Experienced center back who played a key role in three LA Galaxy MLS Cup-winning sides. Selected by the Dynamo in Stage Two of Re-Entry Draft on Dec. 22, 2016. Signed with the Dynamo on January 1, 2017.
2018 MLS: Started in 19 games and played in 24 for the Dynamo this season ... Wore the captain's armband for the fourth time this season in a 1-0 loss at New York Red Bulls on August 29 ... Wore the captain's armband for the third time this season in a 0-0 draw at Colorado Rapids on July 14 ... Wore the captain's armband for the second time this season in a 2-2 draw at Vancouver Whitecaps FC on May 11 ... Scored his first goal of the season in a 5-1 win against Toronto FC on April 21 ... Wore the captain's armband for the first time in his Dynamo career in a 2-2 draw at San Jose Earthquakes on April 14 ... Made his season debut in a 2-1 loss against Vancouver Whitecaps on March 10
LAMAR HUNT U.S. OPEN CUP: 2018: played in a 4-2 win against Sporting Kansas City on July 18 in the quarterfinals ... 2016: started in three games for LA Galaxy ... 2015: started in two games for LA Galaxy ... 2014: started in 1-0 loss at Carolina Railhawks on June 25 playing for LA Galaxy ... 2013: started in a 2-0 loss at Carolina Railhawks on May 29 playing for LA Galaxy ... 2012: started in a 2-1 loss at Carolina Railhawks on May 29 playing for LA Galaxy ... 2010: started in two games for LA Galaxy
2017 MLS: Made three appearances and two starts during the Audi 2017 MLS Cup Playoffs ... Returned from an injury in a 2-0 loss against Seattle Sounders on November 21 ... Missed the Western Conference Semifinals due to an injury ... Started 29 games and played in 30 games this year ... Made his 100th MLS start in a 3-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes on August 12 ... Made his 100th MLS career appearance in a 3-1 loss at Colorado Rapids on July 1 ... Scored his first goal of the season in a 5-1 win vs. Real Salt Lake on May 31 ... Returned to the starting XI in a 2-0 win vs. San Jose Earthquakes on Apr. 22 after missing three games due to a right hamstring strain (Apr. 1 vs. NY, Apr. 8 at NE, Apr. 15 vs. MIN) ... Started and played 90 minutes in his Dynamo debut in a 2-1 win vs. Seattle Sounders FC on March 4
2016 MLS: Serving as a reserve to one of the league’s best defensive lines, Leonardo made four starts in four appearances in the 2016 season.
2015 MLS: Leonardo started 26 of the 26 games he appeared in in 2015, the most of any defender with exception Omar Gonzalez … LA Galaxy’s Defender of the Year in 2015 … Started in the team’s 3-2 playoff loss to Seattle in the Knockout Round of the MLS Playoffs
2014 MLS: Started in 20 games for the Galaxy backline that allowed an MLS low in goals with 35 during the Regular Season, adding a goal on May 25 against the Philadelphia Union … Also started in three of the Galaxy’s five MLS Cup Playoff matches en route to the club winning its fifth MLS Cup title.
2013 MLS: After returning from injury, Leonardo became a key contributor to the Galaxy’s backline, appearing in 14 MLS Regular Season games in central defense … His 14 appearances and 1,106 set new career highs.
2012 MLS: Missed the entire MLS season due to injury.
2011 MLS: Started each of the first seven games of the year in central defense, helping LA to a 3-1-3 record … Played the full 90 minutes in each of those games, helping his team keep three clean sheets … Scored the first goal of his MLS career on 4/2, heading home a David Beckham free kick in a 1-0 home win over Philadelphia … However, he tore the ACL and LCL in his right knee in second half stoppage time of the 2-1 win at Chicago on 4/17 … He was forced to undergo surgery a few days later and missed the rest of the season.
2010 MLS: A key figure in the heart of the Galaxy defense at the start of the season, Leonardo saw his first season with the club blighted by injuries, which limited him to just 10 games … Started the first three games of the year, helping the club keep a clean sheet in each before suffering a right quad strain that kept him out for nearly three months … After returning in July, he made just seven additional appearances … He made four appearances in the Open Cup and Champions League, starting all four of LA’s games in those two competitions.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE: 2001-09: Played for Sao Paulo of the Brazilian Campeonato after originally joining the club in 2001 at the age of 13. He was a member of Sao Paulo’s league championship team in 2008, despite not appearing in any games for the first team. Leonardo came through the youth ranks of the club, having played on the Sao Paulo team that won the Super Group of the 2007 Dallas Cup, defeating Real Madrid and Chelsea en route to the title. He also appeared for the club’s U-15 and U-20 teams. In 2009, he was loaned out to Toledo in the First Division of the Brazilian Paraná Championship, playing there alongside both Alex Cazumba and Juninho, who joined the Galaxy with him in 2009.
INTERNATIONAL: Played for both the Brazilian U-16 and U-17 National Teams, joining the U-16’s twice during the summer of 2004 and then training with the U-17’s in November of that year.
