Doing a few stepovers doesn't make him a great player, I'll admit that. But scoring this amount of goals, as a winger, does.

Definitely better than C.Ronaldo when he was 18, and easily as good as Messi of two years ago.

That's right. they say he's a winger so his goalscoring record looks more magnificent. but to be honest his goalscoring record is amazing no matter where he plays.

I'd still call him a winger. It's not like he plays behind the strikers or as a striker, so there's nothing else he could be.

I agree with that. He is out of this world, maybe Messi was slightly better but then again, it does not matter... all I care about is to see Pato constantly improving!

Messi came from Barca's youth system and obviously didn't have much problem adapting to Barca's first team and La Liga's style of football. the same cannot be said about Pato... I'm beginning to think there's no player who straightly has signed from a South American club for one of the world's biggest clubs [if not the biggest] 'at this age' and has done so good in his first months... name if you know of any...

The 18-year-old forward arrived in Milan at the end of 2007 from Internacional, making his debut after clearing European Union regulations in January.

Amidst words of extreme praise from the likes of club president Silvio Berlusconi and general manager Adriano Galliani, the youngster may well have succumbed to pressure, but instead he's started off in fine form.

He told UEFA.com, "I was happy to listen to people saying I was a great player.

"I thank them for looking after me, on and off the pitch, and for being my friends. It makes you want to do your best for them."

Too Much Too Young?

Indeed, it wasn't the first time that massive things had been expected of him after a culture change.

"I left home when I was eleven to play for Internacional, which was quite young," he said with more than a hint of understatement.

"Then, when I was 17, I left Brazil to come to Italy. I was really happy to join a great club like Milan who have welcomed me with open arms. My heart told me: 'Do your best because they are your friends and want to help you.'

"There are eight Brazilian players including me and they have supported me from the start. They still do."

The 18-year-old insists that he's settled in with no problems thanks largely to his compatriots and former idols.

"These are the players I played with on Playstation and watched on television," he admitted.

"They all surprised me when I arrived as they were all humble and friendly, giving me the support I needed. Now I want to do my best and help the team more and more."

One of these players, Kaka, offered nothing but praise for his young countryman.

"Pato is doing brilliantly for a young man of 18 who is just beginning his career at a big European club," he said.

"He has a massive future. I haven't given him any particular advice, I have just said he should follow what he has in his own mind. So many people tell you so many things, but you've got to follow your instincts, do things your way.

"I think you can learn a lot from what people tell you, but you learn even more from your own experience."

Experience

Pato has managed to hit more than a few goals already, such as against Napoli early on in his Milan career.

"I was delighted as I managed to do my best and score," he said.

"I was also pleased to play with so many stars and my idol Ronaldo.

"Our Champions League defeat? Playing in the UEFA Champions League was always a dream of mine. My friends used to play the official UEFA anthem to me, to give me an idea of how it would feel to be there.

"My objective now is to work hard and win trophies for Milan. I want to become a great player in Italy and to be recognised all over the world."

I think it's 12 games.

Nop. 13 (7).

Anyway, this kid just oozes class. What a diamond we've.

13 games, 7 goals.
He reached Gilardino's goalscoring record [28 games, 7 goals] in just 13 games!!
Not bad

What a slap in the face for our "pure goal poacher"...

Pato Promises Champions League Place


Milan's teenage sensation Alexandre Pato has expressed his conviction that they will be amongst the Champions League qualifiers by the time all is said and done this season.


The 18-year-old came up big for Milan yet again on the weekend, by scoring the goal that saw them take maximum points from a must-win match against Torino.

"I am optimistic and I am convinced that we will reach the Champions League places," he boomed after the victory.

Pato also showed his humble side by saying that the credit for the goal should belong to Alberto Gilardino, as all he had to do was get a foot on the ball.

"Do not give the goal to me: you have to give Gilardino, the merit is all his," the charismatic youngster concluded.

Derek Wanner, Goal.com

Problem is Pato's success doesn't help Gila's motivation at all... I can see he's a depressed goal poacher now...

