By Louis Smith.
Brazilian attacker João Figueiredo has built a career defined by adaptability and ambition. From his formative years at Atlético Mineiro and São Paulo to his current success in Turkey’s Süper Lig, his journey reflects the global nature of modern football and the personal drive behind it.
João Figueiredo’s journey into football began at an early age, he would accompany his father to the Estádio do Morumbi, soaking in the electric atmosphere and admiring São Paulo FC’s golden generation that conquered the world.
Watching legends like Rogério Ceni, Diego Lugano, and Luís Fabiano inspired João to dream of one day stepping onto the football field himself.
That dream started taking shape when he joined São Paulo’s youth academy at the age of nine – the same club he had cheered for from the stands. It was there that Figueiredo began to turn passion into purpose, laying the technical and mental foundation that would help him forge his career.
“Like so many kids in Brazil, I only thought about football growing up. It started as fun, but deep down I always knew it was what I wanted to do with my life,” João Figueiredo tells WFi.
“From age 9 to 16, I played in São Paulo’s academy — that was the team I used to watch in the stadium with my dad, and I was always fascinated by everything that surrounded the game.
“My dad is definitely the reason I fell in love with football. He always took me to games, talked to me about the sport, gave me advice… He believed in me from the beginning.”
Figueiredo’s first footballing experience of travelling away from home came when he joined Atlético Mineiro, taking him 305 miles away from home to the city of Belo Horizonte.
He would spend the majority of his time at Galo in the youth academy set-up, but he also earned his full professional debut against Vitória in the Brasileirão. In total, he played three times for Galo’s first team, which was followed by a loan spell at Democrata, where he then decided to make another move — this time even further away from home comforts.
“I had a lot of great moments in Galo’s youth setup. I learned so much from everyone at the club, both in the academy and with the first team,” Figueiredo reflected.
“I had the chance to train with the senior squad a few times, and even though I didn’t get many opportunities to play, I was always observing and trying to absorb everything I could.
“Every training session was a lesson, and that environment really helped me grow as a player.”
Following his time in Brazil, Figueiredo made the move to Kauno Žalgiris in Lithuania, where he took his first steps in European football and quickly established himself as a regular starter. He made his debut for the club coming off the bench and made an instant impact by scoring.
His most memorable performance in a Kauno Žalgiris shirt came during a 6–1 victory over Palanga, where the Brazilian netted the first senior hat-trick of his career.
Over the course of two seasons with the club, Figueiredo scored 14 goals in 30 matches, marking an impressive start to his European journey, even getting a taste of playing continental football during the Europa League qualifiers.
“Instead of bouncing around smaller clubs in Brazil, I decided to take a shot in a less traditional football country with the idea that it might be a clearer path into European football,” he explains. “It took me a little while to adjust, especially to the physicality of the game there, but in the end, it helped me improve in an area where I needed to grow. It was a risk, but it turned out to be an important step for me.”
“It felt amazing to score right on my debut,” he says. “It took a bit of pressure off my shoulders because I had been putting a lot of it on myself. That goal gave me a real confidence boost and reassured me that the path I had chosen was the right one.”
Beyond the football pitch, Lithuania also had plenty to offer.
For Figueiredo, it wasn’t just about adapting to a new league, it was about embracing an entirely different way of life.
“I made some great friends in Lithuania, and it turned out to be a wonderful place to live,” he reflects. “Being around different cultures taught me a lot — I learned how to respect other perspectives and ways of life. That helped me grow not just as a player, but as a person too.”
In the summer transfer window of 2019, Figueiredo was on the move again, this time joining Greek side OFI Crete. He spent a season on the island, scoring 11 goals in 36 matches, quickly establishing himself as a key forward. His contributions helped the club qualify for the Championship Playoffs, as he once again adapted seamlessly to a new country and style of football.
His performances in Greece didn’t go unnoticed. In 2020, Figueiredo made another big leap, this time to the Middle East, signing with Al Wasl in the United Arab Emirates Pro League to experience football on the Asian continent for the first time.
“When I got the offer from Al Wasl, I was really excited,” he says. “It’s a big club in the UAE, and the financial side also allowed me to change my family’s life.”
Settling in wasn’t difficult, thanks in part to the familiar faces around him.
“There were a lot of Brazilians at the club, players, physios, even masseurs, and that made all the difference in helping me adapt to the football and the culture.”
His time in Asia felt like déjà vu, as he maintained his strong scoring form, averaging a goal every other game, and finding the net 14 times in 31 matches.
With his confidence high and form consistent, the next chapter of Figueiredo’s journey took him back to Europe and to Turkey, a country with a rich footballing culture and one of the most passionate fan bases in the world. In 2021, he joined Gaziantep FK, stepping into the fiercely competitive Süper Lig.
“Moving to Turkey was one of the best decisions I’ve made,” he says. “It’s such a strong league with big-name players, and it brought out that competitive edge in me again.”
He quickly made an impression. From scoring important goals to delivering standout performances against top clubs, Figueiredo fully welcomed the challenge. One of his most memorable moments came in a match against Fenerbahçe, where he scored twice with his family watching proudly from the stands.
“That was definitely my favourite moment in Gaziantep he recalls. “To score twice in a big win, with my family there, was special.”
His performances and consistency in front of goal solidified his reputation in the Süper Lig, proving that he could thrive in a top European league.
In 2023, his journey took another step forward as he signed with İstanbul Başakşehir, one of the country’s most competitive clubs. The move represented not only a new challenge but also an opportunity to compete for silverware and European football.
“I settled in very quickly at Başakşehir,” he says. “It’s a strong club that is always fighting at the top of the table and competing in Europe. My former coach helped a lot and gave me the freedom to show my best from the start.”
Figueiredo has also embraced the culture of Turkish football, which is known for the passion of its supporters.
“The fans in Turkey are incredible,” he says. “They are always supporting, always filling the stadiums. After Brazil, it’s the country where I’ve felt the most love for football. That energy pushes you to give more.”
As he reflects on a career that has already taken him across continents, from the youth fields of São Paulo to stadiums across Europe and Asia, Figueiredo remains grounded by the same values he had as a boy watching football with his father.
“My goals are still the same as when I was a kid, to give my best wherever I am and enjoy the game like I always have.”
With the talent, mentality, and global experience he brings to the pitch, João Figueiredo’s story is far from over, and the next chapter is already unfolding in Istanbul.
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