João Paulo (footballer, born 1991)
Brazilian footballer
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
João Paulo Mior (born 8 March 1991), known as João Paulo, is a Brazilian former professional footballer who played as a central midfielder. Since 2026, he has been an assistant coach with Tacoma Defiance of MLS Next Pro in the United States.
.jpg) Paulo with Seattle Sounders FC in 2025 | |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Paulo Mior[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 March 1991[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Serafina Corrêa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil | ||
| Height | 1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Midfielder | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Tacoma Defiance (assistant coach) | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2004–2006 | Gaúcho | ||
| 2007–2009 | Internacional | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2010–2015 | Internacional | 39 | (1) |
| 2013 | → Atlético Goianiense (loan) | 45 | (6) |
| 2014 | → Goiás (loan) | 12 | (0) |
| 2015 | → Santa Cruz (loan) | 45 | (3) |
| 2016 | Santa Cruz | 44 | (3) |
| 2017–2021 | Botafogo | 93 | (6) |
| 2020 | → Seattle Sounders FC (loan) | 23 | (2) |
| 2021–2025 | Seattle Sounders FC | 85 | (4) |
| Managerial career | |||
| 2026– | Tacoma Defiance (assistant) | ||
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:26, 11 January 2025 (UTC) | |||
Career
João Paulo played youth futsal until the age of 14, when he switched to football on a full-time basis.[2] He made his professional debut for Internacional in the 2010 Campeonato Gaúcho and he spent three seasons with the club. He was then loaned out to Atlético Goianiense in 2013, Goiás in 2014, and Santa Cruz in 2015. João Paulo transferred permanently to Santa Cruz in 2016 before being signed by Botafogo, where he played for three seasons and made 68 appearances, scoring five goals.[3][4]
Seattle Sounders FC
On 31 January 2020, João Paulo was signed on loan by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer to a Designated Player contract.[4] He made his debut in two 2020 CONCACAF Champions League fixtures, playing both legs in the Round of 16 against Honduran club C.D. Olimpia. During the first leg in San Pedro Sula, João Paulo scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw;[5] in the second leg, he scored Seattle's second goal in another 2–2 draw and converted his penalty in the shootout, but the Sounders were unable to advance.[6] In his first MLS season with the club, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, João Paulo made 19 appearances, including 17 starts, scoring two goals and recording five assists as a deep-lying playmaker.[7][8]
His loan was made permanent by Seattle on 21 January 2021.[9] João Paulo scored the club's first goal of the 2021 season, a volley from outside the penalty area against Minnesota United FC, which was voted MLS Goal of the Week.[2][10] He played 31 matches for the Sounders during the regular season and scored three total goals, including another Goal of the Week winner in October against the Colorado Rapids.[11] João Paulo was named to the five-candidate shortlist for the Landon Donovan MVP Award for his 11 assists and defensive performances, which helped the Sounders qualify for the playoffs despite a depleted roster.[2]
João Paulo scored his first goal of the 2022 season against Minnesota—his third against the club—during a 2–1 away victory on 2 April.[12] He played through Seattle's run to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, where he started in both legs as the Sounders won their first continental title. João Paulo left the final's second leg in the first half with an anterior cruciate ligament tear that left him unable to play for the rest of the year.[13] His role in midfield was initially replaced with 16-year-old youth product Obed Vargas, who he had mentored, but Vargas suffered a back injury a month later.[14] The lack of available defensive midfielders on the team was a factor in Seattle missing the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in their history.[15]
On 16 November 2025, João Paulo announced that he would leave the club and enter free agency.[16] He played 119 matches across all competitions for the Sounders and scored six goals.[17] On 21 January 2026, João Paulo announced his retirement on Instagram.[18]
Coaching career
On 2 February 2026, the Tacoma Defiance announced João Paulo as an assistant coach for the team, which serves as the reserve side for the Sounders and plays in MLS Next Pro.[19]
Career statistics
- As of match played 30 November 2024
| Club | Season | League | State League | Cup | Continental | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Internacional | 2010 | Série A | 0 | 0 | 3[a] | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||
| 2011 | Série A | 14 | 0 | 1[a] | 0 | — | — | — | 15 | 0 | ||||
| 2012 | Série A | 4 | 0 | 14[a] | 1 | — | 4[b] | 0 | — | 22 | 1 | |||
| 2013 | Série A | — | 3[a] | 0 | — | — | — | 3 | 0 | |||||
| Total | 18 | 0 | 21 | 1 | — | 4 | 0 | — | 43 | 1 | ||||
| Atlético Goianiense (loan) | 2013 | Série B | 35 | 4 | 10[c] | 2 | 3 | 0 | — | — | 48 | 6 | ||
| Goiás (loan) | 2014 | Série A | 5 | 0 | 7[c] | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | — | 13 | 0 | |
| Santa Cruz (loan) | 2015 | Série B | 34 | 1 | 11[d] | 2 | — | 3[e] | 0 | — | 48 | 3 | ||
| Santa Cruz | 2016 | Série A | 34 | 2 | 10[d] | 1 | 3 | 0 | — | 10[f] | 0 | 57 | 6 | |
| Botafogo | 2017 | Série A | 30 | 2 | 6[g] | 0 | 6 | 0 | 13[b] | 1 | — | 55 | 3 | |
| 2018 | Série A | 2 | 0 | 12[g] | 0 | 1 | 0 | — | — | 15 | 0 | |||
| 2019 | Série A | 36 | 3 | 7[g] | 1 | 2 | 0 | 4[e] | 0 | — | 49 | 4 | ||
| Total | 68 | 5 | 25 | 1 | 9 | 0 | 17 | 1 | — | 119 | 7 | |||
| Seattle Sounders FC (loan) | 2020 | MLS | 23 | 2 | — | — | 2[h] | 2 | 4[i] | 0 | 25 | 4 | ||
| Seattle Sounders FC | 2021 | MLS | 32 | 3 | — | — | — | 4[j] | 0 | 36 | 3 | |||
| 2022 | MLS | 6 | 1 | — | 0 | 0 | 6[h] | 0 | — | 12 | 1 | |||
| 2023 | MLS | 31 | 0 | — | 1 | 0 | — | 7[k] | 0 | 39 | 0 | |||
| 2024 | MLS | 21 | 0 | — | 2 | 0 | — | 9[l] | 0 | 32 | 0 | |||
| Total | 80 | 4 | — | 3 | 0 | 6 | 0 | 20 | 0 | 119 | 4 | |||
| Career total | 307 | 18 | 83 | 7 | 19 | 0 | 32 | 3 | 34 | 0 | 480 | 31 | ||
- Appearance(s) in Campeonato Gaúcho
- Appearances in Copa Libertadores
- Appearances in Campeonato Goiano
- Appearances in Campeonato Pernambucano
- Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
- Appearances in Copa do Nordeste
- Appearances in Campeonato Carioca
- Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
- Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
- Three appearances in Leagues Cup, one appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs
- One appearance in FIFA Club World Cup, four appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs, two appearances in Leagues Cup
- Five appearances in Leagues Cup, four appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
Personal life
João Paulo has been a fan of American football since his childhood and supports the Pittsburgh Steelers.[2] He is the nephew of former Gremio player Casemiro Mior.[20]
Honours
Internacional
Santa Cruz
- Campeonato Pernambucano: 2015, 2016
- Copa do Nordeste: 2016
Botafogo
Seattle Sounders FC
Individual