Ailton brings back his legendary top scorer from 2004!

Ailton brings back his legendary top scorer from 2004!

It was a memorable moment for football legend Aílton when he recently bought back his own top scorer from 2004. The Brazilian, who went down in history as the top scorer in the Bundesliga with an impressive 28 goals, not only captured part of his career, but also a valuable symbolic possession in his hands. Picture reports that the cannon was most recently in the possession of his former advisor Werner Hellecke.

Hellecke had withdrawn Aílton's award because he was in debt to him. He repeatedly tried to auction the cannon on eBay, with the highest bid being 600,000 euros. But Aílton was not discouraged and stopped the auctions. In an emotional post on Instagram, he proudly showed himself with the cannon in his hand and explained how much it means to him. “I will keep her forever,” explained the 52-year-old. It turned out that over the years the cannon also moved to another consultant, with whom Aílton had another legal dispute. Ultimately, Aílton was able to accept the court's offer to get the trophy back in exchange for a payment.

A look at Aílton's career

Aílton Gonçalves da Silva, born on July 19, 1973 in Mogeiro, Brazil, began his impressive career with Ypiranga FC before quickly leaving a trail of success behind him. In 1995 he was the top scorer in the national championship in Brazil. After stints at SC Internacional, Santa Cruz FC and Guarani FC, he came to SV Werder Bremen in 1998. Aílton initially had difficulties under coach Felix Magath, but he soon developed into a real clipper.

In a total of 169 Bundesliga games, he scored 88 goals for Werder Bremen and won numerous titles, including the German championship and the DFB Cup. Aílton is considered the third most successful foreign goalscorer in Bundesliga history, a title he deserves after scoring over 100 goals in Germany's top flight. In addition to his sporting career, he was also a sought-after TV star and appeared in formats such as “I'm a Star – Get Me Out of Here!” and “Let’s Dance”.

The comeback and the private life

Despite his return to football with a comeback with TSV Bassum in 2023, Aílton is still a colorful figure. He is married and has four children. You can also see him as an entrepreneur; he runs a rodeo park in Brazil and is involved in a construction company. Aílton remains in the public eye through his activities.

Whether as a successful goalscorer for Werder Bremen or as a public figure in various TV shows - Aílton has won a special place in the hearts of fans over the years. The return of his top scorer is not only a personal triumph, but also a tribute to his enduring connection to football and its roots. Wikipedia offers further interesting insights into Aílton's eventful life.