Marcelo Marcelo

Sport: Soccer

Nation: Brazil

DOB: May 12, 1988

Career Highlights: An intense competitor who poses a major threat offensively out of the back, Marcelo is one of the top outside defenders in the world. He's proven to be very capable defensively, adding to his value as an offensive threat. Those traits have been on display since he joined Spain's Real Madrid in 2007, and he's been a fixture in the lineup ever since. He's making his second appearance at the Olympics after scoring once in six games in the 2008 Games as Brazil won bronze. He's back looking to lead the team to its first Olympic gold, and his recent experience should prove to be valuable. Marcelo has been breaking into the full national team, scoring four goals in 12 games. He scored against Wales in his debut in September 2006. Despite his rise, Marcelo was left off the 2010 World Cup roster in a surprising move by then-coach Dunga. He returned to the team after it was eliminated in the quarterfinals of the tournament. Marcelo is one of Brazil's outstanding three overage players along with forward Hulk and defender Thiago Silva.

Olympic History: 2008