Paulinho (footballer, born November 1992)

João Paulo Dias Fernandes (born 9 November 1992), commonly known as Paulinho, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP as a striker.

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Dias and the second or paternal family name is Fernandes.
Paulinho
Paulinho with Sporting CP in 2021
Personal information
Full name João Paulo Dias Fernandes[1]
Date of birth (1992-11-09) 9 November 1992[1]
Place of birth Barcelos, Portugal[1]
Height 1.87 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s) Striker
Team information
Current team
 Sporting CP
Number 20
Youth career
2001–2011 Santa Maria
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2010–2012 Santa Maria 39 (9)
2012–2013 Trofense 35 (11)
2013–2017 Gil Vicente 112 (28)
2017–2021 Braga 100 (38)
2021– Sporting CP 72 (24)
International career‡
2012 Portugal U21 1 (0)
2020– Portugal 3 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 23:24, 30 September 2023 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2020

He amassed Primeira Liga totals of 199 matches and 59 goals over eight seasons, representing Gil Vicente, Braga and Sporting CP (for whom he signed in January 2021 for €16 million), winning the 2019–20 Taça da Liga and the 2020–21 Taça de Portugal with the second of those clubs and the 2020–21 national championship and the 2021 Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira with the third. In the Segunda Liga, he played with Trofense and Gil.

Paulinho won his first cap for Portugal in 2020, scoring twice in his first appearance.

Club career

Trofense

Born in Barcelos, Braga District, Paulinho started playing with local amateurs Santa Maria.[2] In 2012 he signed with Segunda Liga club Trofense, making his debut as a professional on 29 July by playing the full 90 minutes in a 5–1 away loss against Aves in the group stage of the Taça da Liga.[3] His maiden appearance in the league took place on 12 August, in a 2–0 defeat to the same opponent where he also started.[4]

Gil Vicente

In the 2013 off-season, after scoring 11 goals during the season, Paulinho moved to the Primeira Liga with Gil Vicente.[2] He made his debut in the competition on 18 August, coming on as a 49th-minute substitute in a 2–0 home win over Académica de Coimbra.[5] He netted his first goal on 24 November of the same year, but in a 3–2 loss at Marítimo.[6]

During the 2016–17 campaign, with the team again in the second tier, Paulinho scored a career-best 19 times for a runner-up position in the individual charts.[7]

Braga

On 24 May 2017, Paulinho moved to Braga on a four-year contract.[8] He finished his first year as team top scorer at 13 – 17 across all competitions – helping them to qualify for the group phase of the UEFA Europa League after ranking fourth in the league.[9]

Paulinho was the top scorer of the 2018–19 Taça da Liga, netting braces in group stage wins against Nacional (5–0 at home) and Vitória de Setúbal (4–0 away).[10][11] In the next year's edition he scored twice for the winners, including a last-minute winner over Sporting CP in the semi-final.[12] On the league front he set a new personal best in the top flight, including a hat-trick in a 5–1 away rout of Paços de Ferreira on 10 July 2020.[13]

On 26 November 2020, Paulinho scored in a 3–3 home draw with Leicester City in the Europa League group stages; in doing so he beat Alan's record of 11 European goals for Braga.[14] He scored all of his side's goals in a 3–1 victory against Estoril on 17 December to make the League Cup semi-finals.[15]

Sporting CP

On 1 February 2021, Paulinho joined Sporting on a deal running until June 2025 for a club-record €16 million fee,[16] reuniting with former Braga manager Rúben Amorim; as part of the arrangement, Cristian Borja and Andraž Šporar moved in the opposite direction.[17][18] On 11 May, his 36th-minute goal was the only of the home fixture against Boavista, and the club won the domestic league for the first time in 19 years.[19]

Paulinho scored three times in the group stage of the 2021–22 UEFA Champions League, helping his team progress as runners-up.[20] On 29 December 2021, he netted a hat-trick in a 3–2 home win over Portimonense in the domestic league.[21]

Paulinho topped the scoring charts of the 2022–23 League Cup with eight goals.[22] However, in the 2–0 final loss to Porto, he was sent off for two quick yellow cards, being later handed a three-match suspension for insulting the refereeing team.[23][24]

