Afonso Moreira
Country: Portugal
Date of birth: 19/03/2005 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Lamego (Sporting)
Height: 176cm
Youth career: Cracks Lamego, Sporting CP (since 2017)
Current club: Sporting CP
Squad number: —
Current national team: Portugal U-19
Position: attacking midfielder, winger
Preferred foot: right
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): —
Tournaments participated in: 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification elite round (3/1), 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship (5/4), UEFA Youth League 2022/2023 (6/2)
Contract until: 30.06.2024
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Jadon Sancho
Strengths:
– pace 
– acceleration
– technique
– ball control
– dribbling
– flair
– agility
– off-the-ball movement 
– football IQ
– first touch
– creativity
– finishing
– crossing
To improve:
– physical development
– operates quite comfortably with it but still has a big margin to improve the ability to play with his weaker left foot
– he shows some very promising activity and work rate when out of possession but his defensive efficiency is still very much improvable
Style of play:
– inside forward
– great acceleration, agility, flair, body balance, changes of pace, and coordination
– creative player with very good technical ability, 1vs1 short-dribbling skills, close ball control, fast direction shifts in possession
– effective player with a rare mix of explosivity and high football IQ
– likes to play in a free attacking role granted the freedom to roam the pitch and find space
– likes to dribble
– likes to enter the opposition’s penalty area whenever possible
– often uses his skills to beat defenders and cuts inside to either shoot or pass
– above-average creativity, passing, and playmaking skills
– very good movement, sense of positioning, and finishing skills in the final third
– possesses very interesting mid-range and long-range shooting skills
– creative at his off-the-ball movements, and likes to find the best space to receive the ball with good timings
– strong in 1v1 situations, unpredictable, and confident of his skills
– very good dribbling skills, ‘quick feet’, and footwork in tight spaces
– very dangerous on the counter thanks to his electric pace and movement
– able to dribble, cross, and make quick combinations with his teammates at top speed
– difficult to knock off the ball thanks to his low centre of gravity and excellent close control
– gets fouled often
Moreira receives the ball, makes a quick decision, and scores with a superb finish.
Moreira enters the penalty area, loses his marker with a quick feint, and provides an assist.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Left winger in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
Portuguese U-16 Championship 2021/2022 winner with Sporting CP.
League summary (as for 22 November 2022):
Liga 3 2022/2023 (ongoing): 8 games/1 goal (Sporting CP B)
Description:
Afonso Moreira is a product of Alcochete, the fantastic Sporting CP youth academy. He is considered to be one of the most talented players of his generation in Portugal. This season, he has been a key player for the unbeaten SCP U-19 team in the UEFA Youth League. Afonso is also a regular international for Portugal – in 2022, he represented his country and was one of the leaders of the team that reached the semi-final at the UEFA European Under-17 Championship and showed a superb generation of players such as João Veloso, Dário Essugo, Rodrigo Ribeiro, Diogo Monteiro, João Muniz, Ussumane Djaló, Leonardo Barroso, Martim Fernandes, and João Vasconcelos.
Quotes:
“I have as examples all those who did the same path as me like Nuno Mendes or Dário Essugo who is my age and made it to the first team. I hope to follow the same path as them.”
(Afonso Moreira)
Football Talent Scout potential rating:
First team material in a top European league.
Links: