Diogo António Cupido Gonçalves (Portuguese pronunciation: [diˈoɣu ɣõˈsalvɨʃ]; born 6 February 1997) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a winger for Major League Soccer club Real Salt Lake.

Diogo Gonçalves
Gonçalves playing for Benfica in 2021
Personal information
Full name Diogo António Cupido Gonçalves
Date of birth (1997-02-06) 6 February 1997 (age 27)
Place of birth Almodôvar, Portugal
Height 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[1]
Position(s) Winger
Team information
Current team
Real Salt Lake
Number 10
Youth career
2005–2007 Almodôvar
2007–2008 Ferreiras
2008–2016 Benfica
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2018 Benfica B 86 (15)
2017–2023 Benfica 61 (1)
2018–2019Nottingham Forest (loan) 7 (0)
2019–2020Famalicão (loan) 27 (5)
2023–2024 Copenhagen 38 (15)
2024– Real Salt Lake 9 (2)
International career
2012 Portugal U15 2 (0)
2012–2013 Portugal U16 9 (2)
2013–2014 Portugal U17 17 (3)
2015 Portugal U18 5 (2)
2015–2016 Portugal U19 13 (0)
2016–2017 Portugal U20 12 (5)
2017–2018 Portugal U21 13 (8)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 31 October 2024

Club career

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Benfica

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Born in Almodôvar, Gonçalves started his career at local club CD Almodôvar in 2005. Two years later, he joined Ferreiras, before moving to Benfica's youth system in 2008.[citation needed]

After being promoted from the youth team, Gonçalves debuted for the reserve team, Benfica B, as a substitute, playing 20 minutes in a Segunda Liga 4–1 home win over Oliveirense on 14 February 2015.[2] On 24 May, he scored his first goal for Benfica B in a 2–1 home win over Vitória de Guimarães B. Five days later, he scored the only goal of a friendly held for the opening of FC United of Manchester's Broadhurst Park.[3][4]

On 9 August 2017, Gonçalves debuted for Benfica's senior team in a 3–1 victory over Braga in the Primeira Liga.[5] Later on, he made his UEFA Champions League debut in a 1–0 home loss to Manchester United on 18 October.[5]

Nottingham Forest (loan)

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On 14 June 2018, Gonçalves joined EFL Championship club Nottingham Forest on loan for the 2018–19 season with the option of making the transfer permanent at the end of the season.[6][7] He made his only Championship start in the opening day 1–1 draw at Bristol City and was subsequently used sparingly by managers Aitor Karanka and Martin O'Neill, totalling ten games in all.[8]

Famalicão (loan)

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Gonçalves and Benfica teammate Guga both moved on 26 June 2019 to Famalicão, who were returning to the Primeira Liga after a quarter-century away; his deal was again a season-long loan.[9] He scored his first goal on 19 December in a 3–0 home win over Mafra to reach the quarter-finals of the Taça de Portugal;[10] there on 15 January 2020 he netted the only goal at Paços de Ferreira to put the team from Vila Nova de Famalicão into the last four for the first time since 1946.[11]

Return to Benfica

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In August 2020, Gonçalves renewed his contract with Benfica until 2025.[12]

Copenhagen

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On 5 January 2023, Gonçalves signed a four-year contract with Danish Superliga side F.C. Copenhagen.[13] He made his debut for the club on 19 February 2023, starting in a 3–0 away win over Silkeborg.[14][15] On 5 March 2023, Gonçalves scored his first goal for Copenhagen in the 7–0 thrashing of OB, opening the score from the penalty spot.[16]

Real Salt Lake

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On 9 August 2024, Gonçalves signed a two-year contract with Major League Soccer Side Real Salt Lake, making a move to the United States after his tenure in Europe. This marked his first experience in a non-European league.[17]

International career

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Gonçalves has represented Portugal at various levels up to under-21 level.

