Chen Anno

Biodata

Feature	Details
Name	Chen Anno (陈安诺)
Alias(es)	“Little Kaka”; “Super Anno”; “King”; “Alien” 2 50 145 150 549
Gender	Male
Born	June 4, 1996, Brazil 2
Nationality	Brazilian; of Chinese descent through his father 2 50
Height / Weight	179 cm; 78 kg after professional training and dietary development 149
Affiliation	São Paulo FC; Borussia Dortmund; Atlético Madrid; Liverpool FC; Brazil national team 4 38 270 436 560
Occupation/Role	Professional footballer; forward, attacking midfielder, Brazil national-team captain, and Liverpool captain 71 453 549 684
Status	Active 759
First Appearance	Chapter 2

Background / History

Chen Anno was born in Brazil to Chen Fuqing, a Chinese man who had moved there for work in 1993, and his wife. Influenced by his father’s love of football and Brazil’s local football culture, Anno became interested in the sport at age three and entered São Paulo FC’s youth system at seven. 2

His parents later died in a car accident. Before his death, Chen Fuqing entrusted Anno to his younger brother, Chen Shouqing, in China; he also asked his son to one day represent China. 2

While in China, Anno was publicly accused of violently attacking a National Youth Team leader, expelled from the squad, stripped of his registration, and blacklisted by clubs. Chen Xiaolong subsequently released a recording that revealed the accusations had been fabricated, sparking online calls to clear Anno’s name. 2 3

Anno returned to Brazil and rejoined São Paulo FC, where former youth coach Max Vizoli supported his return to professional football. His first-team reappearance at Morumbi Stadium was greeted by supporters who still remembered him as São Paulo’s former golden boy. 4 11

Years later, Anno returned to Morumbi Stadium with the Brazil national team for an international fixture. His exceptional popularity in São Paulo helped sell out more than 70,000 tickets for an otherwise low-stakes World Cup qualifier. 714 Brazil defeated Ecuador 4–0 in that match, with Anno and Neymar each scoring twice. During the stay, Anno visited his parents’ graves and reunited with Vizoli. 715

Career

Team / Stage	Key developments
São Paulo FC youth system	Joined at age seven; was regarded alongside Neymar as one of the “São Paulo State Twin Stars” in 2011. 2
São Paulo FC first team	Returned after his time in China, earned recognition from Lucio, and established himself through goals, assists, defensive work, and free-kick scoring. He made his first-team return against Vasco da Gama, first assisting after coming on and then scoring a debut hat-trick that broke Kaká’s club record for the fastest hat-trick in a debut match. 4 11 12 22
Borussia Dortmund	Signed from São Paulo for €30 million on a five-year contract; retained 60% of his image rights and received Dortmund’s No. 10 shirt. Klopp promised him a starting role and development as a future core player. He became the youngest Bundesliga goalscorer and the first player to score four goals on his league debut. 38 50
Atlético Madrid	Joined Atlético declaring that he had come to win the championship; quickly integrated under Diego Simeone. He later won the La Liga Golden Boot after scoring 58 league goals. 270 273 415
Liverpool FC	Made his Premier League debut in Liverpool’s opening match against Arsenal and later broke the Premier League single-season scoring record with 36 goals in 23 matches. Following Liverpool’s quadruple-winning season, Klopp appointed him club captain, succeeding Jordan Henderson. He continued to lead the side in the following campaign, including a decisive individual display against Sevilla. 436 549 684 730
Brazil national team	Received his first senior call-up under Luiz Felipe Scolari, made his debut against South Korea, wore Brazil’s No. 10 jersey, and later became a World Cup champion. Under Tite, he became Brazil’s second-youngest captain after Pelé and helped the side qualify for the Russia World Cup with four matches to spare. 81 91 322 453 560 608