International career

Paulinho won his only cap for the Portugal under-21 team on 14 November 2012, playing the last 18 minutes of the 3–2 friendly defeat of Scotland.[25] In May 2018, he was included by full side manager Fernando Santos in a preliminary 35-man squad for the upcoming edition of the FIFA World Cup in Russia,[26] but did not make the final cut.[27]

On 11 November 2020, Paulinho made his senior debut in a home exhibition against Andorra, scoring twice in a 7–0 win.[28] In October 2022, he was one of 55 players pre-selected for the 2022 World Cup in Qatar.[29]

Career statistics

Club
As of match played 21 October 2023[30]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Santa Maria 2010–11 Terceira Divisão 8120———101
2011–12 Terceira Divisão 31842———3510
Total 39962———4511
Trofense 2012–13 Segunda Liga 35110030——3811
Gil Vicente 2013–14 Primeira Liga 2013052——283
2014–15 Primeira Liga 1412020——181
2015–16 LigaPro 4274210——479
2016–17 LigaPro 36193120——4120
Total 11228123102——13433
Braga 2017–18 Primeira Liga 301320219[lower-alpha 1]3—4317
2018–19 Primeira Liga 295623400—3811
2019–20 Primeira Liga 2917304212[lower-alpha 1]6—4825
2020–21 Primeira Liga 12331336[lower-alpha 1]3—2410
Total 1003814312102712—15363
Sporting CP 2020–21 Primeira Liga 143————143
2021–22 Primeira Liga 291150308[lower-alpha 2]31[lower-alpha 3]04614
2022–23 Primeira Liga 22510689[lower-alpha 4]2—3815
2023–24 Primeira Liga 7510002[lower-alpha 1]0—105
Total 722470981951010837
Career total 3581103983420461710478155
  1. Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  2. Appearance(s) in UEFA Champions League
  3. Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  4. Five appearances and one goal in UEFA Champions League, four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League

International
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Paulinho goal.[31]
List of international goals scored by Paulinho
No. Date Venue Cap Opponent Score Result Competition
1 11 November 2020Estádio da Luz, Lisbon, Portugal1 Andorra2–07–0Friendly
2 4–0

Honours

Braga

Sporting CP

Individual

  • Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2019–20[36]
  • Taça da Liga top scorer: 2022–23 (8 goals)[22]
  • Primeira Liga Player of the Month: August 2023[37]
  • Primeira Liga Forward of the Month: August 2023[38]

