Rodrigo Escoval
Portuguese footballer
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João Rodrigo Pereira Escoval (born 8 May 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central defender for Russian Premier League club Akron Tolyatti.
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| |||
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | João Rodrigo Pereira Escoval[1] | ||
| Date of birth | 8 May 1997[1] | ||
| Place of birth | Lisbon, Portugal[1] | ||
| Height | 1.79 m (5 ft 10 in)[1] | ||
| Position | Centre-back | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Akron Tolyatti | ||
| Number | 26 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2006–2007 | Sacavenense | ||
| 2007–2016 | Benfica | ||
| 2014–2015 | → Casa Pia (loan) | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2015–2017 | Benfica B | 16 | (0) |
| 2017–2018 | Istra 1961 | 12 | (0) |
| 2018–2022 | Rijeka | 84 | (1) |
| 2022 | Anorthosis | 2 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Volos | 29 | (0) |
| 2023–2024 | Vizela | 19 | (0) |
| 2024– | Akron Tolyatti | 41 | (2) |
| * Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 28 February 2026 | |||
Club career
Escoval was born in Lisbon. He joined S.L. Benfica's youth system at the age of 10, signing from SG Sacavenense also in the region.[2]
On 24 August 2016, Escoval made his professional debut for Benfica's B team, playing the full 90 minutes in a 2–1 away win against F.C. Vizela in the LigaPro.[3] He contributed a further nine starts until the end of the season, helping to a final fourth position.[4]
On 18 August 2017, the 20-year-old Escoval and teammate Filipe Ferreira were sold to NK Istra 1961 from the Croatian Football League, as Mato Miloš moved in the opposite direction.[5] On 10 January 2018, he signed a 1+1⁄2-year contract with HNK Rijeka of the same country and league, with a three-year extension option.[6] He scored his first top-flight goal while in service of the latter club, opening the 2–0 away victory over NK Varaždin on 28 September 2019.[7]
Escoval joined Cypriot First Division side Anorthosis Famagusta FC on 31 January 2022 on a two-and-a-half-year deal,[8] but switched to the Super League Greece with Volos F.C. shortly after.[9] He returned to Portugal in summer 2023, agreeing to a two-year contract at Vizela.[10][11] He made his Primeira Liga debut on 27 August by starting the 2–0 loss at Vitória de Guimarães[12] and, in December, renewed his link until 2026.[13]
On 29 June 2024, Escoval signed for Russian Premier League newcomers FC Akron Tolyatti.[14]
Career statistics
| Club | Season | League | National cup | Europe | Total | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Benfica B | 2015–16 | LigaPro | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
| 2016–17 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 16 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Istra 1961 | 2017–18 | Croatian Football League | 12 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 15 | 0 |
| Rijeka | 2017–18 | Croatian Football League | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 0 |
| 2018–19 | 23 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 26 | 0 | ||
| 2019–20 | 27 | 1 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 1 | ||
| 2020–21 | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 1 | 26 | 1 | ||
| 2021–22 | 8 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 16 | 0 | ||
| Total | 84 | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 106 | 2 | ||
| Anorthosis | 2021–22 | Cypriot First Division | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 5 | 0 |
| Volos | 2022–23 | Super League Greece | 29 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 31 | 0 |
| Vizela | 2023–24 | Primeira Liga | 19 | 0 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 23 | 0 |
| Akron Tolyatti | 2024–25 | Russian Premier League | 28 | 2 | 2 | 0 | – | 30 | 2 | |
| 2025–26 | Russian Premier League | 13 | 0 | 5 | 0 | – | 18 | 0 | ||
| Total | 41 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 48 | 2 | ||
| Career total | 203 | 3 | 30 | 0 | 11 | 1 | 244 | 4 | ||
Honours
Rijeka
Individual
- Russian Premier League Goal of the Month: April 2025 (on 27 April 2025 against Khimki).[17]
