The Sport Club Internacional, affectionately known as Inter, is one of the biggest soccer clubs in Brazil. Founded in 1909, the club from Porto Alegre, Rio Grande do Sul, has a rich history full of achievements and legendary players.
Among the many stars who have worn the Internacional shirt, the defenders occupy a special place, protecting the defense and contributing to the club’s historic triumphs. With them in mind, we’ve decided to highlight these players and bring you the names of the 20 best defenders in Internacional’s history!
Here you’ll find out who these players are, their life stories, titles won, curiosities and more. Here’s a complete list of the 20 best defenders in the history of the Internacional!
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The 20 best defenders in Internacional’s history: complete list
- Figueroa
- Índio
- Pablo Guiñazú
- Bolívar
- Fabiano Eller
- Gamarra
- Lúcio
- Moledo
- Nena
- Fábio Luciano
- Edson
- Sorondo
- Aloísio
- Gonçalves
- Larry
- Mauro Galvão
- Brenner
- Ronaldo Alves
- Fábio Alemão
- Ícaro
The 20 best defenders in Internacional’s history: find out more about them
1. Figueroa
- Titles: Brazilian Championship (1975, 1976), Gaucho Championship (1974, 1975, 1976)
- Team: Internacional, Santiago Wanderers, Peñarol
- Fun facts: Known as “El Gran Capitán”, he was voted the best player in the 1975 Campeonato Brasileiro.
- Life story: Born in Chile, Figueroa quickly made a name for himself in South American soccer and became an icon at Internacional, where he is remembered as one of the club’s greatest idols.
2: Indio
- Titles: Copa Libertadores (2006, 2010), Club World Cup (2006), Recopa Sudamericana (2007, 2011), Campeonato Brasileiro (2005)
- Team: Internacional, Palmeiras, Flamengo
- Fun facts: Scored important goals for Inter, including in the 2006 Libertadores final.
- Life story: An eternal idol, Índio came from Palmeiras and established himself at Internacional as one of the greatest defenders in the club’s history.
3. Pablo Guiñazú
- Titles: Copa Libertadores (2010), Recopa Sudamericana (2011), Campeonato Gaúcho (2009, 2011, 2012, 2013)
- Team: Internacional, Libertad, Newell’s Old Boys
- Fun facts: He was known for his race and leadership on the pitch.
- Life story: Argentinian by birth, Guiñazú became a natural leader at Internacional, where his dedication and commitment made him a club icon.
4. Bolívar
- Titles: Copa Libertadores (2006, 2010), Club World Cup (2006), Recopa Sudamericana (2007, 2011), Campeonato Brasileiro (2005)
- Team: Internacional, Monaco, Botafogo
- Trivia: Captained the team to several important victories, including the Libertadores in 2010.
- Life story: Born in Santa Cruz do Sul, Bolívar began his career at Guarani-RS before becoming one of the pillars of the Colorado defense.
5. Fabiano Eller
- Titles: Copa Libertadores (2006), Club World Cup (2006), Recopa Sudamericana (2007)
- Team: Internacional, Vasco da Gama, Atlético de Madrid
- Fun facts: Scorer of one of the most important goals in Inter’s history, in the 2006 World Cup final.
- Life story: With a diverse career, Fabiano Eller has played for several clubs, but it was at Internacional that he reached his peak.
6. Gamarra
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (1997), Supercopa Libertadores (1997)
- Team: Internacional, Corinthians, Flamengo
- Fun facts: Famous for his precision in tackling and his refined technique.
- Life story: Born in Paraguay, Gamarra shone in Brazilian soccer and is fondly remembered by Inter fans.
7. Lúcio
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (1999, 2002), World Cup (2002)
- Team: Internacional, Bayer Leverkusen, Bayern Munich
- Fun facts: As well as a solid career in Europe, Lúcio was a key player in Brazil’s 2002 World Cup triumph.
- Life story: Revealed by Inter, Lúcio stood out quickly and had a successful career in Europe and with the Brazilian national team.
8. Moledo
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015)
- Team: Internacional, Metalist Kharkiv, Panathinaikos
- Fun facts: Renowned for his physical strength and impeccable positioning in defense.
- Life story: A graduate of Inter’s youth academy, Moledo has become one of the pillars of Inter’s defense over the last decade.
9. Nena
- Titles: Gaúcho Championship (1950, 1951, 1952, 1953)
- Team: Internacional
- Trivia: Central defender who played a key role in the state championships of the 50s.
