Gonçalo Inácio

Gonçalo Inácio
Inácio with Sporting CP in 2021
Personal information
Full name Gonçalo Bernardo Inácio[1]
Date of birth (2001-08-25) 25 August 2001 (age 23)[1]
Place of birth Almada, Portugal[1]
Height 1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s) Centre-back
Team information
Current team
 Sporting CP
Number 25
Youth career
2010–2012 Almada
2012–2020 Sporting CP
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2020– Sporting CP 125 (8)
International career‡
2017 Portugal U17 1 (0)
2019 Portugal U18 8 (0)
2019 Portugal U19 3 (0)
2019 Portugal U20 1 (0)
2021–2022 Portugal U21 6 (1)
2023– Portugal 12 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 20:03, 18 January 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 20:42, 5 September 2024 (UTC)

Gonçalo Bernardo Inácio (Portuguese pronunciation: [ɡõˈsalu iˈnasju]; born 25 August 2001) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Primeira Liga club Sporting CP and the Portugal national team.

Coming through Sporting CP's youth academy, he made his first-team debut in 2020. He went on to win two Primeira Liga titles with the club in 2021 and 2024 (being named to the Team of the Year in the latter season), as well as back-to-back Taças da Liga in 2021 and 2022.

A former Portugal youth international, Inácio made his full debut in 2023, being part of the squad at Euro 2024.

Early life

Inácio was born in Almada, Setúbal District and raised in Seixal, a municipality located 34.2 km (21.3 mi) away. Growing up, he would play football wherever he could on the streets or in his house, and regularly attended Sporting CP matches with his father.[2]

Despite not having a particular idol, Inácio looked to emulate Jérémy Mathieu.[2]

Club career

Inácio began his career at local Almada, before moving to Sporting's academy. Prior to this, he had several trials with crosstown rivals Benfica, but ultimately decided not to join them when his father's car broke down on two occasions when he was being taken to training.[3] On 13 January 2018, he signed his first professional contract at the age of 16.[4]

Inácio had his first call-up to the first team on 6 July 2020, remaining unused in a goalless draw at Moreirense in the Primeira Liga;[5] he would initially struggle to be integrated, due to being reserved by nature, but managed to succeed with the help of manager Rúben Amorim and his teammates Nuno Mendes, Eduardo Quaresma and Tiago Tomás, whom he had befriended during his time in the youth sides.[2] He made his debut in a 2–0 away win against Portimonense on 4 October, as a 62nd-minute substitute for Zouhair Feddal.[6]

On 20 March 2021, Inácio scored his first goal, heading home from close range in the 1–0 home victory over Vitória de Guimarães.[7] On 23 January, he provided the assist for Pedro Porro in a 1–0 defeat of Braga to help his club win the Taça da Liga; his performance in the match impressed Amorim, with the player eventually surpassing Luís Neto in the pecking order.[8] He played 20 times in the domestic league for the eventual champions, ending a 19-year drought.[9]

Inácio was named defender of the month for December 2021.[10] The following 29 January, his second-half header helped his team come from behind to defeat Benfica 2–1 in the league cup final.[11] On 1 April, he agreed to an extension until 2026.[12]

On 12 November 2023, in the Lisbon derby against Benfica at the Estádio da Luz, Inácio was sent off after receiving a second yellow card at the start of the second half; Sporting went on to lose 2–1.[13] On 14 December, in their final UEFA Europa League group game, at home to Sturm Graz, he came off the bench at half-time and scored twice in ten minutes to seal a 3–0 victory.[14] During the season, he contributed 32 appearances and nearly 2,500 minutes as the club own its 20th league,[15] being consequently included in the Team of the Year.[16]

International career

Inácio represented Portugal at under-17, under-18, under-19, under-20 and under-21 levels, for a total of 19 caps.[17] He was called up to the senior side by Fernando Santos on 26 August 2021, for 2022 FIFA World Cup qualifiers against Azerbaijan and the Republic of Ireland and a friendly with Qatar.[18] Four days later, however, he was dropped from the squad after picking up an injury on his left thigh.[19]