Career statistics

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As of match played 31 October 2024[18]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup[a] League cup[b] Europe Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Benfica B 2014–15 Segunda Liga 10 1 10 1
2015–16 LigaPro 36 5 36 5
2016–17 LigaPro 35 8 35 8
2017–18 LigaPro 5 1 5 1
Total 86 15 86 15
Benfica 2017–18 Primeira Liga 7 0 0 0 1 0 4[c] 0 0 0 12 0
2020–21 Primeira Liga 21 1 4 0 0 0 5[d] 1 1[e] 0 31 2
2021–22 Primeira Liga 23 0 0 0 3 0 8[c] 0 34 0
2022–23 Primeira Liga 10 0 2 0 2 0 6[c] 1 20 1
Total 61 1 6 0 6 0 23 2 1 0 83 3
Nottingham Forest (loan) 2018–19 EFL Championship 7 0 0 0 3 0 0 0 10 0
Famalicão (loan) 2019–20 Primeira Liga 27 5 5 2 1 0 33 7
Copenhagen 2022–23 Danish Superliga 14 6 4 3 18 9
2023–24 Danish Superliga 22 8 0 0 13[c] 3 35 11
2024–25 Danish Superliga 2 1 0 0 0 0 2 1
Total 38 15 4 3 13 3 55 21
Real Salt Lake 2024 MLS 9 2 0 0 0 0 0 0 1 0 10 2
Career total 228 38 15 5 10 0 36 5 2 0 292 48

Honours

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Benfica[18]

Copenhagen

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Diogo Gonçalves". S.L. Benfica. Archived from the original on 22 December 2022. Retrieved 12 August 2022.
  2. ^ "Benfica B - Oliveirense (Jornada 27 Segunda Liga 2014-2015) - Liga Portugal" (in Portuguese). LPFP. 14 February 2015. Retrieved 14 February 2015.
  3. ^ Flanagan, Aaron. "FC United of Manchester open new stadium against Benfica... and show what football fans can achieve". Mirror Online. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  4. ^ Ben Collins (29 May 2015). "FC United 0 Benfica 1: Match report of official opening of new Broadhurst Park stadium". Manchester Evening News. Retrieved 31 May 2015.
  5. ^ a b Diogo Gonçalves at Soccerbase
  6. ^ "Forest agree double signing". Nottingham Forest. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 14 June 2018.
  7. ^ "Diogo Gonçalves on loan to Nottingham Forest". S.L. Benfica. 14 June 2018. Retrieved 25 July 2018.
  8. ^ Clapson, Sarah (27 June 2019). "Diogo Goncalves wants to bring 'joy' to new set of fans after Nottingham Forest snub". Nottingham Post. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  9. ^ "Diogo Gonçalves e Guga Rodrigues reforçam Famalicão" [Diogo Gonçalves and Guga Rodrigues bolster Famalicão]. Record (in Portuguese). 26 June 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  10. ^ "Famalicão atinge 'quartos' após jogo onde tudo aconteceu" [Famalicão reach 'quarters' after game where everything happened]. Record (in Portuguese). 19 December 2019. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  11. ^ "Diogo Gonçalves marcou o golo que colocou o Famalicão nas 'meias' da Taça" [Diogo Gonçalves scored the goal that put Famalicão in the 'semis' of the Taça] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. 15 January 2020. Retrieved 16 January 2020.
  12. ^ "Diogo Gonçalves renewed his contract". Sport Lisboa e Benfica Official Website. 9 August 2020. Archived from the original on 29 August 2020. Retrieved 11 January 2021.
  13. ^ "FCK køber Diogo Gonçalves". F.C. København (in Danish). 5 January 2023. Archived from the original on 5 January 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  14. ^ "Start-11 mod Silkeborg IF". F.C. København (in Danish). 19 February 2023. Archived from the original on 15 March 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  15. ^ "Silkeborg IF – FC København 0:3 (Superligaen 2022/2023, 18. Round)". WorldFootball.net. HEIM:SPIEL. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  16. ^ Leth, Rasmus Lomholt (5 March 2023). "FCK vinder 7-0 over OB". TV 2 Sport (in Danish). Archived from the original on 2 April 2023. Retrieved 2 April 2023.
  17. ^ "Real Salt Lake Adds Portuguese No. 10 Diogo Gonçalves from FC Copenhagen | Real Salt Lake". rsl.
  18. ^ a b Diogo Gonçalves at Soccerway. Retrieved 9 July 2019.
  19. ^ Eis os 32 campeões de 2022/2023 (oito já tinham saído) - Fotogaleria Archived 29 May 2023 at the Wayback Machine A Bola
  20. ^ "FCK win 2022/23 Danish Cup". Copenhagen. 18 May 2023. Retrieved 18 May 2023.
  21. ^ Sand, Nicolai (5 August 2023). "Syv klubber repræsenteret på månedens hold i Superligaen". bold.dk (in Danish). Archived from the original on 16 April 2024. Retrieved 16 April 2024.
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