Last Updated on October 2, 2026 by Siara Costa
Artur, whose full name is José Artur de Lima Junior, comes from a Brazilian family with strong connections to football. Born in Brumado, Bahia, the Houston Dynamo FC midfielder grew up in an environment where the sport became important not only to him but also to his older brother, Norberto Pereira Marinho Neto, who went on to enjoy his own professional football career.
Artur has since built a family of his own in the United States. He is married to Rachel, and the couple have a daughter. Although Houston Dynamo and Columbus Crew have publicly acknowledged Rachel and their child, Artur generally keeps his home life away from extensive media attention. Information about his father and brother is better documented in Brazil, while the identity of his mother has remained largely outside the public spotlight.
Who Is Artur’s Wife?
Artur’s wife is Rachel. Their relationship has been publicly acknowledged by both Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo FC.
Rachel was already identified as Artur’s wife during his years with Columbus Crew. In 2020, the club highlighted Artur’s appreciation for healthcare workers and specifically mentioned Rachel among them.
Houston Dynamo later provided another clear confirmation of their relationship. When the club announced Artur’s contract extension in October 2023, general manager Pat Onstad said that Houston was pleased that Artur, his wife Rachel and their daughter had decided to continue their lives with the club in Houston.
That statement provided one of the strongest official confirmations of Artur’s immediate family.
Rachel has generally maintained a considerably lower public profile than her husband. Artur’s football interviews usually concentrate on his performances, teammates and career rather than the details of their marriage.
Is Artur Married?
Yes. Artur is married to Rachel.
Unlike cases where a footballer’s relationship status comes mainly from social-media speculation, Rachel’s status as Artur’s wife has been directly confirmed by his MLS clubs.
Columbus Crew referred to Rachel as his wife in 2020, while Houston Dynamo did the same when discussing Artur and his family in 2023.
However, reliable official sources provide relatively few details about when the couple met, when they married or where their wedding took place. For that reason, those aspects of their relationship should not be presented as established facts without stronger documentation.
Does Artur Have Children?
Yes. Artur has at least one daughter with his wife Rachel.
Houston Dynamo publicly confirmed their daughter when announcing Artur’s contract extension in October 2023.
The club did not disclose the child’s name or other personal information, and Artur appears to have chosen to keep his daughter largely outside the public spotlight.
Protecting those details is understandable given that she is a child and does not have the same public role as her father.
Artur’s Daughter
Artur and Rachel’s publicly known child is a daughter.
Houston Dynamo did not identify her by name when mentioning the family, and reliable official profiles of Artur have not consistently published her name or date of birth.
For that reason, it is preferable to describe her simply as Artur and Rachel’s daughter rather than relying on unverified online information.
The fact that Houston specifically included Rachel and their daughter in its announcement also shows that Artur’s family had become established in Houston after his move from Columbus.
Who Are Artur’s Parents?
Artur was born on March 11, 1996, in Brumado, Bahia, Brazil. Local reporting from his hometown provides some information about his father but considerably less about his mother.
Artur and his older brother Norberto both managed to reach professional football, making the family particularly notable within Brumado’s sporting community.
Artur’s Father: Zé Artur
Artur’s father is publicly known in Brumado as Zé Artur.
A local report published in 2016 about Artur and his brother Norberto meeting during a Brazilian league match described both footballers as sons of Zé Artur and noted that their father was well known in Brumado.
The match was particularly memorable for the family because Artur was representing São Paulo while Norberto was playing for Vitória.
Seeing two brothers from the same family competing against each other at the Morumbi Stadium represented a significant achievement for both the family and their hometown.
Publicly available reports provide little reliable information about Zé Artur’s occupation or whether he himself played organized football. Therefore, those aspects of his life remain largely private.
Artur’s Mother
The name of Artur’s mother has not been reliably established in the major public sources currently available.
Although Artur’s father and brother have appeared in local coverage from Brumado, his mother has maintained a much lower public profile.
There is not enough reliable information to provide her name, occupation or personal background without risking confusing Artur’s family with another family from the region.
For that reason, her identity is best kept private unless Artur or a trustworthy source publicly confirms more information.
Does Artur Have Siblings?
Yes. Artur has an older brother named Norberto Pereira Marinho Neto, commonly known in Brazilian football simply as Norberto.
Norberto was born on July 19, 1990, also in Brumado, making him approximately six years older than Artur.
Like his younger brother, Norberto became a professional footballer. He primarily played as a right-back and represented numerous Brazilian clubs during a long career.
Artur’s Brother: Norberto Pereira Marinho Neto
Norberto Pereira Marinho Neto is Artur’s best-known sibling.
Norberto began his professional career with América-RN and later represented clubs including Coritiba, Vitória, América Mineiro, Sport Recife, CSA, Cruzeiro and Ponte Preta.
His career meant that the Lima family had two sons simultaneously competing at a high professional level.
A particularly notable moment occurred in June 2016 when Artur and Norberto faced each other at the Morumbi Stadium.