Records and Honours

Achievement	Details
Audi Cup Golden Boot and Best Player	Scored the winning goal against Manchester City in the final as São Paulo won 1–0. 37
São Paulo debut hat-trick record	Broke Kaká’s record for the fastest hat-trick in a debut match for São Paulo’s first team. 12
Bundesliga debut record	Became the youngest Bundesliga goalscorer and the first player in league history to score four goals on his debut. 50
Fastest Bundesliga goal	Scored 5.28 seconds after kickoff, breaking the previous 11-second record. 59
Champions League group-stage output	Recorded six goals and two assists in his first three group matches for Borussia Dortmund. 104
Borussia Dortmund season output	Finished a season with 45 league goals, 15 Champions League goals, and two DFB-Pokal goals. 202 204
La Liga Golden Boot	Scored 58 league goals, finishing ahead of Cristiano Ronaldo’s 56 and Lionel Messi’s 51. 415
Premier League scoring record	Reached 36 league goals in 23 matches, surpassing the previous single-season record. 549
World Cup and Ballon d'Or winner	Became a World Cup champion with Brazil and later won the Ballon d'Or. 560
Two Ballon d'Or awards	Had won two Ballon d'Or trophies by the age of twenty years and six months. 517
Champions League final hat-trick	Scored a hat-trick against Real Madrid in the Champions League final, including a 40-meter extra-time strike that brought Liverpool level at 4–4. 668
Liverpool quadruple	Was a central figure in Liverpool’s quadruple-winning season before being named captain for the following campaign. 683 684
UEFA Best Forward	Received UEFA’s Best Forward award at the Champions League group-stage draw ceremony. 704

Appearance

Anno is tall and upright, with refined, conventionally handsome features that frequently draw attention from fans, media, and commercial staff. His appearance earned him the early nickname “Little Kaka.” 2 54 321

• Often described as having a clean-cut, youthful presence despite his superstar status. 321
• Borussia Dortmund supporters and media compared his style and elegance on the pitch to Kaká. 54
• Usually presents himself simply in training wear off the pitch, though he can adopt a more playful streetwear style on special occasions. 147 321
• His professional training and diet developed his physique to 179 cm and 78 kg without diminishing his pace or technical ability. 149

Personality

Anno is disciplined, reserved, and highly self-reliant. His exclusion in China and the loss of his parents hardened him rather than breaking him; Vizoli noted that the experience made him mature and steady at an unusually young age. 11

He consistently prioritizes development over comfort or immediate profit. He trained alone during his years in China, rejected nightlife when it interfered with rest and training, demanded meaningful playing time from European clubs, and later resisted lucrative transfer interest in favor of long-term career considerations. 19 27 38 142

Although generally humble and polite with teammates, Anno can be openly defiant when challenged. At his Atlético Madrid presentation, he answered criticism of his confidence by insisting that his path had been smooth because he was strong enough to make it so. 40 41 269 During Brazil’s match against Zambia, he confronted a pitch-side camera in Chinese after scoring a hat-trick, publicly demanding to know whether he was qualified to play; the outburst reflected his lingering resentment over his treatment in China. 97

He is deeply protective of the people close to him, particularly his family and partners. He shields Rachel from loud surprises, plans Chen Xiaolong’s future in detail, and credits his second uncle’s family with helping fill the void left by his parents’ deaths. 153 322 551

His growing sense of responsibility is reflected in his acceptance of Liverpool’s captaincy. He welcomes competitive pressure and is regarded by teammates and new signings as a natural leader within the squad. 684

Abilities & Skills

Dribbling and Ball Control

Anno is an elite close-control dribbler whose changes of direction, stepovers, nutmegs, and acceleration regularly overwhelm multiple defenders.

• Uses quick body feints and outside-foot touches to create separation in tight spaces. 59 472
• Frequently dribbles past goalkeepers rather than shooting immediately when one-on-one. 30 150
• Beat three defenders and the goalkeeper in a Champions League goal for Atlético Madrid. 378
• Scored a Maradona-like solo goal after beating five defenders and the goalkeeper against Borussia Mönchengladbach. 83
• His technical movement is difficult to predict because, by his own explanation, his feints can become real actions and his real actions can become feints. 472

Finishing and Set Pieces

Anno is a prolific scorer capable of long-range strikes, volleys, free kicks, counterattacking finishes, and rapid shots under pressure.

