Goal efficiency
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Paris Saint Germain · Coupe de France · Midfielder · #87 · Portugal · 21 yrs
João Neves plays as a midfielder for Paris Saint Germain. João Neves is a Portuguese international, 21 years old, midfielder, currently at Paris Saint Germain. João Neves wears shirt number 87 for Paris Saint Germain. João Neves was born in Tavira, Portugal on 2004-09-27. João Neves is 174 cm tall and weighs 66 kg. João Neves's Sportra profile tracks season statistics across Coupe de France, Euro Championship, Euro Championship - Qualification, FIFA Club World Cup, and other leagues. João Neves's page brings together career clubs, trophies, injury history, multi-competition stats, and related news headlines. On Sportra you can explore João Neves season statistics, transfer history, trophies, injury updates, and related news across every competition tracked in the profile.
| Season | Team |
|---|---|
| 2026 |  Portugal POR |
| 2025 |  Paris Saint Germain PSG |
| 2025 |  Portugal U21 POR |
| 2024 | Paris Saint Germain PSG |
| 2024 | Portugal POR |
| Date | Type | From | To |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2024-08-05 | € 60M |  Benfica BEN | Paris Saint Germain PSG |
Season intelligence
Profile as Midfielder: defensive work. Archetype: Ball-winning midfielder. Season rating 7.4.
Scaled 0–99 from season output — map to fantasy, comparisons, or scouting cards.
Per-90 rates, efficiency ratios, and Sportra indices from season totals.
How clinical and direct the player was in front of goal — volume, accuracy, and conversion.
Playmaking output: assists, key passes, and custom chance-creation signals.
Isolation threat and progressive carrying — volume plus success rate.
How often they draw fouls and stay out of trouble with cards.
Tackles, duels, and off-ball defensive contribution.
Shot-stopping, goals conceded, and penalty saves.
Minutes, availability, and how central they were to the team.
Every tracked category for this league and season, grouped by Sportra.
While the Portugal captain remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the award, a remarkable pattern involving his international teammates has emerged over the past few years. Cristiano Ronaldo has found himself in an increasingly familiar position as another Ballon d’Or shortlist arrives without his name on it. While the Portugal captain remains one of the most decorated players in the history of the award, a remarkable pattern involving his international teammates has emerged over the past few years. The latest shortlist has once again highlighted the changing landscape of Portuguese soccer. A new generation of stars continues to receive recognition on the biggest individual stage, creating an unusual chapter in Ronaldo’s extraordinary Ballon d’Or story. Ronaldo’s omission from the 2026 Ballon d’Or shortlist extends a run that would have been difficult to imagine during the peak of his career. The Al-Nassr forward had been a near-permanent presence among the nominees for almost two decades after first appearing on the shortlist in 2004. His absence began in 2023, when he failed to make the final 30 after moving to Saudi Arabia. Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias were among the Portugal players nominated that year, while Ronaldo watched the ceremony from outside the field of contenders. Cristiano Ronaldo #7 and Bernardo Silva #10 of Portugal react after conceding a goal. The same pattern continued in 2024, when Ronaldo again failed to make the shortlist. Ruben Dias and other Portugal internationals continued to receive recognition, showing that the national team’s influence on the award was growing even without its most famous player. The four-year pattern involving Portugal The trend becomes particularly striking when the four most recent editions are placed side by side. From 2023 through 2026, Ronaldo has failed to be nominated for the Ballon d’Or in every edition while at least one of his Portugal teammates has made the shortlist. HERE ARE ALL THE BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! 