I was so sure that if we only had Ronaldo ready along Pato this year we could easily win UCL

We'll win it next season, with Ronaldo

lol and we'll have maldini costacurta baresi in the back with dida in net   his career is finished.  He is i doubt gonna be able to play more than 10 matches a season.

Pato training with the Brazil AA squad for the first time:

Pato training with the Brazil AA squad for the first time:

Just saw Pato's goal for Brazil v. Sweden. It was lovely -- reminded me a bit of Savicevic's goal against Barca in the 94 CL finals. The commentator -- who usually does EPL stuff -- is totally gushing over him too, which I find a bit amusing.

It can be said that Pato's goal bring to mind that one but I don't think the two can be compared. Savicevic's goal is one of the most incredible that have ever been scored!

Tears of joy for Pato

Friday 28 March, 2008

Milan starlet Alexandre Pato was moved to tears after finding the net on his Brazil debut on Wednesday evening.

The 18-year-old took just 12 minutes to hit the target against Sweden at the Emirates Stadium and has been reaping the plaudits since.

“I called my parents straight after the game and I was crying with the emotion,” the former Internacional man revealed on Milan’s website.

“There’s nothing you can say. I was so emotional and I wanted to thank my parents, as they deserve the credit for everything that I am achieving because of the education they gave me, and the fact that they were always close to me.

“There’s a great feeling of joy at having made my Brazil debut. I would have had this chance before but I was denied by an injury.”

Pato has been widely compared to Selecao legend Pelè in his homeland’s Press, as the great man was the last player to score on his Brazil debut.

“Without a doubt the comparisons make me happy,” Pato admitted. “He is an idol to me, and a phenomenon.”

The precocious hitman returned to Milanello yesterday and received a hero’s welcome from his teammates.

“Now it’s time to think about Milan again and the objective is obviously to finish in fourth and get into the Champions League,” Pato explained.

“It’s crucial to beat Atalanta and claw back Fiorentina.”

Carlo Ancelotti may opt for a young partnership of Alberto Paloschi and Pato, as Kaka and Pippo Inzaghi are out and Alberto Gilardino has ‘flu’.

Don't worry. he will score plenty of wonder goals for us 

i gotta ask one question>  Did he really improve all that much because of our club or was he just this good before joining milan.

Who was no.20 for Brazil the other night? Cause during the celebrations after the goal it seems to me that Pato had a very warm hug with that guy...

Who was no.20 for Brazil the other night? Cause during the celebrations after the goal it seems to me that Pato had a very warm hug with that guy...

Alexandre Pato gives himself “eight out of ten” for his performance so far this season and reveals the shocking illness that almost ended his career.

The Milan hitman started his campaign in January due to a legal loophole over his age, but has already netted seven Serie A goals.

“I give myself eight out of ten, but it would have been more if I had been able to score against Arsenal,” said the 18-year-old.

“I promise the fans that I will take Milan to fourth place. I am very happy here, as I have the most enjoyable job in the world.”

Pato is famed for always scoring on his debut – doing so for Milan, the Brazil youth team and earlier this week the senior Selecao squad too.

“I hope to keep that trend up and score in my first derby!” he told the Gazzetta dello Sport.

Pato debuted that goal celebration after his first Serie A goal – holding his hands up to create a heart.

“When I score, the heart is for my girlfriend Sthefany and the smile is for the fans. It is a nice gesture, as I like to be at peace with the world. Sthefany and I love each other and we want to get married, but not this year.

“It hasn’t been easy for me growing up without my family around me. At 16 I saw my mother five times in 12 months. It was tough for both of us, but I shall always thank them for giving me the opportunity to choose.”

Pato also revealed a shocking moment in his life that almost cut short his playing career before it had even begun.

“In 2000 I had a tumour removed from my left arm. I broke my arm when playing with a friend and they didn’t put the cast on properly.

“When they looked deeper into it they saw a tumour. The doctor Paulo Roberto Mussi operated on me and said if they’d caught it two months later my arm would have been amputated. I was very fortunate.”

Pato also revealed a shocking moment in his life that almost cut short his playing career before it had even begun.