Afonso Moreira

Jacek Kulig

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:

8,5/10 

First team material in a top European league.

Links:

Transfermarkt

Soccerway

Playmaker

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