Guga (footballer, born 1997)
Portuguese footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Gonçalo Rosa Gonçalves Pereira Rodrigues (born 18 July 1997), known as Guga, is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Cypriot First Division club Pafos.
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Guga with Beijing Guoan in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Gonçalo Rosa Gonçalves Pereira Rodrigues[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 18 July 1997[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Faro, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.67 m (5 ft 6 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Pafos | ||
| Number | 6 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2005–2007 | Lusitano | ||
| 2007–2008 | Ferreiras | ||
| 2008–2016 | Benfica | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2016–2019 | Benfica B | 9 | (0) |
| 2019 | → Panetolikos (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2019–2021 | Famalicão | 32 | (3) |
| 2021–2024 | Rio Ave | 101 | (5) |
| 2024–2025 | Beijing Guoan | 59 | (9) |
| 2026 | Al-Najma | 14 | (0) |
| 2026– | Pafos | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2012 | Portugal U15 | 2 | (0) |
| 2013 | Portugal U16 | 10 | (1) |
| 2012–2014 | Portugal U17 | 20 | (2) |
| 2015 | Portugal U18 | 5 | (2) |
| 2015–2016 | Portugal U19 | 15 | (4) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 17:00, 13 June 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
Benfica
Born in Faro, Algarve, Guga started his career at local club Lusitano in 2005, before joining Benfica's youth system at the age of 11.[2] He made his professional debut with the latter's reserves on 13 August 2016, as a late substitute in a 2–0 away loss against Varzim in the LigaPro.[3]
On 9 January 2019, Guga joined Panetolikos of the Super League Greece on a six-month loan deal with the option for an additional year.[4][5]
Famalicão
On 26 June 2019, Guga signed a five-year contract with Famalicão.[6] His Primeira Liga bow took place on 10 August, when he started and finished the 2–0 away win over Santa Clara.[7] He scored his first goal on 14 September, the second of a 4–2 home victory against Paços de Ferreira.[8]
Rio Ave
Guga joined Rio Ave on 14 January 2021, on a deal until June 2024.[9] He played 20 matches until the end of the season, in an eventual relegation from the top division.[10]
The following campaign, Guga made 40 appearances and scored three goals in all competitions as the Vila do Conde side returned to the top flight as champions; his strike in the 3–0 defeat of local rivals Varzim on 22 August 2021 was chosen as the club's Goal of the Season.[11] On 5 July 2022, he was named Player of the Season for his efforts.[12]
Guga displayed a series of impressive performances during 2022–23, helping Rio Ave finish comfortably in 12th place. At the end of the campaign, with just one year left on his contract, he was linked to Portuguese giants Porto.[13]
Beijing Guoan
On 1 February 2024, having totalled 115 games during his spell at the Estádio dos Arcos, Guga transferred to Beijing Guoan from the Chinese Super League.[14][15] He spent two seasons at the Workers' Stadium, making 65 appearances, scoring ten goals and providing nine assists while also claiming the FA Cup in 2025.[16]
Al-Najma
On 29 January 2026, Guga agreed to a contract at Al-Najma, bottom of the Saudi Pro League; there, he was managed by his compatriot Mário Silva.[17] He suffered relegation in his only season.[18]
Pafos
Guga signed a three-year deal with Cypriot First Division club Pafos on 29 June 2026.[19]
International career
Guga won 52 caps for Portugal across several youth levels.[20][21]
Career statistics
- As of match played 20 August 2026[22]
| Club | Season | League | National cup[a] | League cup[b] | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2016–17 | LigaPro | 8 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 8 | 0 | ||||
| 2017–18 | LigaPro | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 0 | 0 | |||||
| 2018–19 | LigaPro | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 1 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 9 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 9 | 0 | ||||||
| Panetolikos (loan) | 2018–19 | Super League Greece | 14 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | — | 14 | 0 | |||
| Famalicão | 2019–20 | Primeira Liga | 26 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 29 | 2 | ||
| 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 6 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | — | 7 | 1 | |||
| Total | 32 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 3 | ||||
| Rio Ave | 2020–21 | Primeira Liga | 20 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 1[c] | 0 | 21 | 0 | |
| 2021–22 | Liga Portugal 2 | 33 | 2 | 4 | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 40 | 3 | |||
| 2022–23 | Primeira Liga | 33 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 36 | 2 | |||
| 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 15 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 0 | — | — | 18 | 1 | |||
| Total | 101 | 5 | 6 | 1 | 7 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | 115 | 6 | |||
| Beijing Guoan | 2024 | Chinese Super League | 29 | 5 | 1 | 0 | — | — | — | 30 | 5 | |||
| 2025 | Chinese Super League | 30 | 4 | 4 | 1 | — | 3[d] | 0 | — | 37 | 5 | |||
| Total | 59 | 9 | 5 | 1 | — | 3 | 0 | — | 67 | 10 | ||||
| Pafos | 2026–27 | Cypriot First Division | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 5[e] | 1 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 1 | |
| Career total | 204 | 15 | 14 | 2 | 8 | 0 | 8 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 235 | 18 | ||
- Includes Taça de Portugal, Chinese FA Cup
- Includes Taça da Liga
- Appearance in Primeira Liga relegation play-offs
- Appearance in AFC Champions League Two
- Four appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League, one appearance in UEFA Conference League
Honours
Rio Ave
Beijing Guoan
Individual
- Liga Portugal 2 Player of the Season: 2021–22[12]
- Liga Portugal 2 Team of the Season: 2021–22[25]
- Liga Portugal 2 Player of the Month: August 2021[26]
- Liga Portugal 2 Midfielder of the Month: August 2021, April 2022[27]
- Rio Ave Player of the Season: 2021–22[11]
- Rio Ave Goal of the Season: 2021–22[11]
