Quick Facts
CapricornBiography
Wanderson Cristaldo Farias (Bulgarian: Вандерсон Крищалдо Фариаш; born 2 January 1988), simply known as Wanderson, is aBrazilian-born naturalized Bulgarian professional footballer who plays for Ludogorets Razgrad in the Bulgarian First League. He mostly plays as a winger, but he can also play as an attacking midfielder.
Wanderson played for several clubs in Brazil, including Série A side Portuguesa, before joining Ludogorets in 2014 where he won the Bulgarian League title in each of his first five seasons.
Club career
Wanderson began his senior career with CENE, but later moved to Iraty. In 2010, he signed with Sport Club Barueri. He returned to CENE in 2011, and appeared with the club in Série D, scoring three goals.
In January 2012, Wanderson signed with Oeste, scoring his first goal on 3 February, in a 1–1 away draw against Santos. In the same year he was a part of the team which won the Série C, appearing 23 times and scoring four goals.
On 23 August 2013, Wanderson signed a contract with Portuguesa. On 14 September he made his Série A debut, starting in a 1–2 away loss against Fluminense. His first top flight goal came eight days later, in a 1–0 away win over Internacional.
Ludogorets
On 27 August 2014, after coming on as a late substitute for Virgil Misidjan, Wanderson scored a last-minute goal for Ludogorets Razgrad in the 1–0 home win over Steaua București to send the Champions League qualifying match into extra time. His team won the penalty shootout to decide the match after field player Cosmin Moți saved two penalties and Ludogorets advanced to the group stages of the tournament for the first time in their history.
On 2 August 2016, Wanderson scored Ludogorets' first European hat-trick in a 4-2 away win against Red Star Belgradethat propelled the Eagles into the play-offs of the Champions League. On 6 December 2016, he scored his maiden goal in the groups of the tournament, giving a 2-1 lead, in the eventual 2-2 draw in the away match against Paris Saint-Germain.
International career
Born and raised in Brazil, Wanderson received Bulgarian citizenship in 2017, and subsequently opted to play internationally for the Bulgarian national team. In August 2019 Wanderson received his first call up for Bulgaria for the UEFA Euro 2020 Qualification match against England and the friendly match against Ireland on 7 and 10 September, making his debut in the 0:4 loss against the former.
Career statistics
Club Statistics
- As of 22 June 2020
| Club | Season | League | State league | Cup | Continental | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Brazil | Brasileirão | State league | Cup | CONMEBOL | Total | ||||||
| Sport Barueri | 2011 | — | 5 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5 | 0 | ||
| CENE | 2011 | 8 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 8 | 3 | |
| Oeste | 2012 | 23 | 4 | 17 | 6 | 0 | 0 | — | 40 | 10 | |
| 2013 | 11 | 0 | 18 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 29 | 3 | ||
| Total | 42 | 7 | 40 | 9 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 82 | 16 | |
| Portuguesa | 2013 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 16 | 3 | |
| 2014 | 0 | 0 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 3 | ||
| Total | 16 | 3 | 13 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 6 | |
| Bulgaria | First League | Supercup | Cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
| Ludogorets Razgrad | 2014–15 | 28 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 1 | 40 | 9 |
| 2015–16 | 26 | 9 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 1 | 29 | 10 | |
| 2016–17 | 31 | 14 | — | 3 | 1 | 14 | 5 | 48 | 20 | ||
| 2017–18 | 27 | 7 | 1 | 1 | 2 | 0 | 14 | 4 | 44 | 12 | |
| 2018–19 | 29 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 13 | 2 | 45 | 8 | |
| 2019–20 | 18 | 3 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 14 | 1 | 34 | 4 | |
| Total | 159 | 47 | 5 | 1 | 13 | 1 | 64 | 14 | 241 | 63 | |
| Career total | 217 | 57 | 58 | 14 | 13 | 1 | 64 | 14 | 351 | 85 | |
International career
- As of match played 17 November 2019
| Bulgaria national team | ||
|---|---|---|
| Year | Apps | Goals |
| 2019 | 6 | 0 |
| Total | 6 | 0 |
Honours
- Oeste
- Campeonato Paulista do Interior de Futebol: 2011
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série C: 2012
- Ludogorets
- Bulgarian First League (6): 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17, 2017–18, 2018–19, 2019–20
- Bulgarian Supercup (2): 2018, 2019
Personal life
Wanderson has one child from a former wife. He is a devout Christian.
