Léo

Scienza

After gaining experience in futsal, Léo Scienza played exclusively at the amateur level during his youth, starting in the U20 team of Brazilian football club Chapecoense.

After a year, the striker moved to the U20 team of Clube Esportivo Lajeadense in January 2016, before opting for the U19 team of Uruguayan sports club Defensor in January 2017.

He then rejoined his former club Lejadense in Brazil, but did not sement his place in the professional team. This was the time that things started to change...

Arriving as a 20 years old, he went to Sweden believing in some promises that were made to him. However, it did not go as planned.

Instead of tests for clubs in the 1st or 2nd division, he ended up doing it for Fanna BK, in the 3th tier. Instead of consistent salary, he got food, basic accommodation, no contract signed and €500 every now and then, but also months without anything.

However, issues outside the pitch, did not impact Léo's commitment and determination to make it. With a series of great performances, he scored 12 goals in 22 games. He helped Fanna win the championship and move to the second tier. Then Corona hit, and another change came.

The first season at Schalke was also for adaptation to a new league, but he had good numbers with 9 goals contributions.

He was getting more involved in the first team training, but the begining of 2021 was a tough moment. There were a lot of youngsters that had the chance to make their debut for the 1st team in the Bundesliga. However, Léo got injured, had to do a surgery and spent 2 months out.

That was key to make him stronger for next season

Well adapted to the team, and more confortable in it, he had a great second season.

23 goals contributions, including braces in 3 different games and 3 assists in another.

Even though he loved the city and the club, without any chance in the first team, it was clear that his future was in another club. So he moved to 1. FC Magdeburg, in the second division.

After signing for Magdeburg, he had a great start in pre-season. Léo was one of the team's standouts: scoring six goals, including twice agains Dutch club Cambuur, in five games.

However, he did not have many chances in the first team, accumulating only 222 minutes in 11 appearances. It was when he played for the second team, in the 6th German tier, that he had a series of great performances: 20 goals contributions in only 10 games.

Léo felt that he was not being given the opportunity he deserved so he asked to terminate his contract. That was the best decision he has made in his career.

The best season of Léo's career so far.

Instrumental throughout the season for the Spatzen, Léo had 27 goals contributions throughout the season.

Those performances help Ulm get their first 3. Liga title with 10 points gap, after getting promoted from the 4th tier.

It also secured Léo his biggest individual accolade so far: the best player of the league voted by captains, coaches and fans.

He played a part in the club's first-ever participation in a European competition, competing in the Conference League . In the Conference League playoffs, FCH prevailed against Swedish side BK Häcken, he scored the winning goal in the first leg 2-1.

Finishing 16th, 1. FC Heidenheim survived the league phase, and were only eliminated in the playoffs for the round of 16 against FC Copenhagen. Léo scored in the second leg to make it 1-2, forcing the match to go into extra time.

In the Bundesliga, he scored 3 goals and provided 3 assists. However, his biggest moment came in the last minute of the relegation play-off against Elvesberg.

In the 95th minute, Léo, who had been a thorn in Elversberg's side all evening, found space in the box and fired home the winning goal. The late strike sent the away fans into raptures and secured Heidenheim's place in next season's Bundesliga.