João Muniz
Full name: João António Nascimento Muniz
Country: Portugal/Brazil
Date of birth: 26/06/2005 (17 years old)
Place of birth: Ribeira Brava (Portugal)
Height: 190cm
Youth career: ADRC Aguiar da Beira, Académido de Viseu FC, Benfica de Vise, EFD O Pinguizinho, Sporting CP (since 2019)
Current club: Sporting CP
Squad number: 43
Current national team: Portugal U-19
Position: central defender
Preferred foot: left
Market value (by transfermarkt.de): —
Tournaments participated in: 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship qualification elite round (2/0), 2022 UEFA European Under-17 Championship (4/0), UEFA Youth League 2022/2023 (6/0), 2023 UEFA European Under-19 Championship qualification elite round (2/0)
Contract until: 30.06.2024
Player’s agent: unknown
Transfer rumours: —
Similar type of player: Pau Torres
Strengths:
– tackling 
– passing
– anticipation
– technique
– positioning
– aerial duels 
– timing
To improve:
– excellent on the ball, but can be a little bit overambitious/overconfident sometimes with his high-risk passing play
– defending in wide areas
Style of play:
– complete, elegant, and dominant centre-back
– player with very good body mass ratio, physical strength, power, stamina, and natural fitness who feels comfortable in contact situations
– can be an interesting option to play as a left-sided centre-back in a three-man defence system
– extremely interesting combination of pure defensive skills and ball-playing ability
– perfect for the possession-based style
– likes an active style of defending by getting into challenges and pressing opponents
– elegant and very comfortable on the ball with an above-average range of passing at all distances/takes a major impact on all of the team’s build-up process
– very high number of progressive/line-breaking passes
– known for his good confidence in possession, understanding of the game, and an above-average technical capacity
– great composure and retention skills under pressure
– superb long-range passing ability
– likes to spread play with long-range diagonals
– likes to make very well-timed sliding tackles
– tenacious and accurate tackler/very strong in 1vs1 duels
– often cuts or intercepts passes and crosses near or inside his penalty area thanks to his anticipation, positioning, and timing
– dominant in the air
– determined and committed player with a very good rate of individual and collective work
– tactically astute and technically capable of playing in various tactical systems
– very accomplished and mature for his age
Muniz stats calm under pressure and plays an excellent line-breaking pass.
Muniz saves his team with a risky but also very-well timed sliding tackle.
Muniz reads the game very well and cuts a very dangerous through pass.
Heatmap by Wyscout:
He is best suited to playing as:
Central defender in 4-3-3.
Video:
Achievements:
Portuguese U-17 Championship 2021/2022 winner with Sporting CP.
League summary (as for 29 March 2023):
Liga 3 2022/2023 (ongoing): 10 games/1 goal (Sporting CP B)
Description:
João Muniz joined the famous Sporting CP youth academy from EFD O Pinguizinho in 2019. He is considered to be one of the most talented teenagers in Portugal. He is a member of a very interesting generation of Portuguese players born in 2005 which includes, among others João Veloso, Dário Essugo, Rodrigo Ribeiro, Diogo Monteiro, Afonso Moreira, Ussumane Djaló, Leonardo Barroso, André Oliveira, João Conceicão, Dinis Rodrigues, and João Vasconcelos. He is also a regular youth international for Portugal – he started at the U-17 level and now he’s an important member of the U-19 team.
Quotes:
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Football Talent Scout potential rating:
Player has the potential to become a key player in a top European club.
Links: