Leonardo Buta
Portuguese footballer (born 2002)
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Leonardo Daniel Ulineia Buta (born 5 June 2002) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a left-back or winger for Primeira Liga club Rio Ave, on loan from Udinese.[1]
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Leonardo Daniel Ulineia Buta | ||
| Date of birth | 5 June 2002 | ||
| Place of birth | Anadia, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Left-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team |
Rio Ave (on loan from Udinese) | ||
| Number | 15 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| –2014 | CB Estarreja | ||
| 2014–2015 | Benfica | ||
| 2015–2017 | Anadia | ||
| 2017–2018 | Palmeiras FC | ||
| 2018–2021 | SC Braga | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2020–2022 | Braga B | 15 | (0) |
| 2021–2022 | Braga | 5 | (0) |
| 2022– | Udinese | 2 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | → Gil Vicente (loan) | 29 | (0) |
| 2024–2025 | → Moreirense (loan) | 7 | (0) |
| 2025–2026 | → Eibar (loan) | 14 | (0) |
| 2026– | → Rio Ave (loan) | 0 | (0) |
| International career | |||
| 2018–2019 | Portugal U17 | 5 | (0) |
| 2019–2020 | Portugal U18 | 10 | (0) |
| 2022 | Portugal U20 | 1 | (1) |
| 2023 | Portugal U21 | 3 | (0) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 13 December 2025 | |||
Club career
Having grown through the youth ranks and reserve team of SC Braga, Leonardo Buta made his professional debut for the club on the 12 February 2022, replacing Bruno Rodrigues at the 56th minute of a 2–1 home Primeira Liga win against Paços de Ferreira.[2][3][4]
On 5 June 2022, Buta signed a five-year contract with Udinese in Italy.[5]
On 18 July 2023, Udinese sent Buta on a season-long loan to Primeira Liga side Gil Vicente.[6]
On 2 September 2024, Buta moved to Moreirense, with Udinese announcing it as a permanent transfer.[7] However, that move was retroactively reported as a loan.[8]
On 24 July 2025, Buta was loaned to Eibar in Spain.[8] During the second half of that season, he returned to Portugal, joining Primeira Liga side Rio Ave on loan.[9]
International career
Buta is a youth international for Portugal, playing with the under-17 during the 2018–19 season.[10]
Personal life
Born in a family of Angolan descent, Leonardo is the younger brother of professional footballer Aurélio Buta.[2][11]