Player Focus: Unlikely Heroes Lead Goalscoring Charts in Brazil

The Brazilian football calendar is an infuriating beast. At the start of the year the state championships test the patience of even the most saintly fans, ambling on for five months despite dwindling interest levels, vast gulfs in quality between sides and pitches that make your local park look like Wembley. In an ideal world, shortened estaduais would be the perfect aperitif before the main meal of the Brasileirão, but in reality it's hard not to feel a touch jaded by the time things go national.

Things are even worse this year. Due to the Confederations Cup, Série A started with a gruelling Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday-Wednesday-Sunday sprintathon, prompting some coaches to complain about fatigue after just five rounds of the season. And now the league goes on sabbatical until the start of July. Whirlwind romances are not commonly followed by enforced separation, but then Brazilian football rarely abides by the script.

Some clubs have been able to profit from the quick turnaround, hitting the ground running and making the most of widespread selection turmoil elsewhere caused by the international fixtures. Top-of-the-table Coritiba have been particularly impressive, while Vitória and Bahia have both punched above their weight. Atlético Mineiro, Corinthians and especially Santos, meanwhile, have started the campaign with all the verve of someone awaking from a coma.

This tumult has also allowed some lesser-known (to European audiences, at least) players to claw themselves to the top of the goal-scoring charts. Say hello to the unlikely heroes of the opening weeks of the Série A season:

Fernandão (Bahia) 

Fernandão probably isn't the kind of player that springs to mind when you think of football in Brazil, but is no less effective for that. The clue is in the name: Big Fernando. Tall and powerful with a loping run, he bullies defenders who are accustomed to dominating forwards in the physical side of the game. The stats back this up: he has won an impressive 3.2 aerial duels per game and drawn an average of 3.4 fouls on his way to 4 goals already this term.

Éderson (Atlético-PR) 

The focal point of the Furacão's free-scoring attack, Éderson has caught the eye with his busy, energetic style. The stocky striker has a knack of being in the right place at the right time – witness his opportunistic goal in the 4-3 win over Ponte Preta. He may not always be the most reliable of finishers (it has taken him 17 shots to register four goals) but he'll do well if he continues to trust his instincts.

Maxi Biancucchi (Vitória)

Like his more famous cousin, Maxi Biancucchi likes the ball at his feet: he averages far more dribbles per match (1.8) than anyone else on this list. But the little Argentine has also been deadly when opportunities have fallen his way, scoring four goals in four games from just 9 shots. When he missed the Grêmio match with a bout of Flu, Vitória fell to their first – and so far only – defeat of the season.

Deivid (Coritiba)

Ridiculed by Flamengo fans for his unfortunate knack of missing open goals, the striker has found a new lease of life in the more relaxed climes of the Couto Pereira. He has been the most efficient of the five players listed here, requiring only 7 shots to chalk up his three goals. He has benefitted from playing alongside former Fenerbahçe team-mate Alex, who set up Deivid's winner against Náutico on Sunday.

William (Ponte Preta)

The Macaca striker set himself a target at the turn of the year: score 30 goals before the end of 2013. A series of fine displays in the São Paulo state championship certainly aided William's cause, taking him to 13 before the start of the Série A season. Since then he has added three more, including a brace against Atlético-PR. He enjoys playing on the shoulder of the last defender – as evidenced by his 2.2 offsides per game – but has also managed seven key passes, underlining his importance to a Ponte side that is likely to be facing a relegation battle come the end of the season.