# Cesinha (footballer, born 1989)

Cesar Fernando Silva dos Santos (born 29 November 1989), commonly known as Cesinha, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays for Daegu FC as a forward.

## Career
### Early years in Brazil

Born in São José do Rio Preto, Brazil, Cesinha graduated with Corinthians youth system, but made his senior debuts while on loan at Osvaldo Cruz. After appearing for União Barbarense and Pão de Açúcar, he returned to the former on 7 December 2011. On 16 May 2012, Cesinha signed for Bragantino. After appearing sparingly, he returned to Barbarense in January of the following year, in a six-month loan deal. Cesinha returned to Braga in June 2013, appearing regularly afterwards. On 3 October of the following year he was loaned to Atlético Mineiro, until May 2015. Cesinha made his Série A debut on 9 October, replacing Luan in a 0–0 away draw against Fluminense. On 6 May 2015 he moved to fellow league team Ponte Preta, until December.

### South Korea

In 2016, Cesinha joined South Korean club Daegu FC on loan. Scoring 11 goals, he helped secure the club's promotion that year from K League 2 to the top tier of football in South Korea, K League 1. His loan was made permanent the following year. By June 2020, he had lived in South Korea for five years, one of the criteria to become a citizen of the country. Media reported that Cesinha was keen to become a South Korean citizen and represent the country in international football.

## Career statistics

    As of 1 September 2023
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition :
| Club | Season | League | League | League | Cup | Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Corinthians | 2010 | Série A | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 |
| Osvaldo Cruz (loan) | 2010 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 8 | 6 | 8 | 6 |
| União Barbarense | 2011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 18 | 4 | 18 | 4 |
| Pão de Açúcar | 2011 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| União Barbarense | 2012 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 22 | 9 | 22 | 9 |
| Bragantino | 2012 | Série B | 11 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 11 | 1 |
| Bragantino | 2013 | Série B | 14 | 2 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 14 | 2 |
| Bragantino | 2014 | Série B | 18 | 2 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 12 | 1 | 35 | 5 |
| Bragantino | 2016 | Série B | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| Bragantino | Total | Total | 43 | 5 | 5 | 2 | — | — | 12 | 1 | 60 | 8 |
| União Barbarense (loan) | 2013 | — | — | — | — | — | — | — | 15 | 5 | 15 | 5 |
| Atlético Mineiro (loan) | 2014 | Série A | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Atlético Mineiro (loan) | 2015 | Série A | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 6 | 0 |
| Atlético Mineiro (loan) | Total | Total | 6 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Ponte Preta (loan) | 2015 | Série A | 17 | 0 | 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 22 | 4 |
| Daegu FC (loan) | 2016 | K League 2 | 36 | 11 | 2 | 3 | — | — | — | — | 38 | 14 |
| Daegu FC | 2017 | K League 1 | 27 | 7 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 7 |
| Daegu FC | 2018 | K League 1 | 25 | 8 | 6 | 5 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 13 |
| Daegu FC | 2019 | K League 1 | 35 | 15 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 1 | — | — | 41 | 16 |
| Daegu FC | 2020 | K League 1 | 25 | 18 | 2 | 1 | — | — | — | — | 27 | 19 |
| Daegu FC | 2021 | K League 1 | 32 | 9 | 5 | 2 | 6 | 5 | — | — | 43 | 16 |
| Daegu FC | 2022 | K League 1 | 29 | 12 | 3 | 0 | 2 | 1 | — | — | 34 | 13 |
| Daegu FC | 2023 | K League 1 | 23 | 8 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 24 | 8 |
| Daegu FC | Total | Total | 232 | 88 | 22 | 11 | 13 | 7 | — | — | 267 | 106 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 281 | 93 | 29 | 13 | 16 | 7 | 80 | 25 | 406 | 138 |
* 1 2 3 Appearances in Campeonato Paulista Série A2
* 1 2 Appearances in Campeonato Paulista Série A1
* ↑ Appearance in Copa Libertadores
* ↑ Appearances in Campeonato Mineiro
* ↑ Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
* 1 2 3 Appearances in AFC Champions League

## Honours

Atlético Mineiro
* Campeonato Mineiro: 2015
* Copa do Brasil: 2014
Daegu FC
* Korean FA Cup: 2018
Individual
* K League 1 Best XI: 2019, 2020, 2021, 2022
* K League 2 Best XI: 2016
* K League 1 Top assist provider: 2018
* Korean FA Cup Most Valuable Player: 2018
* Korean FA Cup Top scorer: 2018