Last Updated on September 15, 2026 by Helena

Sergio Henrique Santos Gomes, commonly known as Sergio Santos, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a forward for Atlanta United in Major League Soccer. Born on September 4, 1994, in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, Santos came from a modest background and worked in construction while trying to establish himself as a footballer.
Family has been an important motivation throughout Santos’ career. He grew up living with his father, an aunt and two older brothers, while his mother lived separately and had three other children. As an adult, Santos created a family of his own with his wife, Frani. Reliable MLS reporting confirms that the couple are married and had at least two children by 2021.
Who Is Sergio Santos’ Wife?
Sergio Santos’ wife is known publicly as Frani. Major League Soccer confirmed their relationship in August 2024 while reporting on an emotional goal celebration by the Brazilian forward during his time with FC Cincinnati.
After scoring in a dramatic Leagues Cup victory, Santos ran toward the opposite end of the field, dropped to one knee and made a proposal gesture. MLS subsequently explained that the celebration was dedicated to Frani.
The couple were already legally married, but they had not previously celebrated their marriage with the formal ceremony they wanted. Santos had effectively proposed again earlier that week as they prepared to organize that long-awaited celebration.
Reliable public reporting generally identifies his wife only as Frani. Her full name, profession and detailed personal background have not been widely documented, suggesting that she maintains a relatively private life despite her husband’s professional football career.
When Did Sergio Santos and Frani Get Married?
MLS reported in 2024 that Sergio Santos and Frani had already been married since his period with Philadelphia Union.
Santos played for Philadelphia between 2019 and 2022, meaning the couple’s marriage dates from that stage of his career. However, they had never held the official wedding celebration they wanted.
In August 2024, Santos proposed to Frani again ahead of plans to finally celebrate their union formally. His subsequent goal celebration for FC Cincinnati recreated the proposal in front of supporters.
There is limited reliable reporting about the ceremony itself after that announcement, so it would be safer not to provide a date or location unless the couple publicly confirms those details.
Does Sergio Santos Have Children?
Yes. Sergio Santos is a father. Reliable reporting confirms that he and his wife had at least two children by July 2021.
Philadelphia Union reported that Santos was excused from training around that period because of the birth of his second child. The Philadelphia Inquirer independently reported that his wife had given birth to their second child during the same week.
Because those reports date from 2021, the most accurate wording as of now is that Santos has at least two children. There is not enough recent public information to confidently state that two remains the exact number.
What Are Sergio Santos’ Children Called?
The names of Sergio Santos’ children have not been consistently disclosed by major football publications or official club sources.
Philadelphia Union confirmed the arrival of his second child but did not publicly identify the baby by name in its report.
Santos and Frani appear to protect their children’s privacy, so their names, birth dates and other personal details should not be filled in using unverified social-media or biography sources.
When Was Sergio Santos’ Second Child Born?
Santos’ second child was born in July 2021, while the Brazilian was playing for Philadelphia Union.
The timing was confirmed when Philadelphia reported that Santos had been excused from a training session for the birth of the baby.
Despite the major family moment, Santos quickly returned to football duties during a busy portion of Philadelphia’s MLS campaign.
Who Are Sergio Santos’ Parents?
The names of Sergio Santos’ father and mother have not been reliably disclosed in major public sources. However, Santos provided significant information about his childhood family situation in an extensive 2017 interview with Chilean newspaper La Tercera.
Santos said that while growing up in the Ana Lucía neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, he lived with his father, an aunt and two older brothers.
His mother lived elsewhere and faced greater financial difficulties. Santos explained that helping his mother and improving his family’s future became one of his major motivations for succeeding in football.
Who Is Sergio Santos’ Father?
Sergio Santos’ father has remained outside the public spotlight, and his name has not been established by reliable football reporting.
What Santos has confirmed is that he lived with his father during his childhood in Belo Horizonte. His household at the time also included an aunt and his two older brothers.