Artur had recently broken into São Paulo’s senior squad, while Norberto was representing Vitória. Local media in Brumado celebrated the occasion as an important moment for the city because two brothers who grew up there had reached Brazil’s top division.
São Paulo won the match, but the encounter had special significance for the brothers and their hometown.
Are Artur and Norberto Really Brothers?
Yes. Multiple sources identify Artur and Norberto as brothers.
Local Brumado reporting explicitly described them as sons of the same father, Zé Artur, while football biographies of Artur have also consistently identified Norberto as his brother.
The fact that the brothers use different commonly recognized surnames can sometimes create confusion among supporters.
Artur’s full name is José Artur de Lima Junior, while Norberto’s full name is Norberto Pereira Marinho Neto. Nevertheless, reliable reporting from their hometown establishes their sibling relationship.
Artur and Norberto’s Football Connection
Football has provided a strong connection between Artur and his older brother.
Norberto entered professional football first, giving the younger Artur an example of someone from the same family successfully pursuing the sport.
Artur eventually developed through the youth systems of Bahia, Juventus-SC and São Paulo.
His progress at São Paulo included considerable success at youth level. He helped the club win major competitions before earning opportunities with the senior team.
By 2016, both brothers were competing in Brazilian professional football, creating the memorable opportunity for them to share the field as opponents.
Artur’s Childhood in Brumado
Artur grew up in Brumado, a municipality in the Brazilian state of Bahia.
The city has produced several professional footballers, and the careers of Artur and Norberto attracted considerable local attention.
Artur eventually had to leave his hometown to pursue opportunities at larger football academies.
He spent part of his youth development with Bahia before moving through Juventus-SC and then São Paulo, where his career began progressing rapidly.
Leaving home to pursue professional football meant spending significant periods away from his family, but the decision eventually opened the door to a career outside Brazil.
Artur’s Move to the United States
Artur’s life changed significantly in 2017 when Columbus Crew brought him to Major League Soccer on loan from São Paulo.
The move initially placed the young Brazilian midfielder in a new country, culture and football environment.
Columbus eventually made the transfer permanent after Artur established himself as an important member of the team.
His years in Ohio became significant both professionally and personally. Artur developed into one of the league’s respected defensive midfielders, won the 2020 MLS Cup and built his life in the United States alongside Rachel.
He later became a United States citizen in 2022.
Artur’s Family and His Move to Houston
Houston Dynamo FC acquired Artur from Columbus Crew in November 2022.
The move represented another major transition for the midfielder and his family, taking them from Ohio to Texas.
Artur quickly became an important part of Houston’s midfield and helped the club win the 2023 U.S. Open Cup.
When Houston decided to extend his contract later that year, general manager Pat Onstad made a point of mentioning Rachel and their daughter.
The club said it was pleased that the entire family had chosen to remain in Houston, demonstrating that the contract decision involved more than just Artur’s football career.
How Important Is Family to Artur?
Although Artur does not regularly give detailed interviews about his private life, his career provides several examples of family remaining important to him.
His connection with Norberto has continued despite their careers taking them in different directions, and the brothers have returned to Brumado during breaks from professional football.
They have also participated in football gatherings in their hometown alongside relatives and friends.
Meanwhile, Rachel and their daughter have accompanied Artur during the American chapter of his life.
Houston’s decision to mention them publicly when announcing his contract extension showed that the club recognized his family as an important part of his decision to remain in Texas.
Frequently Asked Questions About Artur’s Family
Who is Artur’s wife?
Artur’s wife is Rachel. Both Columbus Crew and Houston Dynamo FC have publicly confirmed their marriage.
Does Artur have a girlfriend?
Artur is married to Rachel, so she is more accurately described as his wife rather than his girlfriend.
Does Artur have children?
Yes. Artur has at least one daughter. Houston Dynamo publicly confirmed his daughter in 2023.
What is Artur’s daughter’s name?
Houston Dynamo did not publicly identify Artur’s daughter by name, and her name has not been consistently confirmed by authoritative sources.
Who is Artur’s father?
Local reporting from Brumado identifies Artur’s father as Zé Artur, who is described as a well-known resident of the city.
Who is Artur’s mother?
The name of Artur’s mother has not been reliably documented in major publicly available sources.
Does Artur have siblings?
Yes. Artur has an older brother named Norberto Pereira Marinho Neto.
Who is Artur’s brother?
Artur’s brother is former professional footballer Norberto, a right-back who represented clubs including América-RN, Coritiba, Vitória, América Mineiro, Sport Recife, CSA, Cruzeiro and Ponte Preta.
Did Artur and Norberto ever play against each other?
Yes. The brothers faced each other in Brazil in June 2016 when Artur represented São Paulo and Norberto played for Vitória at the Morumbi Stadium.
Where is Artur’s family from?
Artur is from Brumado, Bahia, Brazil. His brother Norberto was also born in Brumado.
What is Artur’s full name?
His full name is José Artur de Lima Junior.
Siara Costa is a football editor and writer covering both European men’s and women’s football, with a focus on league competitions, match coverage, and in-depth storytelling.
