# Cleiton Xavier

Cleiton Ribeiro Xavier (Ukrainian: Клейтон Шав'єр; born 23 March 1983) is a Brazilian former professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder. He is known by his powerful and accurate free kicks, dribbling skills and passes.

## Club career

In his early career, Cleiton Xavier played for CSA and Internacional, and was loaned out various times.

### Palmeiras

In early 2009, Palmeiras signed Cleiton from the relegated Figueirense. Cleiton Xavier proved he had good talent in Palmeiras's first matches in the Libertadores Cup and in the São Paulo State Championship. On 29 April 2009 Cleiton Xavier scored an 87th minute away-goal against Colo-Colo in the Libertadores Cup that secured Palmeiras' progression to the knockout stages of the tournament, it was a very long-range shot inside the goalkeeper's left angle.
Later in the Série A alongside teammate Diego Souza, Cleiton Xavier made an outstanding season with Palmeiras, leading the competition for 19 rounds, however Palmeiras finished 5th due to losses in the final matches and did not qualify for the Libertadores Cup. Cleiton Xavier was elected the 3rd best player of the season, even though he had an injury. In 2010, Cleiton Xavier remained with Palmeiras and also started well the year. He participated in Palmeiras's first ten goals in the São Paulo State Championship.

### Metalist Kharkiv

On 14 July 2010, Cleiton Xavier transferred to FC Metalist Kharkiv for €4.5 million. In 2013, he became popular for scoring a fastest equalizing goal from the starting line after the restart of the match against local league rival, Chornomorets. He then inspired them to a 3 – 1 victory which boosted their chances to qualify for next season Champions League campaign in which the victory lift them above another local rival who competing for the same spot, Dynamo Kyiv.

## Club statistics

    As of 28 January 2017
| Club | Season | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | State League | State League | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Internacional | 2002 | 20 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 20 | 3 |
| Internacional | 2003 | 25 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 25 | 1 |
| Internacional | 2004 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 23 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 68 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 68 | 5 |
| Brasiliense | 2005 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Total | Total | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 |
| Figueirense | 2007 | 28 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 28 | 0 |
| Figueirense | 2008 | 33 | 12 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 33 | 12 |
| Total | Total | 61 | 12 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 61 | 12 |
| Palmeiras | 2009 | 32 | 3 | — | — | 12 | 3 | 17 | 3 | 61 | 9 |
| Palmeiras | 2010 | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 5 | 27 | 7 |
| Total | Total | 39 | 4 | 4 | 1 | 12 | 3 | 33 | 8 | 88 | 16 |
| Metalist Kharkiv | 2010–11 | 26 | 6 | — | — | 9 | 3 | — | — | 35 | 9 |
| Metalist Kharkiv | 2011–12 | 25 | 10 | — | — | 12 | 2 | — | — | 37 | 12 |
| Metalist Kharkiv | 2012–13 | 29 | 15 | — | — | 9 | 5 | — | — | 38 | 20 |
| Metalist Kharkiv | 2013–14 | 20 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 21 | 7 |
| Metalist Kharkiv | 2014–15 | 9 | 8 | 2 | 2 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 16 | 11 |
| Total | Total | 109 | 46 | 3 | 2 | 35 | 11 | — | — | 147 | 59 |
| Palmeiras | 2015 | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | — | — | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Total | Total | 10 | 0 | 3 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 17 | 1 |
| Vitória | 2017 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Vitória | Total | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Career Total | Career Total | 267 | 53 | 7 | 2 | 42 | 13 | 37 | 8 | 353 | 76 |

## Honours
### Internacional

* Rio Grande do Sul State League: 2003, 2004

### Figueirense

* Santa Catarina State League: 2008

### Palmeiras

* Copa do Brasil: 2015
* Campeonato Brasileiro: 2016

### Vitória

* Campeonato Baiano: 2017