From being retired, goalkeeper revealed by Athletico becomes Brazil’s greatest penalty taker

Vagner also guaranteed Fantasma’s classification against the same Tubarão in the fourth phase of the Copa do Brasil. In stoppage time, the number 1 saved striker Bruno Santos’ penalty and secured a 1-0 victory. The victory took the Ponta Grossa club to an unprecedented clash with Fluminense, with the game at Maracanã.

On the rise, the Operário goalkeeper was the guest on the “Dois Um” podcast, from UmDois Esportes, and talked about his career alongside Thiago Mehl, Coritiba’s current goalkeeper coach.

“A lot of work and a lot of studying. I’ve always enjoyed studying a lot and the issue of Dudu and Felipe, Operário’s goalkeeper trainers, comes into play. I’ve always characterized myself as being a penalty taker from the base. I’m very fast, I have a very accurate reading of the moment. I’ve had the pleasure of playing with several players, but the moment of decision is completely cold. I try to play with psychology, it’s important to be able to”, explains Vagner.

Vagner thought about retirement before agreeing with Operário

Vagner started his career at Athletico in 2005, where he stayed until 2008. Afterwards, he joined Desportivo Brasil, from São Paulo, and embarked on a long career in European football. After spells at clubs in Portugal, Azerbaijan, and Belgium, the goalkeeper returned to Brazil at the end of the 2023/2024 season.

Without a club, the goalkeeper considered retirement, but the situation changed after watching a Coritiba match during the 2025 Paraná Championship. “I came back from Portugal, I had some situations even in the Arab world, but things ended up not happening. At the age of 38, I was getting fed up and went to the interior. When I told Beatriz, my wife, that I was going to retire, she was amazed”, he remembers.

“I was in the country, my brother said there would be Maringá x Coritiba in the Campeonato Paranaense last year and I went to see it. Gabriel was there. [Leite, do Coritiba] playing, a great friend, and I missed it. It was the first game I saw after I returned from Portugal”, he adds.

Vagner returned to training at Athletico, which opened the doors to CT do Caju, and signed with Operário at the start of Série B in 2025. Last season, the goalkeeper was on Elias Curzel’s bench and played just four times. This year, he won the title during the Campeonato Paranaense.

“The goalkeeper, in addition to passion, has to have a very cool head. He always plays just one. And when he needs to, he has to be ready. Elias was very good, he had just been champion, so he needs to know how to respect the moment. We have a great relationship with Elias and the other Operário goalkeepers”, he highlights.