• Scored a curling free kick praised for its power, angle, and precision against Corinthians. 22
• Developed his free-kick technique through training with São Paulo captain Rogério Ceni. 14
• Is effectively two-footed and has scored free kicks with both his left and right foot. 26 36 76
• Recorded a 148 km/h strike while setting the Bundesliga’s fastest-goal record. 59
• Flicked the ball over Arturo Vidal and volleyed past Manuel Neuer in less than two seconds. 560
• Scored four goals on his Borussia Dortmund debut. 50
• Scored a 40-meter goal in extra time during a Champions League final against Real Madrid. 668
• Struck a 35-meter volley into the top corner against Chelsea. 690

Aerial and Acrobatic Finishing

Anno combines timing, athleticism, and body control to score through headers and acrobatic attempts as well as with his feet.

• Scored a diving header against Borussia Mönchengladbach. 84
• Scored with a header from Neymar’s cross during his first match as Brazil captain. 455
• Produced a bicycle-kick goal against Chile in the World Cup knockout rounds, a strike subsequently recognized as one of the tournament’s classic images. 230 232

Passing and Playmaking

Though primarily a scorer, Anno is also a creative passer with strong vision and timing.

• Provided a goal and assist against Arsenal in the Champions League, helping Dortmund win 3–1. 104
• His assist against Croatia was praised for its imagination, vision, technique, and timing. 212
• Can operate as an attacking midfielder and was given unlimited shooting freedom by Klopp in that role. 71
• Used his back to cushion an imaginative assist into Aubameyang’s path against Hertha BSC. 149
• Functioned as the attacking connector Brazil had lacked, allowing Neymar and Hulk greater freedom in the forward line. 93

Defensive Contribution

Anno actively tracks back, wins possession, and begins counters rather than remaining solely in advanced areas.

• Intercepted a Corinthians pass before initiating São Paulo’s decisive counterattack. 22
• Dropped into his own half to support São Paulo’s defense and delivered accurate long passes during transitions. 22
• Improved his defensive awareness while at São Paulo, helping the team protect leads. 27
• Was trusted with substantial defensive and transitional responsibility even when operating as Brazil’s false nine. 235

Athleticism and Reactions

His football ability is supported by exceptional explosiveness, flexibility, reactions, and conditioning.

• Coaches praised his coordination, touch, and explosiveness as qualities of a player “born for football.” 12
• Practiced Five Elements Boxing from childhood, which improved his reactions, precision, flexibility, and ability to evade malicious fouls. 135
• Maintains an intense fitness routine, including early-morning core training even after recovering from injury. 375
• His acceleration allows him to break free even after defenders attempt to restrain him physically. 96
• Goalkeepers have found him difficult to prepare for because he displays no consistent finishing pattern and can score with virtually any part of his body. 756

Leadership

Anno develops from a prodigious young talent into an on-field leader capable of influencing teammates during decisive moments.

• Earned Dortmund teammates’ public “King” tribute after leading them through major performances. 145
• Delivered a halftime speech that inspired Dortmund’s comeback victory over Bayern Munich. 146
• Comforted and refocused Marian Sarr after the younger defender’s mistake, prompting senior Dortmund players to discuss him as a future captain. 149
• Simeone came to value not only Anno’s footballing ability but also his competitive mentality. 269
• Became Brazil’s second-youngest national-team captain after Pelé. 453
• Was appointed Liverpool captain by Klopp after the club’s quadruple-winning season. 684

