Lucas Moura facts for kids
Moura lining up for Tottenham Hotspur in 2020
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| Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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| Date of birth | 13 August 1992 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Place of birth | São Paulo, Brazil | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 1.72 m | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Playing position | Winger, attacking midfielder | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Club information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Current club | São Paulo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Number | 7 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Youth career | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 1999–2002 | Juventus-SP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2002–2005 | Corinthians | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2005–2010 | São Paulo | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Senior career* | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Years | Team | Apps† | (Gls)† | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2010–2012 | São Paulo | 103 | (28) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2013–2018 | Paris Saint-Germain | 153 | (34) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2018–2023 | Tottenham Hotspur | 152 | (20) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2023– | São Paulo | 47 | (13) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| National team‡ | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011–2012 | Brazil U20 | 9 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2012 | Brazil U23 | 5 | (1) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
| 2011– | Brazil | 37 | (4) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||
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Honours
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† Appearances (Goals). |
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Lucas Rodrigues Moura da Silva (born August 13, 1992), known as Lucas Moura, is a Brazilian professional footballer. He plays as a winger or attacking midfielder. He currently plays for Campeonato Brasileiro Série A club São Paulo and the Brazil national team.
Lucas Moura started his professional journey at São Paulo. He quickly became one of the best players in the Brazilian league. His amazing speed and dribbling skills caught the eye of many European clubs. This led him to join the French team Paris Saint-Germain.
After winning many trophies in France, Lucas Moura moved to the English club Tottenham Hotspur. He helped them reach their first ever UEFA Champions League final. He scored a famous hat-trick against Ajax in the semi-final, which sent Spurs to the final. In 2023, after five years with Tottenham, Lucas Moura returned to São Paulo. In his first season back, he helped them win the Copa do Brasil.
Lucas Moura first played for the Brazilian national team in 2011. He has played over 30 games for his country. He represented Brazil in two Copa América tournaments and the 2012 Olympics, where he won a silver medal. He also won the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup with Brazil.
Contents
Lucas Moura's Club Journey
Starting at São Paulo
Lucas Moura joined São Paulo FC in 2005. Before that, he played for youth teams like Clube Atlético Juventus and Corinthians. When he was younger, people called him Marcelinho because he looked like a famous footballer named Marcelinho Carioca.
He was very good in the youth teams. In 2010, he started playing for São Paulo's main team. He scored 4 goals and made 4 assists in 25 games. That same year, he said he wanted to be known by his real name, Lucas, to "make his own history in football." In 2011, he scored 9 goals and made 4 assists in the Brazilian league. Overall, he scored 13 goals and made 8 assists that year.
Moving to Paris Saint-Germain
In 2012, big clubs like Manchester United and Inter Milan wanted to sign Lucas Moura. But on August 8, 2012, Paris Saint-Germain (PSG) announced he would join them in January 2013. This was a very expensive transfer, costing around €45 million (about £38 million). He wore the number 29 shirt for PSG.
On January 11, 2013, Lucas Moura played his first game for PSG. It was a 0–0 draw against AC Ajaccio. He also played in a Champions League game against Valencia on February 12, helping to set up a goal. On September 13, 2013, he scored his first goal for PSG in a 2–0 win against Bordeaux.
For the 2014–15 season, Lucas Moura got the number 7 shirt. This was the same number he wore at São Paulo. He scored his first goal of that season on August 16, 2014, against Bastia. He continued to score important goals for PSG, including two goals against Bordeaux on October 25.
He continued to play for PSG until January 2018.
Time at Tottenham Hotspur
On January 31, 2018, Lucas Moura signed with Tottenham Hotspur until 2023. The transfer fee was around £25 million. He played his first game for Tottenham in the 2017–18 UEFA Champions League against Juventus on February 13, 2018. He scored his first goal for the club in an FA Cup game against Rochdale on February 18, 2018.
In the 2018–19 season, Lucas Moura scored his first Premier League goal on August 18, 2018, against Fulham. In the next game, he scored two goals against Manchester United, helping Tottenham win 3–0 at Old Trafford. He also scored his first Champions League goal for Spurs against PSV. In a crucial away game against Barcelona, Lucas Moura scored a late goal that made the game 1–1. This result helped Tottenham move to the next stage of the Champions League.
