in a ban of 5 matches (including reserve league) and him being fined ¥25,000. Muriqui expressed his disappointment about the ban which he believed to be unfair in his Weibo and said he would leave China at the end of the season. However, after several talks with the club, Muriqui changed his mind and said he would happy to stay in China and fulfil his contract. Although missing 4 matches of the league, Muriqui scored 16 goals in 26 appearances in the season which made him the top goal scorer of the league. Guangzhou successfully achieved Super League champion for the first time in the club's history. Muriqui won the CFA Footballer of the Year award in December 2011. 2012 season At the start of the 2012 season, Muriqui helped Guangzhou win the 2012 Chinese FA Super Cup by beating Tianjin Teda 2–1 on 25 February. He scored his first AFC Champions League goal in a 2012 AFC Champions League group stage match, the club's first AFC Champions League match, as Guangzhou defeated K-League champions Jeonbuk Hyundai Motors 5–1 away on 7 March. He scored twice in another Champions League match which Guangzhou beat J.League Division 1 champions Kashiwa Reysol 3–1 at home on 17 April. His three goals in the group stage ensured Guangzhou Evergrande to reach the knockout phase of the AFC Champions League. Muriqui scored his first hat-trick in the Super League, in a 5–1 home victory against Jiangsu Sainty on 17 June. On 3 July, Muriqui signed a new contract with Guangzhou Evergrande, keeping him at the club until 30 June 2016. On 19 September, Muriqui was injured after being tackled heavily by Osama Al-Muwallad during a Champions League match against Al-Ittihad at Prince Abdullah al-Faisal Stadium. The injury prevented Muriqui from playing for Guangzhou Evergrande for the rest of Super League and Champions League match and they won the league narrowly but was knocked out of their first Champions League journey by Al-Ittihad in the quarter-finals. Muriqui made his return from injury in the second leg of 2012 Chinese FA Cup final as Guangzhou won their first FA Cup title by defeating Guizhou Renhe 5–3 on aggregate. 2013 season Muriqui started the 2013 season by scoring a goal and an assist in the first round of 2013 AFC Champions League group stage match, a 3–0 home victory over J.League side Urawa Red Diamonds. The goal