Ricardo Esgaio


Ricardo de Sousa Esgaio is a Portuguese footballer who plays for S.C. Braga as a right winger or right back.

Club career

Sporting

Born in Nazaré, Leiria District, Esgaio joined Sporting CP's youth system at the age of 12, having signed from local Grupo Desportivo os Nazarenos. On 14 December 2011 he was called for a UEFA Europa League group stage game away against S.S. Lazio, alongside youth graduates Betinho, Tiago Ilori, João Carlos and João Mário, as the Lions had already secured the first place in its group: he remained an unused substitute in the 0–2 loss.
On 11 August 2012, Esgaio made his senior debut with the B-team in the second division, playing 80 minutes in a 0–1 defeat at U.D. Oliveirense. He scored his first goal with the side the following matchday, the only in the home fixture against Vitória S.C. B.
Esgaio made his first official appearance with Sporting's main squad on 7 December 2012, starting against Videoton FC in the last round of the Europa League group stage, as the Lions were already eliminated from knockout stage contention, and playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 home win. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 5 January of the following year, playing the last minute of a 0–1 home loss to F.C. Paços de Ferreira; on 6 November 2013, back in the reserves, he netted a hat-trick in a 4–0 defeat of G.D. Chaves.
On 27 January 2015, both Esgaio and Sporting teammate Salim Cissé were loaned to fellow league club Académica de Coimbra until the end of the season.

Braga

On 17 June 2017, after only 44 competitive matches for Sporting in five years, Esgaio signed a five-year contract with S.C. Braga as Rodrigo Battaglia moved in the opposite direction. In his third match for his new team, away to C.D. Aves on 20 August, he came on as a last-minute substitute and scored his first goal in the top flight to seal a 2–0 victory.

Personal life

Esgaio's younger brother, Tiago, was also a footballer.

Honours

Sporting
Braga