Rui Pedro (footballer, born 1998)


Rui Pedro da Silva e Sousa, known as Rui Pedro, is a Portuguese footballer who plays as a striker for Leixões S.C. on loan from FC Porto.

Club career

Born in Castelo de Paiva, Aveiro District, Rui Pedro joined FC Porto's youth system in 2012, aged 14. On 24 January 2015, two months shy of his 17th birthday, he made his professional debut with their B-team, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–1 away loss against U.D. Oliveirense for the Segunda Liga championship.
On 3 December 2016, whilst still a junior, Rui Pedro first appeared in the Primeira Liga with the main squad: after replacing Óliver Torres 15 minutes from the end of the home fixture against S.C. Braga, he scored the game's only goal in injury time, ending the club's negative run of 520 minutes without finding the net. Four days later, also from the bench, he played his first match in the UEFA Champions League, as the hosts defeated already qualified Leicester City 5–0 to also reach the knockout stage; late in the year, UEFA.com selected him as their "weekly wonderkid".
Rui Pedro went on to serve three loans during his spell at the Estádio do Dragão, starting out at Boavista FC then moving to Varzim SC and Club Recreativo Granada.

Career statistics

Club

Honours

Individual