🌕✨#ballondor pic.twitter.com/hg1ZByzhDV— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 6, 2023 In 2023, Bernardo Silva and Ruben Dias were nominated, while 2024 saw Dias and Vitinha among the recognized Portugal internationals. Ronaldo was absent on both occasions, despite remaining one of the most prolific forwards in world soccer. Here are the 2025 Ballon d'Or nominees!#ballondor pic.twitter.com/tehmbU4R0j— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) August 7, 2025 The pattern became even stronger in 2025. Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha were nominated, while Ronaldo once again missed out on the 30-man shortlist. OUR 2026 MEN'S BALLON D'OR NOMINEES! #ballondor pic.twitter.com/GQFsH5u5lO— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026 Then came 2026, when the number of Portugal teammates nominated increased further. Bruno Fernandes, Nuno Mendes, Joao Neves and Vitinha all made the Ballon d’Or shortlist, giving Ronaldo another year watching as members of Portugal’s next generation received individual recognition. YearRonaldo’s Club Teammates NominatedRonaldo’s International Teammates NominatedTotal Year Nominations202303 (Silva, Dias, Fernandes)3202403 (Dias, Vitinha, Fernandes)3202504 (Silva, Dias, Vitinha, Fernandes)420261 (Mane)5 (Fernandes, Vitinha, Dias, Mendes, Neves)6Total11516 2026 brings another twist The 2026 edition also introduced an unusual development because Ronaldo’s club teammate Sadio Mane was nominated. Mane became the first active Al-Nassr teammate to receive a Ballon d’Or nomination during Ronaldo’s time at the Saudi club, adding another layer to an increasingly interesting statistic. Nominated for the 2026 Ballon d’Or ⬇️@SMane_Officiel@AlNassrFC@AlNassrFC_EN@Fsfofficielle@GaindeYi#ballondor pic.twitter.com/i6dI76cbFZ— Ballon d'Or (@ballondor) September 8, 2026 According to Ballon d’Or, Portugal brought together Ronaldo and several other players with previous Ballon d’Or nominations as the national team continues to build around a generation of elite ta
Following his great campaign in the 2026 World Cup, Lionel Messi received a huge rating boost in his EAFC 27 card, while Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on being on the Men's Top 27 best rated players. Lionel Messi reasserted his position as one of the elite soccer players in the world with his stellar performances during the 2026 World Cup. Those international displays earned him a major ratings upgrade in the upcoming EA FC 27, while longtime rival Cristiano Ronaldo missed out on the Men’s Top 27 overall ratings. EA Sports unveiled the list of the top 27 highest-rated men’s players on Monday, with Messi earning a prominent spot. Notably, he stands as the only Argentine representative and the sole player outside of Europe’s top five leagues (England, Spain, Germany, France, and Italy) to crack the exclusive rankings. Tied with star players like Vinicius Junior, Bruno Fernandes, and Khvicha Kvaratskhelia, Messi garners an 89 overall card in EA FC 27. The Inter Miami star boasts attributes including 76 pace, 87 shooting, 89 passing, 90 dribbling, 33 defending, and 63 physicality. Compared to his rating in last year’s title, his pace dropped by two points while his shooting jumped by two points and his passing rose by four. His dribbling held firm at 90, his defense remained at 33, and his physical attribute took a one-point hit. This marks his second-highest base rating since joining Inter Miami, trailing only his 90-rated card in EA FC 24, and serves as the first 89-rated base card of his career. Top 10-18 rated players in EA FC27. (EA Sports) One of the most notable adjustments on his new card is his default primary position, now officially listed as a Central Attacking Midfielder (CAM). Throughout previous editions, his base item was predominantly classified as a Right Winger (RW) or occasionally a Center Forward (CF), making EA FC 27 the first game to assign him a CAM base position. Cristiano Ronaldo misses out on the Top 27 entirely Cristiano Ronaldo’s ratings have steadily drifted away from the game’s top tier since