Wolfsburg have rushed to the top of the German Bundesliga thanks to an offensive-minded football that has opponents looking for ways to slow them down. One of the major factors in Wolfsburg's rise is Brazilian striker Grafite, who hopes a strong Bundesliga season could lead him to the Brazilian national team.
Born Edinaldo Batista Libano, Sold Garbage Bags
Grafite was born as Edinaldo Batista Libano on April 2, 1979 in Campo Limpo Paulista, Sao Paulo, Brazil. For eight years he tried to make a living by selling garbage bags door-to-door until he was 21 years old when he decided to play professional football. Growing up with Brazilian star Rai as his idol, Grafite's professional career began in 2001 at FC Santa Cruz, where he scored five goals in 22 games. In 2002, he went scoreless in six games for Gremio Porto Alegre.
Second Disappointing Year
In 2003 Grafite experienced some highs and lows. The then 24-year-old went abroad for the first time to play for the South Korean club Anyang LG Cheetahs in Seoul. But he again went scoreless in nine contests. On his personal website, Grafite described his stays with Gremio and Anyang as "very disappointing times".
Re-Start At Goias
But then he moved back to Brazil to play for Goias Esporte Clube in the second half of 2003 and scored 12 goals in 20 contests. Grafite called it "a re-start for me in Brazil". His next move would be to Brazilian powers Sao Paulo Futebol Clube.
Success With Sao Paulo
Grafite would taste real success for the first time with Sao Paulo, where he stayed from 2003 to 2006 and scored 17 goals in 44 matches. The club captured the 2005 Copa Libertadores crown as well as the 2005 FIFA Club World Championship. And it was under coach Emerson Leal that Grafite feels he advanced the furthest as a player.
Mother Kidnapped
Grafite's success in Brazil had a dark side as well. In late February 2005 his mother was kidnapped before being rescued by police 24 hours later. Grafite reported that the kidnappers also gagged his father and brother and told them they wanted money. It was one in a series of kidnappings aimed at Brazilian footballers. And it was a big reason for Grafite to leave his homeland.
New Era In Europe
Like so many of his compatriots, Grafite too would eventually land in Europe - with French top flight club Le Mans UC 72 for the 2005-2006 and 2006-2007 seasons. Calling it "a start of a new era in Europe", Grafite tallied 17 goals in 51 matches.
Move To Germany
That was followed by a move in August 2007 to Wolfsburg, with whom Grafite signed a four-year contract and would be playing with fellow Brazilians Josue and Marcelinho. In his first season with Wolfsburg, Grafite scored 11 goals in 24 matches.
Not Your Average Brazilian
In the 2008-09 season, Grafite became more accustomed to the Bundesliga and played more under control. The 1.90m, 90 kg striker is not a typical Brazilian who dazzles opponents with his ball handling skills. But he is rather a bullish striker who uses his strong body to gain space.
Rise To Star Status
Grafite's second season started with five goals in eight games. But it took off with a hat-trick in a 3-0 victory over Energie Cottbus in Week 12. Including that match, he tallied 15 goals in a nine-game stretch. After his two goals in Wolfsburg dominating 5-2 victory over Bayern Munich in Week 27, Grafite was on a pace of scoring a goal every 70 minutes. Through Week 28 he leads the league with 20 goals. He would become the fourth Brazilian to win the Bundesliga scoring crown after Marcio Amoroso (2001-02), Giovane Elber (2002-03) and Ailton (2003-04).
Magical Triangle
Football observers talk of the trio of Grafite, Edin Dzeko (16 goals, 8 assists) and Zvjezdan Misimovic (6 goals, 17 assists) as a Magical Triangle - a play on the Magical Triangle of Fredi Bobic, Giovane Elber and Krassimir Balakov from Stuttgart in the late 1990s.
One Appearance For Brazil
Grafite - whose name means "lead pencil" in Portuguese - has played once for the Brazilian national team, scoring a goal in the Selecao's friendly against Guatemala on April 27, 2005.
Sought-After Striker
Grafite's run in the Bundesliga is not going unobserved around Europe. The striker has a contract until June 30, 2011 with an option for an additional year. His current market value is 9.5 million euros. Among the teams being linked with the 30-year-old are Hamburg, Stuttgart, FC Seville, Atletico Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and AC Milan.
