Bernard (footballer)

Brazilian footballer (born 1992) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte (born 8 September 1992), better known as Bernard (Brazilian Portuguese: [bɛʁˈnaʁ]), is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Atlético Mineiro.[4] A left-sided player, he is known for his pace and technical ability.[5]

Full name Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte[1]
Date of birth (1992-09-08) 8 September 1992 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[3]
Quick facts Personal information, Full name ...
Bernard
Bernard with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015
Personal information
Full name Bernard Anício Caldeira Duarte[1]
Date of birth (1992-09-08) 8 September 1992 (age 33)[2]
Place of birth Belo Horizonte, Brazil
Height 1.64 m (5 ft 5 in)[3]
Positions
Team information
Current team
Atlético Mineiro
Number 11
Youth career
1997–2006 Comercial EC do Barreiro
2006–2010 Atlético Mineiro
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2013 Atlético Mineiro 86 (18)
2010Democrata-SL (loan) 16 (14)
2013–2018 Shakhtar Donetsk 96 (14)
2018–2021 Everton 73 (5)
2021–2022 Sharjah 23 (4)
2022–2024 Panathinaikos 62 (12)
2024– Atlético Mineiro 69 (4)
International career
2012–2014 Brazil 14 (1)
Medal record
Men's Football
Representing  Brazil
FIFA Confederations Cup
Winner2013 Brazil
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 7 April 2026
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Born in Belo Horizonte, Bernard began his professional career with hometown club Atlético Mineiro, where he won the 2013 Copa Libertadores. He then moved for a reported €25 million fee to Shakhtar Donetsk, where he won three Ukrainian Premier League titles. In 2018, he joined Everton on a free transfer.

Bernard made his international debut for Brazil in 2012 and was in the squads that won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup and reached the 2014 FIFA World Cup semi-finals on home soil.

Club career

Atlético Mineiro

Bernard started his footballing career in 2006, joining Atlético Mineiro's youth system, but was released twice because of his short height.[6] In 2010, he was loaned to Democrata FC (back then, a club which was made up entirely of Atlético Mineiro's youth players), to play in Campeonato Mineiro Segunda Divisão (third level).[7]

Bernard playing for Atlético Mineiro in 2012

After being the top goalscorer at Democrata (14 goals in only 16 games), Bernard returned to Atlético. Despite being young enough to play in Copa São Paulo de Juniores, he was called up by the manager Dorival Júnior to play for first team.[8]

He made his debut with the club in the match against Uberaba, on 23 March 2011, playing in the right back position due to the squad's injury crisis at the time.[9][10] He then returned to youth squads, scoring the winning goal of the Taça Belo Horizonte de Juniores.

After Dorival's dismissal and the appointment of Cuca, Bernard returned to the first team squad. On 21 May, he made his Série A debut, against Atlético Paranaense. In his first season, Bernard appeared 23 times for Galo (19 starts, 1794 minutes overall). On 14 September, Atlético's president Alexandre Kalil rejected a £3.4 million bid from Al Ahli Doha.

He scored his first professional goal on 29 January 2012, against Boa Esporte.[11] He then scored again against Caldense on 11 February, and twice against América-MG on 13 May, Campeonato Mineiro's final. His first Série A goal came on 23 June, in a 5–1 routing against Náutico.[12] He finished the season with 36 appearances (all starts, 3100 minutes overall), scoring eleven times, leading the club (along with Ronaldinho and ) to a second-place finish in the league. Bernard also won Brasileirão's Best Newcomer.[13]

In December, Spartak Moscow had an £9.8 million offer rejected by Atlético.[14]

On 30 July 2013, Atlético accepted a £22 million bid from Ukrainian club Shakhtar Donetsk. Bernard's agent and father, however, revealed his son was set on joining FC Porto, although Atlético's president Alexandre Kalil revealed Shakhtar were the only club to submit an offer for the player.[15]

Shakhtar Donetsk

Bernard with Shakhtar Donetsk in 2015

On 8 August 2013 Shakhtar Donetsk announced the signing of Bernard on a five-year deal for a reported €25 million.[16] He made his debut for the Ukrainian side on 31 August, coming on as a substitute for Douglas Costa, in the 1–1 draw with FC Metalist Kharkiv.[17]

Bernard was chosen as one of the top 11 South American players 2013 by the Spanish newspaper El País.[18][19]