his move to Saudi Arabian side Al Nassr, beginning with an 86 overall gold card in EA FC 24. In last year’s EA FC 26, the Portuguese forward dropped to an 85 overall rating. For the new release, EA Sports revealed the Top 27 base cards spanning overall ratings from 91 down to 88. However, for another consecutive year, Ronaldo failed to secure a spot among the video game’s top-rated talent. The ratings are official. The debate has officially begun.Football's best are in #FC27.Pre-order now: https://t.co/2jnXPAjGfM pic.twitter.com/S0p7IjqagX— EA SPORTS FC (@EASPORTSFC) August 17, 2026 Top 27 rated cards compared to previous edition With the Men’s Top 27 official, here is the full ranking and how each player rated in EA FC 26: Kylian Mbappe — 91 rated (EA FC26: 91)Erling Haaland — 91 rated (EA FC26: 90)Rodri — 90 rated (EA FC26: 90)Ousmane Dembele — 90 rated (EA FC26: 90)Vitinha — 90 rated (EA FC26: 89)Harry Kane — 90 rated (EA FC26: 89)Michael Olise — 90 rated (EA FC26: 86)Pedri — 90 rated (EA FC26: 89)Lamine Yamal — 90 rated (EA FC26: 89)Thibaut Courtois — 90 rated (EA FC26: 89)Jude Bellingham — 90 rated (EA FC26: 90)Gabriel Magalhaes — 89 rated (EA FC26: 88)Gianluigi Donnarumma — 89 rated (EA FC26: 89)Bruno Fernandes — 89 rated (EA FC26: 87)Khvicha Kvaratskhelia — 89 rated (EA FC26: 87)Nuno Mendes — 89 rated (EA FC26: 86)Willian Pacho — 89 rated (EA FC26: 86)Lionel Messi — 89 rated (EA FC26: 86)Vinicius Junior — 89 rated (EA FC26: 89)Jan Oblak — 88 rated (EA FC26: 88)Declan Rice — 88 rated (EA FC26: 87)William Saliba — 88 rated (EA FC26: 87)Virgil van Dijk — 88 rated (EA FC26: 90)Achraf Hakimi — 88 rated (EA FC26: 89)Joao Neves — 88 rated (EA FC26: 85)Joshua Kimmich — 88 rated (EA FC26: 89)Luis Diaz — 88 rated (EA FC26: 85)
With PSG set to face RC Lens for the Trophee des Champions, Ousmane Dembele and Joao Neves happened to be the two biggest absences in the staring lineups. Paris Saint-Germain are chasing their second trophy of the 2026-27 season as they take on RC Lens on Sunday, August 16, in the Trophee des Champions. However, when the starting XI was announced, eyebrows were raised over the absence of key stars Ousmane Dembele and Joao Neves from the lineup. Ousmane Dembele will start on the bench against Lens as part of a tactical and fitness decision by manager Luis Enrique. Since the French winger was among the final group of players to report back to pre-season training following the 2026 World Cup, the Spanish manager opted to limit his workload and manage his minutes to avoid unnecessary injury risks early in the campaign. Instead, Maghnes Akliouche gets the start in Dembele’s place in the attack. The former AS Monaco winger will occupy the central position, while Kvicha Kvaratskhelia and Desire Doue will be operating down the left and right flank respectively, much like PSG’s lineup was in Wednesday’s UEFA Super Cup victory. Meanwhile, Joao Neves was left out of the squad list entirely for the Trophee des Champions clash. In this instance, Luis Enrique chose to give the Portuguese midfielder a complete rest following his 75-minute workload in the UEFA Super Cup, though the player is not dealing with any structural or serious injury. Le XI de nos Rouge et Bleu ! ⚔️#RCLPSG I #TDC pic.twitter.com/0QrlRsg9JN— Paris Saint-Germain (@PSG_inside) August 16, 2026 With Vitinha serving as the central anchor in midfield, the Portuguese international will be flanked by Warren Zaire-Emery and Brazilian Lucas Beraldo. Fabian Ruiz, who featured in the 2026 World Cup final for Spain, will begin the match on the substitute bench awaiting his opportunity. Confirmed lineups for PSG and RC Lens PSG’s confirmed lineup (4-3-3): Matvey Safonovl Achraf hakimi, Ilya Zabarnyi, William Pacho, Lucas Digne; Warren Zaire-Emery, Lucas Beraldo, Vitinha; Desire Doue, Maghnes Akliouche, Khvicha Kvaratskhelia.Head coach: Luis Enrique. RC Lens’s confirmed lineup (3-4-2-1): Robin Risser; Kyllian Antonio, Ismaelo Ganiou, Maik Nawrocki; Saud Abdulhamid, Michael Cuisance, Yassine Titraoui, Matthieu Udoi; Florian Thauvin, Franjo Ivanovic; Abdallah Sima.Head coach: Dino Toppmoller.