- Life story: Born in Porto Alegre, Nena dedicated his career to Inter and is remembered as one of the great defenders in the club’s history.
10. Fábio Luciano
- Titles: Copa do Brasil (1999), Campeonato Gaúcho (1999, 2002)
- Team: Internacional, Corinthians, Fenerbahçe
- Fun facts: Captain of the team in several competitions, Fábio Luciano was known for his leadership.
- Life story: A graduate of Inter’s youth team, he was successful in Brazil and abroad, leaving his mark as a leader both on and off the pitch.
11. Edson
- Titles: Gaúcho Championship (1970, 1971, 1972)
- Team: Internacional, Fluminense
- Fun facts: Key to Inter’s first state titles in the 70s.
- Life story: Edson was a robust and efficient defender, helping to establish Inter’s winning era in the 70s.
12. Sorondo
- Titles: Recopa Sudamericana (2007, 2011), Copa Sudamericana (2008)
- Team: Internacional, Defensor Sporting, Crystal Palace
- Fun facts: Known for his height and aerial ability.
- Life story: Born in Uruguay, Sorondo’s career was marred by injuries, but he always showed great quality when he was on the pitch.
13. Aloísio
- Titles: Gaúcho Championship (1984), Brazilian Championship (1989)
- Team: Internacional, Barcelona, Flamengo
- Fun facts: Nicknamed “Aloísio Chulapa”, he was known for his strength and presence in defense.
- Life story: Aloísio had a successful career both in Brazil and abroad, always standing out for his defensive consistency.
14. Gonçalves
- Titles: Gaúcho Championship (1984), Brazilian Championship (1989)
- Team: Internacional, Botafogo
- Fun facts: Recognized for his leadership and defensive skills.
- Life story: Gonçalves had a solid career and is fondly remembered by Colorado fans for his contributions to the club.
15. Larry
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (1961)
- Team: Internacional
- Trivia: Legendary defender who marked an era in soccer in Rio Grande do Sul.
- Life story: Larry was one of Inter’s first great defenders, known for his firmness and dedication on the pitch.
16. Mauro Galvão
- Titles: Brazilian Championship (1979)
- Team: Internacional, Bangu, Botafogo
- Fun facts: A technical and elegant defender, he had a long and successful career in Brazilian soccer.
- Life story: Mauro Galvão is considered one of the best defenders of his generation, with important spells at various clubs.
17. Brenner
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (2021)
- Team: Internacional, Juventude, Atlético Goianiense
- Fun facts: Revealed in Internacional’s youth ranks, Brenner stood out for his good positioning and ability to anticipate.
- Life story: He began his career with Juventude before joining Internacional, where he helped win the Gaucho Championship in 2021.
18. Ronaldo Alves
- Titles: Pernambucano Championship (2018, 2019)
- Team: Internacional, Náutico, Sport Recife
- Fun facts: Known for his firm marking and aerial play.
- Life story: Ronaldo Alves was a member of the Internacional squad and also excelled in other Brazilian soccer teams, especially Sport Recife.
19. Fábio Alemão
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (2019)
- Team: Internacional, Figueirense, Oeste
- Curiosities: Versatile defender, with a good outlet and technical quality.
- Life story: Revealed by Internacional, Fábio Alemão had experience at other clubs before returning to Colorado and winning the Campeonato Gaúcho in 2019.
20. Ícaro
- Titles: Campeonato Gaúcho (2021)
- Team: Internacional, Boa Esporte, CSA
- Fun facts: He stood out for his physical strength and his ability to get forward with quality.
- Life story: Revealed in the youth ranks at Internacional, Ícaro had spells at various clubs before returning to Colorado and winning the Gaucho Championship in 2021.
The 20 best defenders in Internacional’s history: complete list
- Figueroa
- Índio
- Pablo Guiñazú
- Bolívar
- Fabiano Eller
- Gamarra
- Lúcio
- Moledo
- Nena
- Fábio Luciano
- Edson
- Sorondo
- Aloísio
- Gonçalves
- Larry
- Mauro Galvão
- Brenner
- Ronaldo Alves
- Fábio Alemão
- Ícaro
The 20 best defenders in Internacional’s history
Internacional’s history is full of achievements and unforgettable moments, many of them starring defenders of enormous talent and dedication. From legends of the past to more recent idols, these players not only protected Internacional’s defense, but also inspired generations of fans with their memorable performances.
If you enjoyed learning about the 20 best defenders in the history of Internacional, make sure you keep following the site for more news on soccer and many other sports!
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