Article by Cezar Titor – Published Monday, April 27, 2026, 9:59 p.m. / Updated Monday, April 27, 2026, 10:05 p.m.
Juninho Pernambucano, the legendary Brazilian footballer, master of free kicks, a procedure that established him, reached the age of 51, went through a significant transformation, both personal and visual, after retiring from professional football. The former Lyon star retired from public life and today few would recognize him on the street.
He resigned in 2021 as an official of the Hexagon club and disappeared from the limelight. As he himself admitted, the reality of running a club did not meet his expectations. “Lyon has lost its identity. I don't recognize that club anymore. We were like a family, now it's different,” he said in an interview.
PHOTO. What Juninho looks like now, at 51 years old
The 51-year-old Brazilian started his football career at Sport Club Recife, then played at Vasco da Gama, from where he transferred to Lyon in 2001. From that moment, his ascent began.
He spent eight years at the “Stade de Gerland” and won seven French championship titlesin the heyday of “Les Gones”. After leaving Lyon, he played for the Qatari club Al-Gharafa, then returned to Vasco da Gama, twice, being the place where he definitively ended his career in 2014. Between the periods spent in his native country, he also wore the jersey of the NY Red Bulls.
He has 40 appearances for the Selecao, scoring six goals. Throughout his career, he won no less than 25 trophies, which makes him one of the most titled players of his generation.
Juninho Pernambucano will forever be remembered by fans as one of the best free kick takers in football history. By 2012, he had scored an incredible 75 goals from these set pieces, becoming a record holder. Of the 100 goals scored for Lyon, 44 were from free kicks.
Today he devotes himself mainly to family life, although it is not entirely clear what exactly. His latest post on Instagram, quite mysterious, can be perceived as a manifesto message.
I'm somewhere out there without feeling the need to belong to any group. I hate gossip and gossipers. Seeing what's between the lines, such as manipulation, manipulators, passive-aggression, and human “shadows,” is difficult, yet liberating. Friends can be counted on the fingers of one hand, and it doesn't even have to be that way. I love my own company and I'm not afraid of my “dark side”, on the contrary.
I keep doing what I've always done well, I take care of people, even if they don't know it. I love to create and help find solutions to complex problemsbut as far as the social or “human” hierarchy goes, don't count me out. I only respect the hierarchy that follows from the position.
For those curious, maybe I'll be working in the kitchen alone or somewhere else, I'll let you know. And if anyone comes to me just to spread bullshit, screw them. The number of my followers does not interest me, the most important thing for me is the humanity of each of us.
And stop supporting those who constantly compare people and situations. This is a trait of the envious. Rather learn from those who are better. Analyze, develop and don't compare yourself, because there will always be someone better in any area of life.
– Juninho Pernambucano, in the latest post on social networks