References
  1. "Paulinho" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  2. "Paulinho um goleador "made in" Santa Maria" [Paulinho scorer made in Santa Maria] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. 19 June 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  3. "Póquer de Rabiola na vitória do Desp. Aves" [Rabiola poker in Desp. Aves win]. Record (in Portuguese). 29 July 2012. Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  4. "D. Aves-Trofense, 2–0: Golos a abrir e a fechar" [D. Aves-Trofense, 2–0: Early and late goals]. Record (in Portuguese). 12 August 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  5. Silva, Carlos (19 August 2013). "Académica domina, Gil ganha" [Académica dominate, Gil win] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  6. "Marítimo vence Gil Vicente e abandona lugares de descida" [Marítimo defeat Gil Vicente and leave relegation zone] (in Portuguese). TSF. 24 November 2013. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  7. "Oficial: Braga confirma contratação de Paulinho" [Official: Braga confirm signing of Paulinho]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  8. "Paulinho, ex-Gil Vicente, assina por quatro épocas pelo Sporting de Braga" [Paulinho, formerly of Gil Vicente, signs for four seasons with Sporting de Braga]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 24 May 2017. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  9. Mendes, António (12 May 2018). "Paulinho visa meta histórica" [Paulinho eyeing historical goal]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  10. "Bis de Dyego Sousa e Paulinho na goleada ao Nacional" [Braces from Dyego Sousa and Paulinho in thrashing of Nacional]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 30 October 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  11. "COMENTÁRIO: Braga goleia em Setúbal e assegura presença na 'final four' da Taça da Liga" [COMMENTARY: Braga thrash Setúbal and secure presence in final four of the League Cup]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 28 December 2018. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  12. "Golo de Paulinho no último suspiro coloca Braga na final" [Last-gasp Paulinho goal puts Braga in the final]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 21 January 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  13. "Sporting de Braga vence Paços de Ferreira com hat-trick de Paulinho" [Sporting de Braga defeat Paços de Ferreira with hat-trick from Paulinho] (in Portuguese). TSF. 10 July 2020. Retrieved 13 July 2020.
  14. Ferreira, Bruno José (26 November 2020). "Sp. Braga: Paulinho destrona Alan como melhor marcador do clube na Europa" [Sp. Braga: Paulinho dethrones Alan as club's top scorer in Europe] (in Portuguese). TVI 24. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  15. "Hat-trick de Paulinho coloca o Braga na final four da Taça da Liga" [Hat-trick from Paulinho puts Braga in the final four of the League Cup]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 17 December 2020. Retrieved 31 January 2021.
  16. ""Jogo Económico". "16 milhões de euros? Paulinho acabou por sair barato ao Sporting CP"" ["Economic Play". "16 million euros? Paulinho turned out a bargain for Sporting CP"]. Jornal Económico (in Portuguese). 19 May 2021. Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  17. Fernandes, Bruno; Gomes, Rui Miguel (27 August 2020). "Sporting obrigado a equação complicada para garantir Paulinho" [Sporting forced to tricky equation to confirm Paulinho]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 February 2021.
  18. "Comunicado Sporting Clube de Portugal – Futebol, SAD" [Sporting Clube de Portugal announcement – Football, PLSC] (in Portuguese). Sporting CP. 1 February 2021. Retrieved 1 February 2021.
  19. "Sporting é campeão de Portugal ao fim de 19 anos" [Sporting are champions of Portugal after 19 years] (in Portuguese). UEFA. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 12 May 2021.
  20. Mendes, Miguel (5 November 2021). "Empresário revela quantos golos Paulinho espera marcar" [Agent reveals how many goals Paulinho hopes to score]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 December 2021.
  21. "'Hat-trick' de Paulinho dá vitória ao Sporting antes do FC Porto-Benfica" [Paulinho hat-trick gives win to Sporting before FC Porto-Benfica]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). 29 December 2021. Retrieved 30 December 2021.
  22. Rocha, Pedro (25 January 2023). "Taça da Liga é a competição de Paulinho? Avançado ampliou o recorde" [Is the League Cup Paulinho's competition? Forward extended record]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). Retrieved 30 January 2023.
  23. "Porto beat Sporting 2–0 to lift first Taça da Liga". PortuGOAL. 28 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  24. "Paulinho, do Sporting, suspenso por três jogos e falha clássico com o FC Porto" [Paulinho, from Sporting, suspended for three matches and misses classic with FC Porto] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 31 January 2023. Retrieved 7 February 2023.
  25. "Sub-21 dão volta ao marcador e vencem a Escócia por 3–2" [Under-21s come back from behind and beat Scotland 3–2] (in Portuguese). TSF. 14 November 2012. Retrieved 21 May 2018.
  26. "Revealed: Every World Cup 2018 squad – 23-man & preliminary lists & when will they be announced?". Goal. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  27. "Nearly half Portugal's Euro squad to miss World Cup". Special Broadcasting Service. 17 May 2018. Retrieved 17 May 2018.
  28. Cole, Richard (11 November 2020). "Debutants shine as Portugal put seven past Andorra". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  29. "A lista de pré-convocados da Seleção para o Mundial'2022: conheça todos os nomes" [The pre-selected for the 2022 World Cup: know all the names]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  30. Paulinho at Soccerway
  31. "Paulinho". European Football. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
  32. Ribeiro, Patrick (23 May 2021). "Braga beat nine-man Benfica to lift Portuguese Cup". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 24 May 2021.
  33. Cole, Richard (25 January 2020). "Late Ricardo Horta strike wins the Taça da Liga for Braga". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 12 November 2020.
  34. Ribeiro, Patrick (29 January 2022). "Sporting defend their Taça da Liga title in second-half turnaround versus Benfica". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  35. "Sporting CP win Supertaça with victory over SC Braga". Sporting CP. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  36. Esteves Teixeira, Sofia (28 August 2020). "Do melhor jogador ao golo do ano. Confira os vencedores do Kick-Off da Liga" [From the best player to the goal of the year. Check out the League's Kick-Off winners]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 20 September 2023.
  37. "Paulinho conquista prémio Jogador do Mês da Liga Portugal Betclic" [Paulinho conquers Liga Portugal Betclic's Player of the Month award] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 15 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
  38. "Paulinho é o Continente Avançado do Mês" [Paulinho is Continente's Forward of the Month] (in Portuguese). Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 14 September 2023. Retrieved 15 September 2023.
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