Lucas Braga

Lucas Braga Ribeiro (born 10 November 1996), known as Lucas Braga (Brazilian Portuguese: [ˈlukɐz ˈbɾaɡɐ]) or simply Braga, is a Brazilian footballer who plays for J2 League club Shimizu S-Pulse, on loan from Santos. Mainly a winger, he can also play as a wing back.

Lucas Braga
Lucas Braga with Santos in 2022
Personal information
Full nameLucas Braga Ribeiro
Date of birth (1996-11-10) 10 November 1996 (age 27)
Place of birthSão Paulo, Brazil
Height1.84 m (6 ft 0 in)[1]
Position(s)Winger
Team information
Current team
Shimizu S-Pulse
(on loan from Santos)
Number11
Youth career
2016J. Malucelli
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2017J. Malucelli1(0)
2017Batel10(1)
2018–2019Luverdense40(4)
2018Vila Nova (loan)6(0)
2019–Santos152(13)
2019Cuiabá (loan)16(0)
2020Inter de Limeira (loan)14(1)
2024–Shimizu S-Pulse (loan)13(4)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 21:13, 11 December 2023 (UTC)

Career

Early career

Born in São Paulo,[2] Braga joined J. Malucelli's youth setup in August 2016.[3] Promoted to the main squad for the 2017 season,[2] he made his senior debut on 30 March of that year, coming on as a second-half substitute in a 1–0 away loss against PSTC.[4]

After administrative problems, Braga left the club and joined Batel also in the Paraná state, to play for the club in the state's third division.[5] He scored his first senior goal at the club, netting the opener in a 4–0 home routing of União Futebol Clube de Nova Fátima on 5 November 2017.[6]

Luverdense

On 12 January 2018, Braga signed for Luverdense of the Série C.[7] Regularly used by his new club, he scored his first goal for the club on 14 May, netting the last in a 4–1 home routing of Volta Redonda.[8]

On 28 August 2018, Braga was loaned to Série B side Vila Nova on loan until the end of the season.[9] He contributed with six appearances before returning to his parent club for the 2019 season.

Santos

Lucas Braga with Santos in 2022

B-team

On 29 December 2018, it was announced that Braga had agreed to a pre-contract with Santos.[10] He signed a contract until June 2022 the following 5 June, after his deal with his previous club expired,[11] and started to appear for the under-23s.

Loans to Cuiabá and Inter de Limeira

On 9 September 2019, Braga moved to Cuiabá in the second division, on loan until the end of the campaign.[12] On 13 December, he was announced at Inter de Limeira, also in a temporary deal.[13] He impressed during his spell at the latter, scoring once against Oeste on 23 July.

Breakthrough

On 5 August 2020, Braga returned to Santos and was assigned to the main squad.[14] He made his debut for the club on 20 August, coming on as a second-half substitute for Kaio Jorge in a 1–0 away win against Sport Recife for the Série A championship.[15]

Braga made his Copa Libertadores debut on 1 October 2020, replacing Yeferson Soteldo late into a 3–2 away win against Club Olimpia.[16] He scored his first goal for the club twenty days later, netting the equalizer in a 2–1 home win against Defensa y Justicia.[17]

After the departure of Soteldo to Toronto FC, Braga established himself as an undisputed starter.[18] On 20 May 2021, he signed a new five-year contract, until April 2026.[19]

Loan to Shimizu S-Pulse

On 26 December 2023, after Santos' first-ever relegation, Braga was loaned to J2 League club Shimizu S-Pulse for one year, with a buyout clause.[20]

Career statistics

As of 11 December 2023[21]
ClubSeasonLeagueState LeagueCupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
J. Malucelli2017Paranaense1010
Batel2017Paranaense 3ª Divisão101101
Luverdense2018Série C183100204[a]0343
20191011140161
Total1932116040504
Vila Nova (loan)2018Série B6060
Santos2019Série A0000
2020302209[b]2414
2021321735114[c]2587
2022335121508[d]0586
2023270111301[d]0421
Total122830515132419918
Cuiabá (loan)2019Série B160160
Inter de Limeira (loan)2020Paulista141141
Shimizu S-Pulse (loan)2024J2 League000000
Career total163117682113244029624

References

External links