On 12 November 2021, Inácio made his under-21 debut, playing the entire 1–0 win in Cyprus in the 2023 UEFA European Championship qualifying stage.[20] He scored his first goal in the reverse fixture four days later, in a 6–0 rout in Faro.[21]

In October 2022, Inácio was named in a preliminary 55-man squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar.[22] His first appearance took place on 23 March 2023, when he played the entire 4–0 victory over Liechtenstein in the UEFA Euro 2024 qualifiers which was the first game in charge of new manager Roberto Martínez.[23] On 11 September, still during that stage, he scored his first and second goals in a 9–0 home defeat of Luxembourg, Portugal's biggest win in international history.[24]

Inácio was selected for the Euro 2024 finals.[25] In the team's opening match against the Czech Republic, he replaced Diogo Dalot in the 63rd minute of the 2–1 comeback win.[26] He also featured 90 minutes of the final group fixture, a 2–0 loss to Georgia,[27] in a quarter-final elimination against France.[28]

Style of play

Inácio has been predominantly deployed as a central defender, but can also play as a left-back and a midfielder due to his attributes.[29][30][31][32] He is noted for his anticipation, composure, decisions, positioning, tackling and passing ability, including long-range passes which enables him to break down attacks and subsequently play the ball out or start offensive plays from the back, as well as for his acceleration, agility and pace.[33][34][35]

Personal life

Inácio was a Sporting fan since he was a child, and his brother Rodrigo was born with a disability. The former considered himself a shy person who did not feel comfortable posting about himself on social media; his favourite hobbies were playing street football and the PlayStation alone or with friends.[2][36][37]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 18 January 2025[38]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League National cup League cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Sporting CP 2020–21 Primeira Liga 20 1 2 1 3 0 0 0 — 25 2
2021–22 Primeira Liga 28 4 5 0 4 1 7[a] 0 1[b] 0 45 5
2022–23 Primeira Liga 33 1 1 0 6 2 12[c] 1 — 52 4
2023–24 Primeira Liga 32 1 5 0 3 0 9[d] 3 — 49 4
2024–25 Primeira Liga 12 1 2 0 1 0 4[a] 1 1[b] 1 20 3
Career total 125 8 15 1 17 3 32 5 2 1 191 18
  1. ^ a b Appearances in UEFA Champions League
  2. ^ a b Appearance in Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira
  3. ^ Six appearances in UEFA Champions League, six appearances and one goal in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ Appearances in UEFA Europa League

International

As of match played 5 September 2024[39]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National team Year Apps Goals
Portugal 2023 5 2
2024 7 0
Total 12 2
Portugal score listed first, score column indicates score after each Inácio goal.
List of international goals scored by Gonçalo Inácio
No. Date Venue Opponent Score Result Competition[39]
1. 11 September 2023 Estádio Algarve, Faro/Loulé, Portugal  Luxembourg 1–0 9–0 UEFA Euro 2024 qualifying
2. 4–0