On April 13, 2019, he scored a hat-trick (three goals) in a 4–0 win against Huddersfield Town. This was his first hat-trick in Europe and the first ever at the new Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
His most famous moment came on May 8, 2019. Lucas Moura scored another hat-trick in Tottenham's 3–2 victory over Ajax in the Champions League semi-finals. Tottenham was losing 2–0 in that game and 3–0 overall. But Lucas Moura's three goals, including one in the 96th minute, helped his team win on away goals. This sent Tottenham to their first ever Champions League final. His amazing performance earned him a perfect 10 rating from the French sports newspaper L'Équipe.
On August 9, 2019, Lucas Moura signed a new contract with Tottenham until 2024. He scored his first goal of the 2019–20 season just nineteen seconds after coming on as a substitute against Manchester City.
On January 12, 2023, it was announced that Lucas Moura would leave Tottenham. On May 28, his last game for the club, he scored a goal in a 4–1 win against Leeds United.
Returning to São Paulo
In August 2023, Lucas Moura returned to São Paulo Futebol Clube after eleven years away. His return was a big event in Brazilian football. He received the number 7 shirt, which he wore during his first time at the club.
On July 6, he played his first game back for São Paulo. He came on as a substitute in a 2–0 loss to Atlético Mineiro. He scored his first goal since returning on August 13, in a 1–1 draw against Flamengo.
On August 16, he had a fantastic game in the Copa do Brasil semi-finals. He helped São Paulo win 2–0 against Corinthians, securing a 3–2 win overall. Lucas Moura ran past defenders and scored a header, helping his team make a comeback.
He played in both final games of the Copa do Brasil against Flamengo. São Paulo won the first game 1–0 and tied the second 1–1, winning their first Copa do Brasil title. Even though he only played three matches in the tournament, Lucas was seen as one of the most important players.
On December 22, he extended his contract with São Paulo until the end of 2026.
Lucas Moura's International Career
Youth and Early Senior Career
Lucas Moura played often for Brazil's Under-20 team. In February 2011, he scored a hat-trick in a 6–0 win against Uruguay in the final of the Under-20 South American Championship.
He made his first appearance for the senior Brazil team in a friendly game against Scotland on March 27, 2011. On September 28, 2011, Lucas Moura scored his first goal for Brazil against Argentina.
2011 Copa América
Lucas Moura was part of Brazil's squad for the 2011 Copa América in Argentina. He played as a substitute in group stage matches. Brazil was later knocked out by Paraguay in a penalty shoot-out.
2012 Olympics
Lucas Moura was chosen to play for the Brazil Olympic football team at the 2012 Summer Olympics in London. He played in three matches as a substitute, including the Gold medal match against Mexico. Brazil won a silver medal at these Olympics.
2013 Confederations Cup
He was also selected for the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup held in Brazil, which his team won.
Copa América Centenario
In 2016, Lucas Moura was part of Brazil's squad for the Copa América Centenario in the United States.
Return to National Team in 2024
In September 2024, Lucas Moura was called up to the national team again. This was six years after his last game for Brazil. He said he thought it was a joke at first! He played as a substitute in two World Cup qualifying matches.
How Lucas Moura Plays
Lucas Moura is known as a fast and agile winger. He is also strong, creative, and very skilled with the ball. He has amazing speed and can change direction quickly. His dribbling skills, including his tricks and feints, make him a dangerous player.
He can play in many different positions, like a forward, in midfield, or as an attacking midfielder. Sometimes, people have said he can be inconsistent, especially when he was younger. His passing vision and decision-making were also mentioned as areas to improve.
Lucas Moura's Achievements
São Paulo U20
- Copa São Paulo de Futebol Júnior: 2010
São Paulo
- Copa Sudamericana: 2012
- Copa do Brasil: 2023
- Supercopa do Brasil: 2024
Paris Saint-Germain
- Ligue 1: 2012–13, 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16
- Coupe de France: 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
- Coupe de la Ligue: 2013–14, 2014–15, 2015–16, 2016–17
- Trophée des Champions: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016
Tottenham Hotspur
- EFL Cup runner-up: 2020–21
- UEFA Champions League runner-up: 2018–19
Brazil U20
- South American U-20 Championship: 2011
Brazil U23
- Summer Olympic silver medal: 2012
Brazil
- FIFA Confederations Cup: 2013
Individual Awards
- Campeonato Brasileiro Série A Team of the Year: 2012
- Bola de Prata: 2012
- UNFP Ligue 1 Player of the Month: October 2014
- Premier League Player of the Month: August 2018
- UEFA Champions League Squad of the Season: 2018–19
- Best Right Winger in Brazil: 2023
Images for kids
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Moura in 2011
