# Paulo Nunes

Arílson de Paula Nunes (born October 30, 1971), better known as Paulo Nunes, is a Brazilian football pundit and retired footballer who played as a forward.

## Club career
### Flamengo

A product of Flamengo's youth system, Paulo Nunes was part of a remarkable generation of players revealed by the Gávea team, such as Djalminha, Júnior Baiano, Marquinhos, Nélio, Marcelinho Carioca and Sávio. However, Paulo Nunes did not achieve stardom in Flamengo, and only went to achieve success in other clubs, as it was the case with his former youth team teammates. Paulo Nunes, however, won the 1990 Copa do Brasil with the Rio club, the 1991 Campeonato Carioca and finally the 1992 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A.

### Grêmio

Paulo Nunes left Flamengo in 1995, moving on to Grêmio, where he joined another player who had left a Rio de Janeiro club, Jardel. Alongside him, Paulo Nunes formed one of the most effective attacking duos in Grêmio history.
At Grêmio, Paulo Nunes lived the most glorious time in career, winning two Campeonato Gaúcho titles, the Copa Libertadores cup, the Campeonato Brasileiro, the Recopa Sul-Americana and the Copa do Brasil for the Porto Alegre team and being the lead scorer in the 1996 Campeonato Brasileiro and the 1997 Copa do Brasil. His good form also earned him the Bola de Prata from Placar magazine, also earning him a place in the national team squad for the 1997 Copa América.

### Return to Brazil and success at Palmeiras

After departing from Grêmio in 1997, he went on to play for the Portuguese club S.L. Benfica. However, injuries and clashes with the rest of the squad hastened his return to Brazil. In 1998, Paulo Nunes joined Palmeiras. Joining Atlético Paranaense recruited Oséas in the attack, Paulo Nunes went on to win the 1998 Copa do Brasil, the third one in his career, the Copa Mercosul and also the 1999 Copa Libertadores. After the defeat against Manchester United for the Intercontinental Cup, Paulo Nunes left Palmeiras.

### Departure from Palmeiras

Paulo Nunes returned to Grêmio for one season with no great fanfare. Afterwards, he played for Corinthians, Gama, Al Nassr and Mogi Mirim, where he retired in 2003, at the age of 32.

## International career

Paulo Nunes played his first game for the Brazil national team on 3 June 1997, when his country and France drew 1–1 for the Tournoi de France. Paulo Nunes second and last game for the country was the June 29, 1997 Copa América final against Bolivia, when his team beat the opponent team 3–1. In doing so his 1997 Brazil national team won the Copa América.

## Career statistics
### International

| National team | Club | Season | Apps | Goals |
| Brazil | Grêmio | 1997 | 2 | 0 |
| Total | Total | Total | 2 | 0 |
International appearances and goals :
| # | Date | Venue | Opponent | Result | Goal | Competition |
| 1997 |||||||
| 1. | June 3, 1997 | Lyon, France | France | 1–1 | 0 | Tournoi de France |
| 2. | June 29, 1997 | La Paz, Bolivia | Bolivia | 3–1 | 0 | Copa América |

## Honours
### Club

Flamengo
* Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior: 1990
* Copa do Brasil: 1990
* Copa Rio: 1991
* Campeonato Carioca: 1991
* Campeonato Brasileiro: 1992
Grêmio
* Campeonato Gaúcho: 1995, 1996
* Copa Libertadores da América: 1995
* Recopa Sul-Americana: 1996
* Campeonato Brasileiro: 1996
* Copa do Brasil: 1997
Palmeiras
* Copa do Brasil: 1998
* Copa Mercosul: 1998
* Copa Libertadores da América: 1999
* Intercontinental Cup runner-up: 1999
Corinthians
* Campeonato Paulista: 2001

### International

Brazil
* Copa América: 1997

### Individual

* Bola de Prata Placar winner: 1996
* Campeonato Brasileiro top scorer (16 goals): 1996
* Copa do Brasil top scorer (9 goals): 1997