Afonso Cruz Patrão (born 3 February 2007) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a forward for Belgian Pro League club Westerlo.
| Personal information | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Afonso Cruz Patrão | ||
| Date of birth | February 3, 2007 | ||
| Place of birth | Esposende, Portugal | ||
| Height | 1.82 m (6 ft 0 in) | ||
| Position | Forward | ||
| Team information | |||
Current team | Westerlo | ||
| Number | 10 | ||
| Youth career | |||
| 2011–2014 | FC Marinhas | ||
| 2014–2019 | Casa Benfica | ||
| 2019–2020 | Braga | ||
| 2020–2021 | Palmeiras FC | ||
| 2021–2024 | Braga | ||
| Senior career* | |||
| Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) |
| 2024–2026 | Braga B | 17 | (1) |
| 2025–2026 | Braga | 7 | (1) |
| 2026– | Westerlo | 11 | (1) |
| International career‡ | |||
| 2022 | Portugal U15 | 4 | (0) |
| 2022–2023 | Portugal U16 | 10 | (1) |
| 2023–2024 | Portugal U17 | 20 | (6) |
| 2024–2025 | Portugal U18 | 15 | (7) |
| 2025– | Portugal U19 | 5 | (2) |
|
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 1 June 2026 ‡ National team caps and goals as of 01:34, 29 January 2026 (UTC) | |||
Club career
editBorn in Esposende, Patrão signed his first professional contract with Braga on 20 June 2023.[1]
On 22 February 2025 he debuted for Braga B in a 1–0 win away to Länk Vilaverdense in Liga 3, contributing an assist.[2] He made his first-team debut on 8 March 2025, coming on late in a 1–0 home victory over FC Porto.[3]
Patrão scored his first Primeira Liga goal on 7 April 2025, heading in the 87th-minute equaliser in a 1–1 draw away at Sporting CP at the Estádio José Alvalade.[4][5]
On 28 January 2026, Patrão moved to Belgium, joining Pro League club Westerlo on a contract until June 2030, for a fee of €220.000.[6][7]
International career
editPatrão was named in Portugal’s final squad for the 2024 UEFA European Under-17 Championship[8] and helped the team reach the final of the tournament.[9]
Style of play
editA centre-forward noted for movement in the box and finishing, Patrão was described by a former Braga youth coach as a player who “always lived for goals”.[10]
Career statistics
edit- As of match played 1 November 2025[11]
| Club | Season | League | National cup | League cup | Europe | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | ||
| Braga B | 2024–25 | Liga 3 | 4 | 0 | — | — | — | 4 | 0 | |||
| 2025–26 | Liga 3 | 8 | 1 | — | — | — | 8 | 1 | ||||
| Total | 12 | 1 | — | — | — | 12 | 1 | |||||
| Braga | 2024–25 | Primeira Liga | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 1 |
| Career total | 19 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 19 | 2 | ||
Honours
edit- Portugal U17
- UEFA European Under-17 Championship runner-up: 2024[12]
References
edit- ↑ "Afonso Patrão assina contrato profissional". SC Braga (in Portuguese). Sporting Clube de Braga. 20 June 2023. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ "Triunfo em Vila Verde". SC Braga (in Portuguese). Sporting Clube de Braga. 22 February 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ "Triunfo na receção ao FC Porto". SC Braga (in Portuguese). Sporting Clube de Braga. 8 March 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ "GOLO! SC Braga, Afonso Patrão aos 87', Sporting CP 1–1 SC Braga". Liga Portugal (in Portuguese). 7 April 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ "Afonso Patrão radiante com estreia a marcar: «Muita adrenalina»". Notícias ao Minuto (in Portuguese). 7 April 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ Vandepaer, Lisa (28 January 2026). "KVC Westerlo secure Portuguese talent" (in Dutch). K.V.C. Westerlo. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "Afonso Patrão ruma ao KVC Westerlo" [Afonso Patrão heads to KVC Westerlo] (in Portuguese). S.C. Braga. 28 January 2026. Retrieved 29 January 2026.
- ↑ "Convocatória final para o Europeu". FPF (in Portuguese). 16 May 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ "Portugal bate Sérvia e garante final do Europeu sub-17". Público (in Portuguese). 2 June 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ "Avançado do Sp. Braga apresentou-se em Alvalade: «O Patrão sempre viveu do golo»". Record (in Portuguese). 8 April 2025. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
- ↑ Afonso Patrão at Soccerway. Retrieved 8 November 2025.
- ↑ "Portugal vice-campeão europeu de sub-17". Público (in Portuguese). 3 June 2024. Retrieved 30 August 2025.
External links
edit- Afonso Patrão national team profile at the Portuguese Football Federation (in Portuguese)