User:Dlyted
João
[edit]João Leon De Souza (born 5 February 2005), simply known as João, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a center back or defender for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club Clube de Regatas do Flamengo and the Brazil national team.
He began his career with CR Flamengo youth team, where he played 10 games and scored 1 goal before a promotion to CR Flamengo senior team in 2021. At international level, João made his senior debut for Brazil in 2022, aged only 17.
Club career
[edit]Born in Bauru, São Paulo, João joined Clube de Regatas do Flamengo youth setup in 2015 at the age of ten, initially assigned to the futsal team. In March 2021, with the first team regulars in Peru for a Copa Libertadores match against Sporting Cristal, he was called up to the first team by manager Dorival Júnior to complete training. On 21 July 2021, João signed his first professional contract, after agreeing to a five-year deal. On 1 November, he was promoted to the main squad by interim manager Elano.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Leon De Souza | ||
| Date of birth | 5 February 2005 (age 18) | ||
| Place of birth | Bauru, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.80 m (5 ft 9in) | ||
| Position(s) | Center-back or Defender | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | CR Flamengo | ||
| Number | 45 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2015-2020 | CR Flamengo youth club | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| CR Flamengo | 70 | (2) | |
| International career | |||
| 2022- | Brazil National U17 | 5 | (0) |
| *Club domestic league appearances and goals | |||
João made his first team – and Série A – debut on 4 November 2021, coming on as a late substitute for David Luiz in a 2–1 home win against Santos. The following 28 January he scored his first senior goal, netting a last-minute winner in a 2–1 Campeonato Paulista away win against Ponte Preta.
International career
[edit]On 30 March 2022, João was called up to Brazil under-17s for the year's Montaigu Tournament. He made his debut in the championship by assisting his side's only goal in a 3–1 loss against Sweden, and netted two more against Cameroon and Morocco.
Personal life
[edit]João's father, Matias, is a former professional footballer who played as a right back in several tiers of Brazilian football, the highest of which being the Série B.
Career statistics
[edit]Club
[edit]| Club | Season | League | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | ||
| CR Flamengo | 2020-21 | Série A | 3 | 0 |
| CR Flamengo | 2021-22 | Série A | 25 | 0 |
| CR Flamengo | 2022-23 | Série A | 30 | 2 |
| CR Flamengo | 2023-24 | Série A | 12 | 0 |
Honours
[edit]CR Flamengo
[edit]• Campeonato Brasileiro Série A: 2022-23
Individual
[edit]• Goal.com NxGN: 2022