Willie

Willie Hortencio Barbosa was born in Caravelas, Bahia, and began his career at Vitória, where he won the Campeonato Baiano in 2013. A string of loans followed — Vasco da Gama, América Mineiro, Atlético Goianiense and Red Bull Brasil — before he moved on to Red Bull Bragantino and then abroad, first to Romania's FC Botoșani and Greece's Apollon Smyrnis, where he picked up a Greek Football League title, and later to Switzerland with Servette.

His return to Brazil brought spells at Ceará and CRB, but it was his move to Bolivia that produced his most productive football. At The Strongest, Willie scored 25 goals in 49 appearances, a return that included strikes in the Copa Libertadores. He later played for Jorge Wilstermann in the same league, interspersed with stints in Israel, Romania again with FC UTA Arad, and China with Jiangxi Lushan.

Now at Independiente Petrolero, he has continued to find the net regularly. He scored a brace against San Antonio Bulo Bulo and another against Always Ready, contributions that helped the club qualify for the Copa Sudamericana 2026. In that competition he also converted a penalty against Racing Club. Most of his moves between clubs have come on free transfers.