Renanzinho (footballer, born 1997)
Renan Martins Pereira, known as Renanzinho or Renan, was a Brazilian footballer born on 19 September 1997 in Ariquemes, Brazil. He played as a defensive midfielder and was 1.73 meters tall. He came through the youth system at Laranja Mecânica (2011–2015) before joining Avaí.
In his senior career with Avaí (2015–2017), he appeared in 21 league games and scored 1 goal. He made his first-team debut on 4 March 2015 in a Campeonato Catarinense match, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–2 defeat to Internacional de Lages. He was promoted to Avaí’s main squad and earned praise from manager Gilson Kleina. Renan’s Série A debut came on 11 May 2015 in a 1–1 home draw with Santos, and he scored his first professional goal on 5 July 2015 in a 2–2 home draw with Sport Recife.
In July 2015 he tested positive for the banned substance octopamine and received a one-month suspension. In 2016 he was diagnosed with a brain tumor and began treatment, with Avaí keeping his contract until 2018. On 21 December 2017, Avaí announced that Renan had died in the morning due to complications from the brain tumor.
His father, Edson Pereira, was a footballer for Vilhena, and his brother Luanzinho is also a footballer and a midfielder for the same club.
This page was last edited on 3 February 2026, at 17:00 (CET).