João Moutinho facts for kids

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In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Iria Santos and the second or paternal family name is Moutinho.

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João Moutinho

Moutinho with Portugal at the 2018 FIFA World Cup

Personal information

Full name

João Filipe Iria Santos Moutinho

Date of birth

8 September 1986 (age 38)

Place of birth

Barreiro, Portugal

Height

1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)

Position(s)

Midfielder

Team information

Current team

Braga

Number

Youth career

1996-2000

Portimonense

2000–2004

Sporting CP

Senior career*

Years

Team

Apps

(Gls)

2003–2004

Sporting CP B

(1)

2004–2010

Sporting CP

163

(21)

2010–2013

Porto

(4)

2013–2018

Monaco

158

(9)

2018–2023

Wolverhampton Wanderers

175

(5)

2023–

Braga

(2)

International career^‡

2003

Portugal U17

(0)

2004

Portugal U18

(0)

2004

Portugal U19

(1)

2005–2007

Portugal U21

(2)

2006

Portugal B

(0)

2005–2022

Portugal

146

(7)

Medal record

UEFA European U17 Championship

Men's football
Representing Portugal
UEFA European Championship
Winner	2016 France	Team
Bronze	2012 Poland-Ukraine	Team
UEFA Nations League
Winner	2019 Portugal	Team
FIFA Confederations Cup
Third	2017 Russia	Team
Winner	2003 Portugal

*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:00, 25 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 22:38, 9 June 2022 (UTC)

João Filipe Iria Santos Moutinho (born on 8 September 1986) is a Portuguese footballer. He plays as a central midfielder for Primeira Liga club Braga.

Moutinho started his professional career with Sporting CP. Later, he moved to Porto in 2010. He won many important titles with both clubs. In 2013, he joined Monaco and helped them win the Ligue 1 championship. In 2018, he moved to Wolverhampton Wanderers in England. He played over 200 games there before joining Braga in 2023.

Moutinho also played for the Portugal national team. He took part in four European Championships and two FIFA World Cups. He helped Portugal win the European Championship in 2016 and the UEFA Nations League in 2019.

Club Career Highlights
International Career
Personal Life
Honours and Achievements
See also

Club Career Highlights

Starting at Sporting CP

João Moutinho was born in Barreiro, Portugal. He grew up in Portimão. He showed great talent playing for Portimonense as a boy. When he was 13, he joined Sporting CP in Lisbon to continue his football training.

In 2005, at just 17 years old, Moutinho started playing for Sporting's main team. He quickly became a regular player. He could play in different midfield positions. His energy and determination made him a fan favorite.

Moutinho (right) playing against João Pereira in 2009

Moutinho played a big part in Sporting reaching the UEFA Cup final in his first season. He played 15 league games as his team finished second. The next season, he was the only player to play every minute of every league match.

In 2006, at only 19, Moutinho became Sporting's vice-captain. The next year, he was named captain. He was one of the youngest captains in the club's history.

Moving to Porto

On 3 July 2010, Moutinho signed a five-year contract with Sporting's rivals, Porto. He quickly became a key player for Porto. In his first season, he played 50 official games. Porto won the league and the Portuguese Cup that year. They also won the Europa League, completing a "treble" (winning three major trophies in one season).

Moutinho continued to play well for Porto. In 2013, he scored an important goal against Málaga in the Champions League. He helped Porto win their third league championship in a row.

Time at Monaco

On 24 May 2013, Moutinho joined Monaco in France. He made his first appearance for Monaco on 1 September. He helped his new team win against Marseille.

Moutinho was a regular starter in his first season with Monaco. They finished second in the league. In 2014, he scored the only goal in a Champions League match against Bayer Leverkusen. He played 52 games that season. In the 2016–17 season, he helped Monaco win their eighth national championship.

Playing for Wolverhampton Wanderers

Moutinho playing for Porto in 2011

On 24 July 2018, Moutinho moved to England to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers. He made his Premier League debut on 11 August. His first goal in the Premier League was against Manchester United on 22 September.

Wolverhampton fans voted Moutinho as their Player of the Season in his first year. He played in all 38 league games. In November 2019, he signed a new contract with the club. He scored his first goal at Molineux, Wolves' home stadium, against Arsenal in February 2021.

In January 2022, Moutinho scored the winning goal against Manchester United at Old Trafford. This was Wolves' first league win there since 1980. He left Wolves in June 2023 after five years with the club. He played 212 games in total for them.

Return to Portugal with Braga

On 25 August 2023, Moutinho signed a one-year contract with Braga. He made his debut nine days later, returning to the Primeira Liga after ten years abroad. On 22 December, he scored his first goal for Braga from a penalty kick.

On 14 January 2024, Moutinho played his 1000th career match. This is a huge achievement for any footballer. Two weeks later, he helped Braga win the Taça da Liga (League Cup). This was his first time winning this trophy.

International Career

Moutinho started playing for the Portugal national team when he was 18. His first game was in August 2005 against Egypt. He quickly became a regular player for his country.

On 31 May 2008, Moutinho scored his first goal for Portugal against Georgia. He was part of the squad for UEFA Euro 2008. He also played in two UEFA European Under-21 Championships.

Moutinho earning his 100th cap for Portugal against New Zealand in 2017.

Moutinho played in all games at the Euro 2012 tournament. He was also chosen for the 2014 World Cup. In October 2015, he scored the goal that helped Portugal qualify for Euro 2016.

Moutinho played a big role in Portugal winning the European Championships for the first time in 2016. He also played in the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup. In that tournament, he earned his 100th cap for Portugal.

He was part of the 2018 World Cup squad. In November 2020, Moutinho played his 128th game for Portugal. This meant he had played more games than Luís Figo, becoming the second most capped Portuguese player ever, only behind Cristiano Ronaldo. He was also in the squad for the UEFA Euro 2020 tournament.

Personal Life

João Moutinho comes from a family of footballers. His father, Nélson, was also a forward. His cousin, Hugo, also played football professionally.

Besides Portuguese, Moutinho also speaks English and French. He was already good at English when he moved to England.

Honours and Achievements

João Moutinho has won many trophies throughout his career:

Sporting CP

Taça de Portugal: 2006–07, 2007–08
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2007, 2008

Porto

Primeira Liga: 2010–11, 2011–12, 2012–13
Taça de Portugal: 2010–11
Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2010, 2011, 2012
UEFA Europa League: 2010–11

Monaco

Ligue 1: 2016–17

Braga

Taça da Liga: 2023–24

Portugal National Team

UEFA European Championship: 2016
UEFA Nations League: 2018–19
UEFA European Under-17 Championship: 2003
FIFA Confederations Cup third place: 2017

Individual Awards

SJPF Player of the Month: April 2005
SJPF Young Player of the Month: October 2006, November 2006, October 2007, November 2007, February 2008, March 2008
Porto Player of the Year: 2012–13
Wolverhampton Wanderers' Player of the Season: 2018–19

Orders

Commander of the Order of Merit