Honours

Sporting CP

Individual

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Gonçalo Inácio" (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  2. ^ a b c d Almeida, Isaura (27 May 2021). ""Já não consigo ir passear o cão à rua sem se juntar uma multidão"" ["I can no longer walk the dog without gathering a crowd"]. Diário de Notícias (in Portuguese). Retrieved 1 November 2021.
  3. ^ "Inácio e as duas avarias que o 'tiraram'... do Benfica: "Também não gostava de estar lá"" [Inacio and the two breakdowns that 'took him' ... from Benfica: "I didn't like to be there either"]. Record (in Portuguese). 9 December 2021. Retrieved 13 December 2021.
  4. ^ Ferreira, André (13 January 2018). "Gonçalo Inácio assinou contrato profissional" [Gonçalo Inácio signed a professional contract]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 4 October 2020.
  5. ^ "Muitas novidades no onze do Sporting para o jogo com o Moreirense" [Many new faces in Sporting's XI for the game with Moreirense]. O Jogo (in Portuguese). 6 July 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  6. ^ "Inácio com estreia impetuosa" [Inácio with fiery debut]. Record (in Portuguese). 6 October 2020. Retrieved 8 January 2021.
  7. ^ Andrade, David (20 March 2021). "Sporting subiu mais um degrau" [Sporting further up the ladder]. Público (in Portuguese). Retrieved 22 March 2021.
  8. ^ Pereira Fernandes, Carlos (4 February 2021). "Gonçalo Inácio convence Rúben Amorim e espreita nova oportunidade" [Gonçalo Inácio convinces Rúben Amorim and waits for new chance] (in Portuguese). Notícias ao Minuto. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  9. ^ a b Kundert, Tom (11 May 2021). "10 reasons why Sporting are Champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 25 May 2021.
  10. ^ a b "Gonçalo Inácio foi o melhor jogador jovem em novembro" [Gonçalo Inácio was the best young player in November]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 December 2021. Retrieved 24 January 2022.
  11. ^ a b Ribeiro, Patrick (29 January 2022). "Sporting defend their Taça da Liga title in second-half turnaround versus Benfica". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 30 January 2022.
  12. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio é Leão até 2026" [Gonçalo Inácio a Lion until 2026] (in Portuguese). Sporting CP. 1 April 2022. Retrieved 10 April 2022.
  13. ^ Oliveira Costa, Rui (12 November 2023). "Há reviravoltas e depois há isto. Benfica vira e vence Sporting na compensação" [There are comebacks and then there is this. Benfica turn it around and beat Sporting in injury time] (in Portuguese). TSF. Retrieved 13 November 2023.
  14. ^ "Um bis em 10 minutos: Gonçalo Inácio apanhou-lhe o jeito diante do Sturm Graz" [A brace in 10 minutes: Gonçalo Inácio got the hang of it against Sturm Graz]. Record (in Portuguese). 14 December 2023. Retrieved 14 December 2023.
  15. ^ "Sporting: 29 campeões, entre eles quatro guarda-redes e um jogador... despromovido" [Sporting: 29 champions, including four goalkeepers and a... relegated player] (in Portuguese). Televisão Independente. 19 May 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  16. ^ "Jota Silva fecha o 'Onze do Ano' da Primeira Liga" [Jota Silva completes the First League's 'All-Star Team'] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 31 October 2024.
  17. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio dispensado da seleção devido a problemas físicos" [Gonçalo Inácio released by the national team due to physical problems]. Expresso (in Portuguese). 30 August 2021. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  18. ^ Aleixo, Mário (26 August 2021). "Otávio e Gonçalo Inácio convocados por Fernando Santos" [Otávio and Gonçalo Inácio called by Fernando Santos] (in Portuguese). Rádio e Televisão de Portugal. Retrieved 31 October 2021.
  19. ^ "Seleção: Gonçalo Inácio dispensado por lesão" [National team: Gonçalo Inácio released due to injury] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 4 November 2021.
  20. ^ "Portugal embalado pela magia de Vitinha e a eficácia de Ramos" [Portugal propelled by Vitinha magic and Ramos efficiency]. Público (in Portuguese). 12 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  21. ^ "Portugal goleia Chipre e lidera corrida ao Euro sub-21" [Portugal rout Cyprus and lead under-21 Euro race] (in Portuguese). Rádio Renascença. 16 November 2021. Retrieved 16 November 2021.
  22. ^ "A lista de pré-convocados da Seleção para o Mundial'2022: conheça todos os nomes" [The pre-selected for the 2022 World Cup: know all the names]. Record (in Portuguese). 23 October 2022. Retrieved 31 October 2022.