Commenting on the 2014 Ukrainian Revolution, Bernard stated that he was willing to leave Shakhtar if the situation intensified, and had made arrangements for a potential emergency exit.[20] His contract expired at the end of the 2017–18 season, and he became a free agent.[21]

Everton

Bernard joined English club Everton on 9 August 2018, signing a four-year deal with the Premier League side.[22][23] Manager Marco Silva ignored concerns over Bernard's height and physicality, instead signing him for his technical ability.[24] He made his debut on 25 August in a 2–2 draw at AFC Bournemouth, replacing Theo Walcott for the final five minutes.[25]

He scored his first goal for Everton on 5 January 2019 in a 2–1 FA Cup win over Lincoln City in the 3rd round.[26] He then scored his first Premier League goal on 30 March 2019 in a 2–0 victory against West Ham United.[27] On 10 February 2021, he scored the winning goal in a 5–4 win over Tottenham Hotspur after extra-time in the 2020–21 FA Cup 5th round tie.[28]

Sharjah

On 22 July 2021, Bernard signed a two-year deal with UAE Pro League club Sharjah for a reported fee of €1 million.[29]

Panathinaikos

On 21 August 2022, Super League Greece club Panathinaikos announced the signing of Bernard.[4] He made his debut on 11 September in a league match against AEK Athens, coming on as a second-half substitution in a 2–1 win.[30] He was one of their best players

Return to Atlético Mineiro

On 5 February 2024, Atlético Mineiro announced an agreement with Bernard for his return to the club upon the expiration of his contract with Panathinaikos in July 2024.[31]

International career

Bernard (center), playing for Brazil at the 2014 FIFA World Cup

Bernard was first called up for Brazil on 11 September 2012, to the Superclásico de las Américas, by coach Mano Menezes.[32] He made his debut for Brazil as a 74th-minute substitute for Lucas Marques on 21 November 2012, in the 2nd leg of the 2012 Superclásico de las Américas against Argentina, where the Seleção won the title on penalties.

He was selected in Brazil's squad for their hosting of the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup, making his first appearance in the final group game against Italy for the last 20 minutes in place of Neymar. He also came on as a substitute in the semi-final victory over Uruguay, as Brazil went on to win the trophy.

After being regularly called up by manager Luiz Felipe Scolari, Bernard was named among the final 23-man squad ahead of 2014 FIFA World Cup on 7 May 2014.[33] He played in the opening game against Croatia as a substitute for Hulk, and came on at half-time in Brazil's second group game against Mexico, a 0–0 draw. He was then unused until his first start in a major tournament, playing all 90 minutes of the 7–1 defeat to Germany in his hometown of Belo Horizonte.

He remained an unused substitute in the third place play-off match against Netherlands, which Brazil lost 3–0.

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 7 December 2025[34]
More information Club, Season ...
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league[a] National cup[b] League cup[c] Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Democrata-SL 2010 16141614
Atlético Mineiro 2011 Série A 230401000280
2012 361194204715
2013 311120011[d]4257
Total 62122463011410022
Shakhtar Donetsk 2013–14 Ukrainian Premier League 182318[e]000293
2014–15 140425[f]000232
2015–16 2124313[g]01[h]1396
2016–17 244309[i]31[h]0377
2017–18 196118[f]31[h]02910
Total 96141574363115728
Everton 2018–19 Premier League 3411110362
2019–20 2731020303
2020–21 1213131183
Total 7355261848
Sharjah 2021–22 UAE Pro League 23411316[j]3339
Panathinaikos 2022–23 Super League Greece 31240352
2023–24 31107012[k]15011
Total 62121101218513
Atlético Mineiro 2024 Série A 160505[d]0260
2025 301913010[l]3525
Total 4619180153785
Career total 36447492243109287173155598
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  1. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
  2. Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  3. Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  4. Eight appearances in UEFA Champions League, five appearances in UEFA Europa League
  5. One appearance and one goal in UEFA Champions League, eight appearances and two goals in UEFA Europa League
  6. Six appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, six appearances in UEFA Europa League
  7. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana

International

More information National team, Year ...
Appearances and goals by national team and year[35]
National teamYearAppsGoals
Brazil 201210
201391
201440
Total141
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Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Bernard goal.
More information No., Date ...
List of international goals scored by Bernard
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition
116 November 2013Sun Life Stadium, Miami Gardens, United States Honduras1–05–0Friendly
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Honours

References

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