The family lived in the Ana Lucía neighborhood, an area Santos described while discussing the economic difficulties that surrounded his early life.
Because his father is a private individual, claims about his name, profession or personal history should not be presented without stronger documentation.
Who Is Sergio Santos’ Mother?
Sergio Santos has spoken particularly emotionally about his mother, although her name has not been publicly confirmed by a reliable mainstream source.
During his 2017 interview in Chile, Santos explained that his mother lived separately from the household where he stayed with his father.
He said she experienced greater financial difficulties than he did and described one of his biggest ambitions as being able to improve her life.
His comments made clear that professional football represented much more than personal success. Santos wanted to create enough financial stability to provide things his mother might otherwise have been unable to afford.
Sergio Santos Worked in Construction to Help His Family
One of the defining aspects of Sergio Santos’ early life was the need to work while pursuing football.
Before becoming a professional player, he worked as a construction laborer in Belo Horizonte. Santos specifically recalled doing roofing work while simultaneously training within América Mineiro’s youth setup.
He had joined América Mineiro when he was around nine years old but was still effectively pursuing football at an amateur level while earning money through construction.
The experience became one of the most widely documented parts of his background and helps explain why Santos has frequently associated his football career with supporting his family financially.
Did Sergio Santos Grow Up in Poverty?
Santos grew up in the Ana Lucía neighborhood of Belo Horizonte, where he experienced significant financial limitations.
La Tercera described poverty as common in the streets surrounding his childhood home. Santos nevertheless explained that he had a house and food while living with his father.
He was especially concerned about his mother because he believed she faced greater economic hardship.
His experiences eventually inspired his goal of using professional football to give his family greater security.
Does Sergio Santos Have Siblings?
Yes. Sergio Santos comes from a large family and has at least five siblings.
In his 2017 interview, Santos said that he grew up living with two older brothers.
He then explained that he had three additional siblings through his mother, who lived in a different household.
This means reliable first-person reporting establishes at least five siblings in total. However, the names of his brothers and maternal siblings have not been published by the reliable sources currently available.
Sergio Santos’ Two Older Brothers
Santos has specifically confirmed having two older brothers.
The three boys lived together with their father and an aunt while growing up in Belo Horizonte.
Santos has not publicly provided their names, ages or occupations in major interviews, and neither brother has become a prominent public figure through Sergio’s football career.
They should therefore be described simply as his older brothers unless more authoritative information becomes available.
Sergio Santos’ Three Siblings Through His Mother
Santos also told La Tercera that he had three other siblings through his mother.
His comments indicate that they lived separately from the household in which Sergio grew up with his father, aunt and two older brothers.
The interview did not provide the names or genders of all three maternal siblings, nor did it offer detailed information about their lives.
Consequently, it is best to describe them only as three additional siblings rather than attempt to identify them using unsupported online claims.
How Many Siblings Does Sergio Santos Have?
Based on Santos’ own account, he has at least five siblings: two older brothers from the household where he grew up and another three siblings through his mother.
It is possible that additional family circumstances have changed or become public since his 2017 interview, but five is the number directly supported by his own description.
Family Helped Sergio Santos Continue Playing Football
Santos nearly abandoned football before ever becoming a professional.
He had been developing with América Mineiro when the club released him. Santos said he received no clear explanation and believed his physical size may have counted against him.
The rejection affected him badly enough that he considered walking away from the sport altogether.
However, Santos credited friends and family with encouraging him to return to football. That support ultimately proved crucial because he eventually received an opportunity to pursue his career in Chile.
Leaving His Family in Brazil for Chile
Santos took a major personal risk when he left Brazil at approximately 19 years old in pursuit of professional football opportunities in Chile.
He initially trialed unsuccessfully with Palestino and Magallanes before earning a chance with Audax Italiano.
During his early years in Chile, Santos lived in accommodation associated with the club and was taken in socially by a Chilean family.
He nevertheless admitted that being separated from his relatives in Brazil was difficult. Santos stayed connected through services such as Skype and WhatsApp, receiving photographs and updates from home.
