Fluminense coach Cristovao Borges has hailed the return to form of Fred after the striker ended his goal drought with a brace in the Brazilian team's 4-0 victory over Sport.
The 30-year-old was widely criticised after scoring just once in Brazil's ill-fated 2014 World Cup campaign, reports Xinhua.
He entered the fixture with just two goals from eight matches in Brazil's Serie A this season.
But he answered his critics with a goal in each half at the Maracana stadium as Fluminense consolidated fifth spot in Brazil's top-flight standings.
"He is a very important player to us - an idol, a leader with a highly professional attitude. His teammates look up to him," Borges said Monday.
"We believe in him. He shouldered a lot of the blame during the World Cup. But after these two goals he has his confidence back."
Fred announced his international retirement after Brazil's 1-7 World Cup semifinal defeat to Germany.
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