Relationships

• Chen Fuqing — Father; introduced Anno to football, supported his childhood dream, and asked him to represent China before his death. 2 309
• Chen Shouqing — Second uncle and guardian after Anno’s parents died; remains a major source of family support. 2 39
• Zhang Mei — Second aunt; treats Anno with strong maternal affection. 322 536
• Chen Xiaolong — Younger relative whom Anno treats as a brother; released evidence to clear Anno’s name and is later guided by Anno toward sports management. 3 322
• Max Vizoli — First mentor and São Paulo youth coach; remained confident in Anno through his disappearance and return. 2 11
• Ramalho — São Paulo first-team coach who integrated Anno into senior football and trusted him in decisive matches. 6 21 22
• Lúcio — São Paulo teammate, Brazil veteran, and assigned first-team mentor who helped introduce Anno to the physical and tactical realities of professional football. 4 6 7
• Rogério Ceni — São Paulo captain who entrusted Anno with important free kicks and personally helped refine his set-piece technique. 14 21 22
• Neymar — Childhood contemporary, close friend, and fellow member of the “São Paulo State Twin Stars”; they remain supportive despite their different lifestyles and form a prolific partnership for Brazil. 2 27 321 455 715
• Ronaldinho — One of Anno’s childhood idols; they first faced each other in Brazil, exchanged shirts after the match, and maintained mutual respect. 15 16
• Wagner Ribery — Agent and trusted adviser; supports Anno’s career decisions, transfer negotiations, endorsements, and daily settlement abroad. 18 38 310
• Jürgen Klopp — Borussia Dortmund coach who promised Anno a starting place and future core role; continues to believe he can reach the top of world football and later appoints him Liverpool captain. 38 153 684
• Aloisio — Former São Paulo teammate and close friend; their farewell reflects a brotherly bond. 39
• Pierre-Emerick Aubameyang — Dortmund teammate and attacking partner; initially skeptical but becomes admiring and close to Anno. 41 104 125
• Marco Reus — Dortmund teammate and close attacking partner who quickly recognized Anno’s ability and encouraged his integration into the squad. 41 83 129
• Luiz Felipe Scolari — Brazil coach who handed Anno his first senior call-up and saw him as a solution to Brazil’s midfield imbalance. 81 93
• Tite — Brazil coach who made Anno national-team captain and encouraged a freer, more expressive attacking system around him and Neymar. 453 455
• Li Batian — Commentator and self-proclaimed number-one fan who later befriended Anno at the Champions League final. 22 209
• Rachel Cook — Former girlfriend; the relationship ended amicably because of distance and incompatible lifestyles. 133 204
• Nikola Kavanis — Romantic partner, also rendered as “Nicola” or “Nicolas”; their relationship began after their Champions League final date and deepened to the point that her father accepted Anno as family. 209 549 583 683

Off-Pitch Activities

• Funded the Wanda Annuo Football Academy in his father’s hometown, supporting youth football and carrying forward Chen Fuqing’s dream for Chinese football. 383
• Bought a house for Chen Shouqing’s family near Chen Xiaolong’s school and arranged for Xiaolong to study sports management abroad before joining his business team. 322
• Later purchased a luxury villa for Chen Shouqing’s family in their local city center. 680
• Filmed Huawei Mate 8 advertisements with Hu Ge and Liu Yifei, approaching the multi-day shoot with the same seriousness he applies to football. 321 322
• Co-launched Nike’s AN10 sub-brand, which generated more than €300 million in global sales during its first month. 309
• Signed a lifetime Nike deal, renewed his Porsche partnership, and participated in the Anois hotel project. 583
• Finalized endorsement agreements with Brahma beer and Itaú, Brazil’s largest bank; his Itaú agreement included support for Brazilian youth academies. 675
• Secured major commercial agreements with EA Sports’ FIFA franchise and Gatorade, reflecting his status as one of football’s leading commercial figures. 672

Notable Quotes

“I didn't come here to go through the motions. I came here for only one reason! The championship!” 270

“Our fake moves contain real ones, and our real moves contain fakes.” 472

“It's been smooth because I'm strong enough!” 269

“Our land has never lacked talented footballers, but it has lacked the soil needed to nurture their growth.” 383