote
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2022Turned 21
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 25 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Earned a selection to the Brazilian national team, representing his country at the senior international level.
- Established himself as a key starting midfielder for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Botafogo.
- Developed through the youth academy of SE Palmeiras, a major Brazilian club.
Did You Know?
He is commonly known simply as Danilo, but his full name includes 'dos Santos de Oliveira'.
He has played as both a defensive and central midfielder during his career.
His call-up to the Brazilian national team came after strong domestic performances in the Brazilian league.
“I am here to recover the ball and give it to our artists.”
