- Antônio Naelson
Football player infobox| playername= Antonio Naelson
fullname = Antonio Naelson Matias
nickname = Sinha
dateofbirth = birth date and age|1976|5|23
cityofbirth =Itajá ,Rio Grande do Norte
countryofbirth =Brazil
height = height|m=1.63
currentclub =Club Toluca
position = Centre Attacking Midfielder
Centre Midfielder
clubnumber = 10
years = 1995–1997
1998–1999
1999–
clubs = América MG
CF Monterrey
Club Toluca
caps(goals) = 000 0(0)
017 0(1)
317 (30)
nationalyears = 2004–
nationalteam = flagicon|Mexico Mexico
nationalcaps(goals) = 041 0(6)
pcupdate = September 25, 2008
ntupdate = 6 June, 2008Antônio Naelson Matias (born May 23, 1976 in
Itajá ,Brazil ), also known simply as Sinha, is aBrazil ian-Mexican football player, who is currently playing asmidfielder forClub Toluca , where he is often called "El Toñito".Biography
Naelson stands at 163 cm (5 ft 4 in) and weighs 67 kg (147 lb). He was part of the Mexican 2004 Olympic football team, who exited in the first round, having finished third in group A, below group winners
Mali andSouth Korea .He has also been called up to play for the Mexican national team, although he is a
Brazil ian-born player, he became a naturalized Mexican citizen, after settling in Mexico for several years. During the 2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, Naelson became the first foreign-born player to score a goal for Mexico against Iran in a World Cup tournament. He was called up to play again for Mexico, thus making him the first naturalized to be called up byHugo Sanchez In 2005, he played in the Confederations Cup scoring a spectacular goal against Japan that helped Mexico win the match. Mexico finished in fourth place in the tournament. He was also called up for the national team to play in the Gold Cup.Naelson represented Mexico in the
2006 FIFA World Cup in Germany, scoring a goal in his first World Cup match against
Iran.Antonio Naelson Sinha got his first call up for the Mexican national team by coach Hugo Sanchez for the friendly against United States on February 6 2008. He is Currently theteam captain of Toluca wearing jersey # 10.Honours
flagicon|MEX Club Toluca
*Primera División de México Championship: 2000, 2002, 2005
*CONCACAF Champions Cup : 2003
*Champions of Champions: 2003, 2006External links
* [http://www.esmas.com/deportes/biografias/380940.html Antonio Naelson Article] (In Spanish)
* [http://www.footballdatabase.com/site/players/index.php?dumpPlayer=1323 Football Database.com provides Antonio Naelson's profile and stats]
*Medio Tiempo|idj=7660
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