The career of Claudemir Jerônimo Barreto, known as Cacau, shifted from his Brazilian origins to the international stage in Germany after he secured citizenship in 2009. Born in 1981 in Santo André, São Paulo, the striker built a professional reputation in the Bundesliga, most notably through his decade-long tenure at VfB Stuttgart.
Early Career and Bundesliga Transition
Cacau moved to Germany in 1999, beginning his career in the fifth division with Türkgücü München. His move to 1. FC Nürnberg provided his breakthrough, where he debuted in the Bundesliga on 18 November 2001 against Hansa Rostock. During his time at Nürnberg, he registered 8 goals across 44 appearances before transitioning to VfB Stuttgart for the 2003-04 season.
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At VfB Stuttgart, Cacau became a central attacking figure. During the 2006-07 season, he was instrumental in the club's league title victory, scoring 13 goals and securing both goals in a critical 2-0 win against Bayern Munich. That same season, he earned the distinction of top goalscorer in the DFB-Pokal, despite the club finishing as tournament runners-up. He remained a persistent offensive threat, highlighted by a four-goal performance against 1. FC Köln in February 2010. By the time he departed in 2014, he had accumulated 263 appearances and 80 goals for the club.
International Representation
Following his naturalization in early 2009, Cacau was called up by coach Joachim Löw. He made his debut on 29 May 2009 in a friendly against China. His international career peaked during the 2010 FIFA World Cup, where he scored against Australia in the group stage. He ultimately earned 23 caps and recorded 6 goals for Germany before his final appearance in 2012.
Post-Professional Transitions
After departing Stuttgart, Cacau spent a period with Cerezo Osaka in 2014 and 2015. He returned to Germany in 2016 to play for VfB Stuttgart II before announcing his formal retirement on 11 October 2016. In 2017, he received the Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg, following his previous recognition with the Silbernes Lorbeerblatt.
Fast facts
- Born: 1981, São Paulo, Brazil
- Primary Position: Striker
- German Citizenship acquired: February 2009
- International debut: 29 May 2009
- Bundesliga Title: 2006-07 season
- Retirement date: 11 October 2016
- Award: Order of Merit of Baden-Württemberg (2017)
- Languages spoken: German
Questions readers ask
Did Cacau ever play for the Brazil national team?
No, he was never called up by Brazil, eventually choosing to represent Germany.
Why is he sometimes called Helmut?
His teammate Ludovic Magnin gave him the name shortly after he received his German citizenship in 2009.
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