He described feeling sadness because of the distance while also being happy whenever he knew his relatives were doing well.
Why Sergio Santos Wanted to Become a Professional Footballer
Professional football represented an opportunity for Santos to transform not just his own life but also his family’s circumstances.
In the interview discussing his years as a construction worker, Santos said one of his greatest fears was failing to achieve the goal of creating a better future for his family.
His mother was especially central to that ambition because of the financial difficulties she experienced.
That motivation remained with Santos as he progressed from Audax Italiano to Major League Soccer.
Sergio Santos’ Journey From Brazil to MLS
Santos eventually established himself with Audax Italiano after moving to Chile as a young player.
His speed, physicality and goalscoring performances attracted interest from Major League Soccer, and Philadelphia Union signed him in December 2018.
He spent several seasons with Philadelphia and helped the club win the 2020 Supporters’ Shield.
FC Cincinnati acquired Santos in July 2022. He later helped Cincinnati win the 2023 Supporters’ Shield before finishing the 2025 season with Houston Dynamo.
Sergio Santos Joins Atlanta United
Atlanta United signed Santos as a free agent on February 18, 2026.
The club gave him a contract through the 2026 MLS season with an option through December 31, 2027.
Atlanta highlighted the considerable MLS experience Santos had accumulated with Philadelphia Union, FC Cincinnati and Houston Dynamo, as well as his history of playing on Supporters’ Shield-winning teams.
As of now, he remains part of Atlanta United’s first-team forward group.
Sergio Santos’ Family Life in the United States
Santos’ years in MLS have coincided with major developments in his personal life.
He married Frani during his Philadelphia Union period and became a father of at least two children by 2021.
The family later experienced his moves to Cincinnati, Houston and Atlanta as Santos continued his career in the United States.
His 2024 goal celebration for Cincinnati demonstrated that family remained closely connected to his football life, with Santos using a major moment on the field to honor his wife and their plans for a formal wedding celebration.
Frequently Asked Questions About Sergio Santos’ Family
Who is Sergio Santos’ girlfriend?
Sergio Santos does not have a publicly known girlfriend because he is married. His wife is known as Frani.
Who is Sergio Santos’ wife?
Sergio Santos’ wife is Frani. MLS confirmed that the couple had already been married since his Philadelphia Union years when Santos publicly re-proposed to her in 2024 ahead of plans for a formal wedding celebration.
Is Sergio Santos married?
Yes. Sergio Santos is married to Frani.
Does Sergio Santos have children?
Yes. Reliable Philadelphia Union reporting confirms that Santos had at least two children by July 2021.
What are Sergio Santos’ children called?
The names of his children have not been consistently confirmed by major public sources.
Who are Sergio Santos’ parents?
The names of his parents have not been reliably published. Santos has confirmed that he grew up living with his father while his mother lived separately.
Who is Sergio Santos’ father?
Santos’ father has remained outside the public spotlight. Sergio lived with his father, an aunt and two older brothers while growing up in Belo Horizonte.
Who is Sergio Santos’ mother?
His mother’s name has not been reliably disclosed. Santos has spoken emotionally about her financial difficulties and said that helping provide a better life for her was one of his biggest motivations.
Does Sergio Santos have siblings?
Yes. Santos has publicly said he has at least five siblings.
How many brothers does Sergio Santos have?
He has specifically confirmed two older brothers with whom he grew up. He also has three additional siblings through his mother, although reliable sources do not specify all of their genders.
Did Sergio Santos work before becoming a footballer?
Yes. Santos worked in construction, including roofing jobs, while trying to establish himself as a footballer in Belo Horizonte.
Where is Sergio Santos from?
Santos was born in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil, on September 4, 1994. He grew up in the Ana Lucía neighborhood.

Helena Lena Jessica Da Laila is a football writer covering Spanish women’s football, with a focus on Liga F, tactical trends, and emerging talents shaping the women’s game in Spain.
