Stephen Eustáquio


Stephen Antunes Eustáquio is a Canadian soccer player who plays as a midfielder for Primeira Liga club F.C. Paços de Ferreira, on loan from Mexican club Cruz Azul, and the Canadian national team.
After starting out at Nazarenos, he played club football for Torreense, Leixões, Chaves, Cruz Azul and Paços de Ferreira.
Born in Canada, Eustáquio represented Portugal at youth level, but in 2019 committed to play for Canada. He made his debut for the latter in November of that year.

Club career

Early years

Born in Leamington, Ontario to Portuguese parents, Eustáquio moved to Portugal at age 7. After beginning in amateur football with Grupo Desportivo Os Nazarenos, he spent two seasons in the third division with S.C.U. Torreense.

Portugal

On 7 June 2017, Eustáquio signed with Leixões S.C. for an undisclosed fee. On 23 July he appeared in his first match as a professional in a 2–0 home win against Académico de Viseu F.C. in the first round of the Taça da Liga where he played the full 90 minutes, and his debut in the Segunda Liga was on 6 August in a 1–4 away loss to Real SC.
On 31 January 2018, Eustáquio joined G.D. Chaves on a five-and-a-half-year deal after his buyout clause of €500,000 was paid. He made his Primeira Liga debut four days later, playing the entire 2–1 away victory over C.D. Feirense.
On 14 September 2018, in a Portuguese League Cup match at the Estádio do Dragão, Eustáquio scored a late equaliser which helped Chaves draw 1–1 and record their first ever point in FC Porto's home ground.

Cruz Azul

On 15 January 2019, Eustáquio moved to Cruz Azul of the Mexican Liga MX. Vítor Severino, who worked as assistant to manager Luís Castro at Chaves, described him as "like the typical player from La Masia, from Barcelona". On his debut, against Club Tijuana, he was sent off mere minutes after taking the field as a substitute, but eventually the video assistant referee cautioned him with only a yellow card upon review; shortly after, however, he was stretchered off with an injury.
After being sidelined for eight months, Eustáquio returned to the pitch on 22 September 2019, playing for the under-20 team in preparation for his full return. In December, he was loaned to Portuguese top-flight club F.C. Paços de Ferreira for the remainder of the season. He made his league debut on 11 January 2020, in a 0–0 away draw against Portimonense SC.

International career

Youth

In November 2017, Portugal under-21 manager Rui Jorge selected Eustáquio for 2019 UEFA European Championship qualifiers against Romania and Switzerland to be held early in that month. He won his first cap against Romania, playing 90 minutes and being booked in the 1–1 draw in Constanța.

Senior

In February 2019, Eustáquio committed to play for Canada. Upon his return from his knee injury, he received his first call-up to the team on 1 October 2019 for a CONCACAF Nations League fixture against the United States. He won his first cap on the 15 November match, coming from the bench for Mark-Anthony Kaye in the second half of the 1–4 away defeat.

Personal life

Eustáquio's older brother, Mauro, is also a footballer. A midfielder as well, he represented Canada at under-20 and under-23 levels.

Career statistics

Club

International