Jorginho (footballer, born December 1991)
A Brazilian-born metronome who orchestrated Italy's Euro 2020 triumph and Chelsea's Champions League win with his peerless passing.
Born 1991 (age 35)·Brazilian-Italian footballer·Birthday: December 20·Millennials
Biography
Jorginho's story is one of patient precision and a profound sense of belonging. Born in Imbituba, Brazil, he moved to Italy as a teenager, his footballing education beginning not on the sun-drenched pitches of home but in the tactical crucibles of Verona's youth system. His game became an exercise in control, a masterclass in dictating tempo from deep midfield with a trademark hop-skip penalty technique. While snubbed by Brazil, he embraced Italy, becoming the vital heartbeat of the Azzurri's midfield. His crowning years came in a stunning double in 2021, where his unflappable presence guided Chelsea to Champions League glory and then Italy to the European Championship, earning him a third-place finish in the Ballon d'Or—a rare accolade for a player of his position. His later career saw a return to Brazil with Flamengo, completing a full-circle journey for the deep-lying playmaker who defined an era for club and country.
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.
Jorginho was born in 1991, 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 Jorginho Was Born
The biggest hits of 1991
#1 Movie
Terminator 2: Judgment Day
Best Picture
The Silence of the Lambs
#1 TV Show
Cheers
Jorginho's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1991Born
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1996Started school
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2004Became a teenager
Indian Ocean tsunami kills over 230,000
Gas: $1.88/galHome: $157,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Yeah!" — UsherBest Picture: Million Dollar Baby
2007Could drive
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2009Could vote
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2012Turned 21
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2021Turned 30
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 35 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won the UEFA European Championship with Italy in 2020, starting every match and being named in the Team of the Tournament.
- Lifted the UEFA Champions League trophy with Chelsea in 2021, serving as a pivotal midfield controller.
- Finished third in the 2021 Ballon d'Or voting, the highest placement for a midfielder in over a decade.
- Won the UEFA Europa League with Chelsea in 2019 and later with his Italian club Napoli in 2014.
Did You Know?
He holds dual citizenship and chose to represent Italy internationally despite being born in Brazil.
His mother was a professional volleyball player in Brazil.
He is known for his unique penalty-taking style, a stuttered run-up often called a 'hop skip'.
He won the UEFA Men's Player of the Year award for the 2020-2021 season.
“I'm not the fastest, I'm not the strongest, but I'm there. I'm always there.”