  23. ^ Marshall, Matthew (23 March 2023). "Ronaldo at the double as Portugal beat Liechtenstein 4–0 in the Euro 2024 qualifiers". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  24. ^ Lemos, Pedro (11 September 2023). "Portugal 9–0 Luxemburgo (crónica)" [Portugal 9–0 Luxembourg (report)] (in Portuguese). Mais Futebol. Retrieved 11 September 2023.
  25. ^ Spiers, Tim (21 May 2024). "Portugal's Euro 2024 squad: Pedro Neto one of nine Premier League players included, Matheus Nunes left out". The New York Times. Retrieved 21 May 2024.
  26. ^ Rose, Gary (18 June 2024). "Portugal 2–1 Czech Republic". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  27. ^ Millington, Adam (26 June 2024). "Georgia 2–0 Portugal". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  28. ^ Sanders, Emma (5 July 2024). "Portugal 0–0 France (France win 5–3 on pens)". BBC Sport. Retrieved 7 July 2024.
  29. ^ Soares Ribeiro, João; Granada, Ricardo (16 July 2023). "Rúben Amorim inspira-se em Guardiola: Gonçalo Inácio foi médio com o Marítimo" [Rúben Amorim takes inspiration from Guardiola: Gonçalo Inácio played midfielder with Marítimo]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  30. ^ "Rúben Amorim comenta interesse do Manchester United, Gyokeres feliz pelo hat-trick" [Rúben Amorim talks about Manchester United interest, Gyokeres happy with hat-trick] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  31. ^ "Ruben Amorim explica Gonçalo Inácio no meio-campo" [Ruben Amorim explains Gonçalo Inácio in midfield] (in Portuguese). CNN Portugal. 2 November 2023. Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  32. ^ Cagica, Mário (2 November 2023). ""Gonçalo Inácio a médio é boa aposta de Amorim"" ["Gonçalo Inácio at midfielder is a good bet by Amorim"]. Observador (in Portuguese). Retrieved 2 November 2023.
  33. ^ "Inteligência Artificial coloca Gonçalo Inácio entre os melhores jovens centrais da Europa" [Artificial Intelligence puts Gonçalo Inácio amongst Europe's best young stoppers]. Record (in Portuguese). 18 February 2022. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  34. ^ Lewis, Arnold (18 August 2022). "Goncalo Inacio: Nicknamed 'The Portuguese Boss' – He's the next big defensive transfer target for elite clubs". Foot The Ball. Retrieved 16 August 2023.
  35. ^ Baioneta, Rui (19 July 2023). "Sporting-Genk: Análise individual e jogadores em destaque" [Sporting-Genk: Individual analysis and highlighted players]. A Bola (in Portuguese). Retrieved 17 August 2023.
  36. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio: "Queria era ser guarda-redes mas o meu pai não deixou"" [Gonçalo Inácio: "What I really wanted to be was a goalkeeper but my father did not let me"] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 10 December 2021. Retrieved 3 November 2023.
  37. ^ "ADN de Leão | Episódio 48: Gonçalo Inácio" [Lion DNA | Episode 48: Gonçalo Inácio] (in Portuguese). YouTube. Retrieved 28 September 2023.
  38. ^ Gonçalo Inácio at Soccerway
  39. ^ a b "Gonçalo Inácio". EU-Football.info. Retrieved 23 March 2023.
  40. ^ Kundert, Tom (6 May 2024). "Seven reasons Sporting are champions of Portugal". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
  41. ^ Ribeiro, Patrick (23 January 2021). "Sporting battle their way to League Cup glory with victory over Braga". PortuGOAL. Retrieved 11 February 2021.
  42. ^ "Sporting CP win Supertaça with victory over SC Braga". Sporting CP. 31 July 2021. Retrieved 31 July 2021.
  43. ^ "Jota Silva fecha o 'Onze do Ano' da Primeira Liga" [Jota Silva completes the First League's 'All-Star Team'] (in Portuguese). SAPO. 13 June 2024. Retrieved 14 June 2024.
  44. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio named Defender of the Month in Liga Portugal Betclic for December". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 16 January 2024. Retrieved 16 January 2024.
  45. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio seals his second Defender of the Month award in Liga Portugal Betclic". Liga Portuguesa de Futebol Profissional. 12 February 2024. Retrieved 14 February 2024.
  46. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio eleito o melhor defesa da Liga em abril" [Gonçalo Inácio voted best League defender in April]. Jornal de Notícias (in Portuguese). 13 May 2024. Retrieved 15 May 2024.
  47. ^ "Gonçalo Inácio foi o melhor jogador jovem em novembro" [Gonçalo Inácio was the best young player in November]. Record (in Portuguese). 17 December 2021. Retrieved 6 May 2024.
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