Luciano closes in on São Paulo’s 100-goal club with heroics in five straight games | OneFootball

Luciano is shaping much of São Paulo’s season under Hernán Crespo, emerging as the most influential figure in the club’s attack over recent weeks. In a period marked by key injuries and unavailable players, his role has become even more central. Luciano’s numbers highlight this impact: across São Paulo’s last five matches, he has delivered six decisive contributions, split evenly between three goals and three assists.

His recent stat line includes performances against a range of opponents. At the Beira-Rio, São Paulo edged Internacional 2-1, with Luciano recording a shot and picking up a yellow card. Hosting Fluminense, he set up a goal and fired two shots in a 3-1 victory. Against Juventude, Luciano scored the only goal in a narrow away win, taking four shots and receiving another booking. The derby with Corinthians at Morumbis saw him strike twice from three attempts, while a 2-2 draw with Red Bull Bragantino ended with two more assists and four shots. In total, he has managed 14 shots and two yellow cards across this stretch.

This run is particularly significant as Luciano closes in on a rare club milestone: 100 goals for São Paulo. No player has hit this mark since Rogério Ceni in 2011. Luciano sits on 11 goals in 2025 alone, making him the squad’s second-leading scorer so far and maintaining an average above 0.3 goals per game for the season. Among current São Paulo players and across the Campeonato Brasileiro, Luciano ranks within the top 10 for active goalscorers.

Luciano’s performances stand out not just for his consistency in front of goal but also for his direct involvement in nearly every crucial attacking sequence. Over the last five games, he has either scored or assisted in each match. Compared with other leading forwards in the league, Luciano’s contribution rate over this run is among the highest. His tactical versatility—able to play as a supporting striker, lead the line, or drop into an attacking midfield role—has given Crespo a reliable option regardless of the team’s changing tactics or the availability of other forwards.

His trajectory since arriving in 2020 has followed a pattern of steady output, but the current campaign has seen Luciano reach a new level of influence and responsibility. He has responded to criticism and occasional dips in form by securing his place as the team’s technical reference and undisputed starter. Luciano’s record in high-profile fixtures at Morumbis adds to his reputation for delivering under pressure, with decisive actions in derbies and crucial league matches.

Approaching the 100-goal milestone has been swift, especially considering injury spells and tactical shifts the team has faced since his arrival. Luciano’s current form points to his best spell in physical and technical terms since joining the club. If this trajectory continues, his name is set to be more prominent in São Paulo’s record books.

With São Paulo navigating the challenges of the 2025 campaign, Luciano has established himself as a benchmark among Brazilian forwards, both in productivity and influence. His recent performances are among the most decisive in the league and have underscored his value in a period where the club is seeking both consistency and leadership on the field.

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