Rui Patrício facts for kids

Quick facts for kids
Rui Patrício

Patrício with the Portugal national team at the 2018 FIFA World Cup
Personal information
Full name	Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício
Date of birth	(1988-02-15) 15 February 1988 (age 37)
Place of birth	Marrazes, Portugal
Height	1.90 m (6 ft 3 in)
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Youth career
1997–2000	Leiria e Marrazes
2000–2006	Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2006–2018	Sporting CP	327	(0)
2018–2021	Wolverhampton Wanderers	112	(0)
2021–2024	Roma	96	(0)
2024–2025	Atalanta	3	(0)
2025	Al Ain	0	(0)
International career‡
2003–2004	Portugal U16	5	(0)
2004–2005	Portugal U17	11	(0)
2005–2006	Portugal U18	4	(0)
2006–2007	Portugal U19	10	(0)
2007–2008	Portugal U20	8	(0)
2007–2010	Portugal U21	14	(0)
2010–2024	Portugal	108	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Portugal UEFA European Championship Winner 2016 France Bronze 2012 Poland–Ukraine UEFA Nations League Winner 2019 Portugal FIFA Confederations Cup Third 2017 Russia UEFA European U17 Championship Third 2004 France
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 16:56, 31 May 2025 (UTC) ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 21 March 2024

Rui Pedro dos Santos Patrício is a professional footballer from Portugal who plays as a goalkeeper. Because of his amazing saves, fans often call him "São Patrício", which means Saint Patrick.

Patrício started his career at the famous Sporting CP youth academy. He made his first-team debut when he was only 18 years old. He played in 467 official games for the club over 12 years, winning five trophies. In 2018, he moved to England to play for Wolverhampton Wanderers. Later, in 2021, he joined the Italian club Roma, where he won the Europa Conference League in his first season.

Patrício has also been a star for the Portugal national team. He earned his first cap (an appearance in a national team game) in 2010. He has played for his country in three World Cups and four European Championships. He was a key player when Portugal won the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament and the 2019 Nations League.

Club Career

Sporting CP

Patrício playing for Sporting in 2012

Born in Marrazes, Portugal, Rui Patrício surprisingly started out as a striker. When he was 12, a scout from the team Sporting CP saw him playing as a goalkeeper and was so impressed that he signed him to the club's youth program.

He made his debut in the Primeira Liga (Portugal's top league) on November 19, 2006. In that game, he saved a penalty kick just 15 minutes before the end, helping his team win 1–0. This amazing start showed everyone how talented he was.

After the team's main goalkeeper left, Patrício became the number one choice. He made his UEFA Champions League debut in 2007 against Manchester United. For twelve years, he was a star player for Sporting, playing in 467 official games, which is the second-most in the club's history.

In 2018, after a difficult incident at the club's training grounds, Patrício decided it was time for a new challenge and chose to leave Sporting.

Wolverhampton Wanderers

On June 18, 2018, Patrício signed a four-year contract with Wolverhampton Wanderers, a team in the English Premier League.

As a sign of respect for the team's previous goalkeeper, Carl Ikeme, who had to retire from football, Patrício chose to wear the number 11 shirt instead of the usual number 1 for a goalkeeper. In his first season, he kept nine clean sheets (games where he did not let the other team score), which was a new club record.

He played for Wolves for three seasons, appearing in over 100 games and helping the team compete in the UEFA Europa League.

Roma

Patrício with Roma in 2023

In July 2021, Patrício moved to Italy to join Roma. He was signed by the famous Portuguese coach José Mourinho. In his very first season, he was a key part of the team that won the first-ever UEFA Europa Conference League. He played in almost every game of the tournament, including the final where Roma beat Feyenoord 1–0.

He played for Roma for three years before his contract ended in June 2024.

Recent Clubs

In August 2024, Patrício joined another Italian club, Atalanta, on a one-year deal. In May 2025, he signed a short-term contract with Al Ain, a team in the UAE Pro League, to play with them in the 2025 FIFA Club World Cup.

International Career

Patrício with Portugal at the 2017 FIFA Confederations Cup

Patrício began playing for Portugal's youth teams in 2007. He was called up to the main national team in 2008 but made his first appearance on November 17, 2010, in a 4–0 friendly win against Spain.

He soon became Portugal's main goalkeeper. He played in the UEFA Euro 2012, where Portugal reached the semi-finals. He was also the starting goalkeeper at the 2014 FIFA World Cup.

His greatest success came at UEFA Euro 2016. In the quarter-final match against Poland, he saved a crucial penalty in the shootout to help his team advance. He was brilliant in the final against France, making many important saves to help Portugal win the championship 1–0.

In 2019, he helped Portugal win the UEFA Nations League. In 2021, he played his 100th game for Portugal, becoming the first goalkeeper in the country's history to reach this milestone.

Personal Life

As of 2019, Patrício is married to Vera Ribeiro, a television personality. They have a son and a daughter together.

Honours

A statue in Leiria, Portugal, showing Patrício's famous save in the Euro 2016 final.

Sporting

• Taça de Portugal: 2006–07, 2007–08, 2014–15
• Taça da Liga: 2017–18
• Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2007, 2008, 2015

Roma

• UEFA Europa Conference League: 2021–22

Portugal

• UEFA European Championship: 2016
• UEFA Nations League: 2018–19
• FIFA Confederations Cup: 3rd Place 2017

Orders

• Commander of the Order of Merit

See also

In Spanish: Rui Patrício para niños