# Célio Santos

Célio Ferreira dos Santos (born July 20, 1987), or simply Célio Santos, is a Brazilian footballer who plays as a defender for Malaysia Super League club Kuching City.

## Eligibility controversy

An inquiry held by the Prime Minister of East Timor in 2016, heard that Celio Santos was one of seven Brazilian men's footballers to receive falsified baptism documents from Timor's Catholic Church, in order to make it appear he was eligible for Timorese nationality.
All seven players were based in Asia at the time, but only one, Juninho, has played for Timor's controversial national side.
It is unclear when Célio Santos received his Timorese passport, which he received despite having no known means of eligibility, such as a family connection, or residency.

## Career statistics

    As of 4 September 2023
| Club | Season | League | League | League | State League | State League | National Cup | National Cup | League Cup | League Cup | Continental | Continental | Other | Other | Total | Total |
| Club | Season | Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals |
| Shaanxi Zhongjian Chanba | 2010 | Chinese Super League | 6 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 6 | 0 |
| Belenenses | 2010–11 | Liga de Honra | 17 | 0 | — | — | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 18 | 0 |
| Dacia Chișinău | 2011–12 | Moldovan National Division | 27 | 3 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 27 | 3 |
| Tavriya Simferopol | 2012–13 | Ukrainian Premier League | 22 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 26 | 0 |
| Tavriya Simferopol | 2013–14 | Ukrainian Premier League | 4 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 4 | 1 |
| Tavriya Simferopol | Total | Total | 26 | 1 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | — | — | 30 | 1 |
| Tractor Sazi | 2014–15 | Persian Gulf Pro League | 9 | 1 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | 9 | 1 |
| Al-Shaab CSC | 2015–16 | UAE Pro League | 11 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 5 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 16 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz | 2016 | Série B | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | 12 | 0 |
| Ulsan Hyundai | 2016 | K League Classic | 10 | 1 | — | — | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 10 | 1 |
| Muangthong United | 2017 | Thai League 1 | 31 | 1 | — | — | 5 | 1 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | — | — | 44 | 2 |
| Muangthong United | 2018 | Thai League 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 2 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 |
| Muangthong United | Total | Total | 33 | 1 | — | — | 7 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | — | 51 | 3 |
| Santa Cruz | 2020 | Série C | 13 | 1 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | 19 | 1 |
| Santa Cruz | 2021 | Série C | — | — | 4 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | 13 | 0 |
| Santa Cruz | Total | Total | 13 | 1 | 8 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 10 | 0 | 32 | 1 |
| Kasetsart | 2021–22 | Thai League 2 | 31 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 31 | 0 |
| Kuching City | 2023 | Malaysia Super League | 13 | 0 | — | — | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 14 | 0 |
| Career total | Career total | Career total | 182 | 8 | 13 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 10 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 11 | 0 | 236 | 10 |

## Honours
### Club
#### SCG Muangthong United

* Thai League Cup (1): 2017
* Mekong Club Championship (1): 2017