Givanildo Vieira de Sousa may not be a name that rings a bell in the broader world of sports, but in football, Hulk is pure goal-scoring power and Atlético Mineiro's key weapon for the Copa Libertadores final against Botafogo.

At 38 years old, with two decades of football experience, standing 1.80 meters tall, weighing 90 kilograms, and boasting just 9% body fat, Hulk is the epitome of muscle mass. His nickname is a tribute to the strong green giant of Marvel Comics.

This season, he has scored 19 goals and provided 11 assists, numbers he could further increase in the Libertadores final this Saturday and in the remaining games of the Campeonato Brasileiro.

Over the course of his professional career, which began in 2004, Hulk has netted 440 goals, although only 11 of those came from the 49 appearances he made for the Brazilian national team between 2009 and 2021, where he was never able to establish himself as a regular starter.

Givanildo was born in Campina Grande, Paraíba, as the only son of Gilvan and Socorro, growing up in a humble home and sharing a room with three of his six sisters.

It was during his childhood that his nickname was born. "Since I was three years old, I used to imitate Hulk, my favorite hero," his father revealed years ago.

Gilvan supported his family by working at a local market selling meat, sometimes with the help of young Givanildo, who was already strong but hadn’t yet developed the muscles he’s known for today.

"I had to make it in life for my family, and the only paths were football or driving a bus," Hulk once said, recalling his roots.

He made his debut for Vitória at the age of 17 as a substitute, playing only two matches as a right-back, without scoring.

His true power began to emerge at Kawasaki Frontale in Japan, where he was loaned in 2005 and scored his first three goals.

From there, his journey took him to Consadole Sapporo and Tokyo Verdy in Japan, before moving to Europe with Porto, where he struggled to secure a starting spot after two seasons.

He continued his career in Russia with Zenit and later in China with Shanghai SIPG, before returning to Brazil in 2021 to join Atlético Mineiro.

Since then, he has been an undisputed starter under various coaches at the Belo Horizonte club.

Atlético Mineiro's current manager, Argentine Gabriel Milito, describes him as "an tireless and decisive player" who "always shows up when needed" and a "true leader" for the team due to his "immense experience and commitment."

👉 Don’t miss the Copa Libertadores final between Atlético Mineiro and Botafogo this Saturday, November 30, at 2:55 PM, exclusively on beIN SPORTS.