Fabian Ruiz has been dropped from PSG's starting lineup against Aston Villa in the UEFA Super Cup 2026 final. Paris Saint-Germain pursue their second consecutive UEFA Super Cup title in the 2026 edition when they face Aston Villa on Wednesday, August 12, at Red Bull Arena in Salzburg, Austria. However, the French champions navigate several key absences, with midfielder Fabian Ruiz left out of the starting lineup for the clash against the Villans. Ruiz begins the match on the substitute bench against Aston Villa due to a tactical decision by head coach Luis Enrique. The Spanish international recently reported back to training following an extended post-World Cup vacation, leaving him with limited conditioning ahead of the seasonal opener. The midfielder served as an indispensable contributor for Luis Enrique across the last two campaigns, helping PSG capture back-to-back Champions League titles. Despite suffering a knee injury that sidelined him for 16 matches between January and April during the 2025-26 season, Ruiz recovered in time for the stretch run, logging 34 appearances, two goals, and five assists across all competitions. Ruiz started four matches during the 2026 World Cup under Spain manager Luis de la Fuente, earning a starting role over Pedri in the final. While Aston Villa goalkeeper Emiliano “Dibu” Martinez also featured in that final for Argentina on July 19, Ruiz returned to team activities on a delayed schedule, prompting Luis Enrique to ease him back into competition from the bench. Fabian Ruiz #8 of Spain celebrates with the FIFA World Cup. (Carl Recine/Getty Images) With Fabian Ruiz far from his ideal form, Luis Enrique has opted to deploy an alternative midfield in the UEFA Super Cup final. Vitinha and Joao Neves will be starting, but Warren Zaire-Emery, who was also present for France in the 2026 World Cup roster, will be the third midfield who’ll be covering the Spaniard.
After regaining his starting spot with Spain, Fabián Ruiz became a central figure in the country's 2026 World Cup triumph. Despite being at one of the best moments of his career, the PSG midfielder revealed his desire to return to Real Betis soon, making his future clear. Spain were crowned the 2026 World Cup winner, ending a 16-year title drought. Even though Pedri emerged as the starter, head coach Luis de la Fuente decided to return to Fabián Ruiz, who ended up being essential in the final against Argentina. Despite the 30-year-old midfielder seemingly being at the best moment of his career with La Roja and PSG, he revealed his desire to return to Real Betis. Amid his tribute as a 2026 World Cup winner, Fabián Ruiz was asked whether he would consider returning to Real Betis. He responded bluntly: “The truth is yes. I’ve always said it. I never hide it. I want to come back. It gets closer every time. I’m a Betis fan, and one day I hope to return to Betis,” he said, according to Marca. Nonetheless, his comeback may not be an easy path due to his renewal status. Fabián Ruiz remains a central figure at PSG, serving as an undisputed starter under head coach Luis Enrique. For that reason, he has agreed to a contract extension through 2029, with an option for an additional year, according to Fabrizio Romano. While the 30-year-old midfielder has hinted at a return to Real Betis, the French side may not let him leave easily complicating matters in the near future. As one of the most experienced players for PSG and Spain, Fabián Ruiz has established among the best players in the world. During the 2025-26 season, he won absolutely everything, making him a potential Ballon d’Or candidate, something he made clear would be a great honor for him. In addition, he reached 50 unbeaten matches with La Roja, marking a historic milestone that demonstrates his importance to the team. Fabian Ruiz of Spain runs to celebrate. Fabian Ruiz is one of the most well-rounded players at PSG and Spain Throughout the last few years, Fabián Ruiz has been one of the most underrated players in Europe. At PSG, Vitinha and João Neves steal all the spotlight, while Pedri does the same with Spain. However, he has managed to carve out a unique place in both squads, becoming a cornerstone of every title they have won. His importance comes down to one key aspect: He is one of the most complete players in his position. Despite having world-class competition, Fabián has earned the trust of all his coaches by excelling in both defense and attack. Thanks to his tactical intelligence and physical presence, he stands out as one of the most solid central midfielders defensively, playing a key role in balancing the lineup. In addition, he offers an incredible creative side, controlling the tempo and distributing the play. Amid the very young squads at PSG and Spain, Fabián Ruiz has emerged as one of the leaders of both teams. Although he is only 30 years old, he is one of the most experienced players, making him a clear leader in the dressing room and an example on the pitch. Despite this, his career does not usually receive much spotlight, making him one of the most underrated players in the world.
