Marcos Vinicius Amaral Alves (born 17 June 1994), known as Marcão, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for K League 1 club Ulsan HD.
Early life Born in Tietê, São Paulo, he joined the academy of São Paulo FC at the age of 12. However, Marcão was not interested in football, switching to basketball after six months. At the age of 17, he participated in a football match due to his friend's request, and actually, the match was a tryout for Ituano FC. He accidentally restarted his football career after receiving Ituano's offer.
Playing career Gyeongnam FC On 20 December 2016, Marcão joined K League 2 club Gyeongnam FC on a one-year loan. He had seven goals and two assists in the first 12 K League 2 matches, and Gyeongnam went on an unbeaten run at the same time. After watching this great presence, Gyeongnam suggested a three-year contract to him early. During the 2017 season, he helped the club gain a league title and promotion to the K League 1 by scoring 22 goals in 32 matches. He was named the league's Most Valuable Player and top goalscorer at the end of the season.
On 4 March 2018, Marcão scored his first hat-trick in a K League 1 match against Sangju Sangmu, where he made his K League 1 debut. Despite being a newly-promoted club, Gyeongnam finished second at the 2018 K League 1 under his influence. He once again became both the MVP and the top goalscorer after scoring 26 goals in 31 K League 1 appearances.
Hebei China Fortune On 21 February 2019, Marcão transferred to Chinese Super League side Hebei China Fortune. He showed anxious start due to an aftereffect of his injury, but contributed to Hebei's escape from the relegation zone. During the 2019 season, he scored 11 goals in 26 CSL matches, becoming the club's top goalscorer.
At the 2020 Chinese Super League, Marcão led Hebei to the knockout stage by scoring the most goals among CSL players with 11 goals during 14 matches in the regular season, but scored no goals in the knockout stage.
Prior to the 2021 season, Kim Jong-boo, Marcão's mentor at Gyeongnam, was appointed as the new manager of Hebei, met with Marcão again. They were expected to create a synergy, but played together in only three matches before Hebei decided to sell Marcão due to financial difficulty.
Wuhan Three Towns On 19 July 2021, Marcão joined China League One club Wuhan Three Towns. He directly proved his worth for the second half of the season, bringing a league title as well as a qualification for the CSL by forming a strong offense alongside Moses Ogbu. The next year, he led newly-promoted Wuhan Three Towns to the CSL title while becoming the league's top goalscorer with 27 goals in 26 matches.
Al-Ahli In January 2023, Marcão transferred to Saudi First Division League club Al-Ahli.
Loan spells Al-Ahli succeeded in promoting to the Saudi Pro League after winning the First Division, but Marcão played as a starter in only one match for half a year. After the club recruited Brazil international Roberto Firmino, he returned to Wuhan Three Towns on a loan deal.
On 9 February 2024, Marcão joined Süper Lig club Fatih Karagümrük on loan until the end of the season.
On 30 July 2024, Marcão moved to TFF 1. Lig club Kocaelispor on a one-year loan. At Kocaelispor, he once again won the second-tier league, promoting his club to the first-tier league. He experienced promotion in four countries where he played, namely South Korea, China, Saudi Arabia, and Turkey.
Ulsan HD On 18 July 2025, Marcão joined K League 1 club Ulsan HD, returning to South Korea for the first time in seven years.
Career statistics
+ Appearances and goals by club, season and competitionClubSeasonLeagueState leagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotalDivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsItuano2013—113——19730102014Série D7150———1212015——10—1581682016Série D95101———196Total16626410—34157725Guarani de Palhoça (loan)2015—70———70Bragantino (loan)2016Série B20————20Gyeongnam FC (loan)2017K League 2127—00——127Gyeongnam FC2017K League 22015—11——21162018K League 13126—00——3126Total5141—11——5242Hebei China Fortune2019Chinese Super League2611—10——27112020Chinese Super League1711—00——17112021Chinese Super League31—00——31Total4623—10——4723Wuhan Three Towns2021China League One1911—11——20122022Chinese Super League2627—00——2627Total4538—11——4639Al-Ahli2022–23Saudi First Division111—00——111Wuhan Three Towns (loan)2023Chinese Super League73—0021—94Fatih Karagümrük (loan)2023–24Süper Lig116—31——147Kocaelispor (loan)2024–25TFF 1. Lig258—21——279Ulsan HD2025K League 193—0050—143Career total23513633494713415318160
Honours Ituano Campeonato Paulista: 2014 Copa Paulista runner-up: 2015
Gyeongnam FC K League 2: 2017
Wuhan Three Towns Chinese Super League: 2022 China League One: 2021
Al-Ahli Saudi First Division League: 2022–23
Kocaelispor TFF 1. Lig: 2024–25
Individual K League 2 Most Valuable Player: 2017 K League 2 top goalscorer: 2017 K League 2 Best XI: 2017 K League 1 Most Valuable Player: 2018 K League 1 top goalscorer: 2018 K League 1 Best XI: 2018 Chinese Super League top goalscorer: 2022
References
External links