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Pizzi (Portuguese footballer)
Portuguese footballer (born 1989) / From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Luis Miguel Afonso Fernandes (born 6 October 1989), known as Pizzi (Portuguese pronunciation: [ˈpizi]), is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Primeira Liga club Braga.
![]() Pizzi with Benfica in 2019 | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Personal information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
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Full name | Luis Miguel Afonso Fernandes[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of birth | (1989-10-06) 6 October 1989 (age 34)[1] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Place of birth | Bragança, Portugal | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Height | 1.78 m (5 ft 10 in)[2] | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Position(s) | Central midfielder, winger | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Team information | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Current team | Braga | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Number | 22 | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Youth career | |||||||||||||||||||||||
1999-2000 | Mãe d'Água | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2000–2007 | Bragança | ||||||||||||||||||||||
2007–2008 | Braga | ||||||||||||||||||||||
Senior career* | |||||||||||||||||||||||
Years | Team | Apps | (Gls) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2007 | Bragança | 4 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2012 | Braga | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2008–2009 | → Ribeirão (loan) | 25 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2009 | → Covilhã (loan) | 14 | (4) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2011 | → Paços de Ferreira (loan) | 42 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2011–2012 | → Atlético Madrid (loan) | 11 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012–2013 | Atlético Madrid | 0 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012–2013 | → Deportivo La Coruña (loan) | 35 | (8) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013–2022 | Benfica | 234 | (63) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2013–2014 | → Espanyol (loan) | 28 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | → İstanbul Başakşehir (loan) | 10 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2022 | Al Wahda | 12 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2023– | Braga | 45 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
International career‡ | |||||||||||||||||||||||
2008 | Portugal U19 | 4 | (1) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2010–2011 | Portugal U21 | 2 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2011 | Portugal U23 | 1 | (0) | ||||||||||||||||||||
2012–2019 | Portugal | 17 | (3) | ||||||||||||||||||||
Medal record
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*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 18 May 2024 ‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 17 November 2019 |
After a successful loan at Paços de Ferreira, he spent three years in Spain with as many teams, totalling 74 games and 12 goals in La Liga. A versatile and goal-scoring midfielder, mainly operating in the central or right-wing midfield roles, he then spent a total of eight seasons for Benfica, making 360 appearances, scoring 93 goals and winning ten domestic honours including four Primeira Liga titles, three of which consecutively.
Pizzi made his senior international debut for Portugal in 2012 and was part of their squad at the 2017 Confederations Cup and 2018–19 UEFA Nations League, winning the latter tournament.