Renato Augusto

Bayer Leverkusen

Renato signed for German Bundesliga club Bayer Leverkusen for an unknown fee, though thought to be €10 million, 60% of which was retained by Flamengo; the remaining 40% were owned by the Traffic and MFD investment groups, that paid €1.5 million each for a share in Renato Augusto's transfer fee, earlier in 2008.

Renato made an immediate impact, becoming one of the fan favorites very quickly with his swiftness, awareness, teamwork, and his technical abilities. Despite usually playing on the right side, with Leverkusen, he began playing in the hole, just behind the striker.

Despite being plagued with injury in the 2010–11 season, just like the previous ones in Germany, Augusto maintained stellar form, scoring on three occasions in one-goal lead victories. On 13 March, he scored a memorable goal where he scored a match-winner in 82nd minute against Mainz 05, giving Bayer Leverkusen a valuable victory, and vaulting them into the title race.

Corinthians On 20 December 2012, Bayer Leverkusen confirmed that Renato would leave for Corinthians for a reported fee of €3.5 million. In 2014, after being properly diagnosed and treated, he played 44 games in the year, and in 2015, he was awarded the Bola de Ouro (Golden Ball) for leading Corinthians to the Campeonato Brasileiro Série A title.

Beijing Guoan On 6 January 2016, Renato joined Chinese club Beijing Guoan for a reported fee of €8 million. On 16 March 2016, Augusto made his Guoan debut in a 0-0 away draw at Tianjin TEDA, and scored his first goal for the club on 17 April in a 3-0 away win against Hangzhou Green Town. On 11 March 2018, he captained Guoan for the first time in a 2-1 away win against Jiangsu Suning. On 25 August 2018, he scored his first hat trick for the club in a 5-2 away win against Tianjin TEDA. On 30 November 2018, he captained Guoan to win the 2018 Chinese FA Cup after a 2-2 away draw (aggregated 3-3 draw, Guoan won on away goals) against Shandong Luneng, the club's first major trophy in 9 years. On 20 April 2019, he made his 100th appearance for Beijing Guoan in a game against Hebei China Fortune.

Return to Corinthians On 22 July 2021, after terminating his contract with Beijing Guoan, Renato returned to Corinthians, signing a deal until 31 December 2023.

At the end of the 2023 season, Corinthians announced Renato's departure from the club.

Fluminense On 5 January 2024, Renato signed a two-year contract with Série A club Fluminense.

Retirement On 18 September 2025, Renato officially announced his retirement. The former player revealed that he had consulted with others about continuing in the field, working on a committee or as an executive.

International career

Renato debuted with the senior national team in a away friendly against France in February 2011, which Brazil lost 0-1. His 2nd game was a March 2011 friendly against Scotland, which Brazil won 2–0. He was not called up by Mano Menezes for the 2011 Copa América, but returned to the squad for a friendly against Germany in August 2011, which Brazil lost 2–3. After that, he went more than four years without playing for Brazil, missing the 2013 Confederations Cup, the 2014 World Cup and the 2015 Copa América.

Previously, he was part of the preliminary squad for the 2008 Summer Olympics, but was not included in the final 18-man squad by coach Dunga, only getting named in the standby list. He was recalled by the same Dunga, who had returned to the job after the 2014 World Cup, for the 2018 FIFA World Cup qualifiers in November 2015.

On 17 November 2015, Augusto scored his first goal for Brazil in a 3–0 victory against Peru for 2018 FIFA World Cup qualification. On 6 July 2018, Augusto scored Brazil's only goal in a 1–2 quarter-final defeat to Belgium as they were eliminated from the World Cup.

In June 2019, he was considered by some fans and part of the media to be one of the top contenders to take Neymar's spot in the national team ahead of the 2019 Copa América, held in Brazilian soil, after the PSG forward got injured in a friendly against Qatar, due to his previous works with coach Tite in Corinthians and the national team itself, but eventually lost out the callup to Chelsea's Willian.

Career statistics

International

Scores and results list Brazil's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Augusto goal.

Honours Flamengo Copa do Brasil: 2006 Campeonato Carioca: 2007, 2008

Corinthians Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2015 Campeonato Paulista: 2013 Recopa Sudamericana: 2013

Beijing Guoan Chinese FA Cup: 2018

Fluminense Recopa Sudamericana: 2024

Brazil U17 FIFA U-17 World Cup runner-up: 2005

Brazil U23 Olympic Gold Medal: 2016

Individual kicker Bundesliga Team of the Season: 2008–09 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Best Player: 2015 Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2015 Best Central Midfielder in Brazil: 2015