To face Croatia in the 2026 World Cup Round of 32, Portugal head coach Roberto Martinez has decided to leave Bernardo Silva out of the starting lineup. Portugal will be hunting for a coveted spot in the Round of 16 of the 2026 FIFA World Cup on Thursday, July 2nd, as they square off against a dangerous Croatia squad at Toronto Stadium. While international icon Cristiano Ronaldo and a host of other premier stars are locked into the lineup, the high-profile omission of Bernardo Silva from the starting sheet has immediately sparked intense debate among fans. Silva will begin the match against Croatia on the substitutes’ bench due to a purely tactical decision by head coach Roberto Martinez. The newly minted Real Madrid playmaker is reportedly in peak physical condition and completely free of any injury concerns, meaning his exclusion from the opening XI is entirely a reflection of the specific strategic blueprint the Spanish manager has drawn up for today’s encounter. By leaving the veteran midfield on the bench, Martinez has opted for a far more direct, vertical attacking approach to dismantle the Croatian defense. Down the right wing, a position Silva has consistently locked down in recent outings, the manager has instead deployed Pedro Neto (a less technical but highly explosive speedster) opposite Rafael Leao on the left, while anchoring the midfield with a dual-pivot of Joao Neves and Vitinha. After starting the first game against DR Congo which ended in an upsetting 1-1 draw, Bernardo Silva reappeared as a substitute against Uzbekistan, but remained as an unused substitute against Colombia. “We couldn’t risk Bernardo Silva against Colombia because he was carrying a yellow card, and another booking would have ruled him out of tomorrow’s match,” said coach Martinez on Wednesday’s press conference. Bernardo Silva #10 of Portugal attends a press conference. Despite that previous disciplinary caution, Martinez has still chosen to bench a player who has served as an undisputed cornerstone of the national program since the manager’s tenure began. However, with all single yellow cards from the group stage officially wiped clean for the knockout rounds, Silva remains one of the world’s most luxurious options to bring off the bench if Portugal needs a late-game spark. Bernardo Silva’s numbers in Portugal Silva is currently participating in his third career World Cup with Portugal, having firmly established himself as a fixture in the starting XI back during the 2018 edition in Russia. Now 31 years old, this summer’s showcase in North America likely represents his final prime opportunity to help the Selecao capture soccer’s most elusive prize. Over the course of his international career, Silva has racked up 14 goals and provided 29 assists across 111 senior appearances for the Portugal national team. Should he enter the pitch at any point during today’s clash with Croatia, he will officially move into sole possession of sixth place on Portugal’s all-time caps list, surpassing former winger Nani.
Portugal take on Colombia in Matchday 3 of Group K at the 2026 World Cup, and Joao Neves will not start for the European side. Portugal face Colombia to close out the 2026 World Cup group stage in a clash that will decide who tops Group K. For this game, coach Roberto Martinez decided to leave Joao Neves out of the starting lineup for the decisive Matchday 3 fixture in Miami. Despite this being a meaningful match where a win would lift Portugal into first place, the Spanish coach has opted to rest the PSG midfielder from the opening whistle. Stepping into the starting lineup in place of Neves is Ruben Neves, who joins Vitinha and Bruno Fernandes in central midfield. The decision comes down to qualification math rather than tactics. Portugal have already clinched their spot in the Round of 32 regardless of the result against Colombia, after Cape Verde’s result in Group H confirmed their place among the competition’s best third-placed teams even in a worst-case scenario. With qualification already secured, the only thing left to play for against Colombia is first place in Group K, something Portugal can still claim with a win. But unlike a true must-win scenario, that incentive was not enough to keep Martinez from rotating one of his most important midfielders. Joao Neves in action against Uzbekistan. (Getty Images) Portugal’s potential Round of 32 rivals If Roberto Martinez’s side beats Colombia and finish first in Group K, it would stay in the United States for a Round of 32 clash at Kansas City Stadium against a third-placed team from Group D, E, I, J, or L. Should Portugal settle for second place in the group, their path would instead lead to Toronto Stadium, where they would face Croatia, as they finished as runner-up of Group L. Either way, Portugal’s reward for getting through the group stage is a guaranteed change of scenery for the knockout rounds, with the exact opponent set to come into focus once today’s full slate of fixtures wraps up.
Tap a headline to view metadata and excerpt fields in Sportra, then use the article website button to continue on the original publisher page.