Fabinho (footballer, born 1993)

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Fabinho is the Brazilian footballer Fábio Henrique Tavares, born on 23 October 1993 in Campinas, Brazil. He is 1.88 meters tall and mainly plays as a defensive midfielder. He can also operate as a right-back or centre-back. He currently plays for Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia and represents the Brazil national team.

Career in brief
- Fabinho began with Fluminense in Brazil before moving to Rio Ave in Portugal in 2012.
- While in Portugal, he spent time on loan in Spain with Real Madrid Castilla and even made one first-team appearance for Real Madrid.
- He moved to Monaco, initially on loan (2013–2015) before joining them permanently (2015–2018). He helped Monaco win Ligue 1 in the 2016–17 season.
- In 2018, he joined Liverpool for about £39 million. In his first season, Liverpool won the UEFA Champions League. He later helped the team win the Premier League (2020), the FIFA Club World Cup (2019), the UEFA Super Cup (2019), the FA Cup (2022) and the EFL Cup (2022).
- In July 2023, Fabinho joined Al-Ittihad in Saudi Arabia for around £40 million. He made his debut for the club in August 2023.

International career
Fabinho has played for Brazil since 2015. He was part of Brazil’s squads for the Copa América in 2015, 2016 and 2021, finishing as runners-up in 2021. He also represented Brazil at the 2022 FIFA World Cup.

Style and impact
- Fabinho is widely regarded as one of the world’s best defensive midfielders. He wins the ball, recovers quickly, and passes accurately to start attacks.
- He is known for his versatility and has even filled in as a centre-back when needed. His calm, blocking style earned him nicknames like “The Lighthouse” and “The Hoover” from teammates and coaches.
- Jurgen Klopp has described him as a player who gives Liverpool the freedom to attack by handling the dirty work in midfield.

Personal life
Fabinho married Rebeca Tavares in 2015. They have a son, Israel, born in January 2023. His father, João Roberto, died in 2021. He is known for his faith and for staying close with Brazilian teammates when abroad.

Honours (highlights)
- With Liverpool: UEFA Champions League (2018–19), UEFA Super Cup (2019), FIFA Club World Cup (2019), Premier League (2019–20), FA Cup (2021–22), EFL Cup (2021–22)
- With Monaco: Ligue 1 (2016–17)
- Individual: Listed among The Guardian’s best 100 players in multiple years; Ballon d’Or top 15 in 2022

Fabinho is respected for his defensive discipline, leadership on the field, and ability to read the game, making him a trusted backbone for club and country.