Tuta (footballer, born 1999)

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Silva and the second or paternal family name is Melo.

Lucas Silva Melo (born 4 July 1999), known as Tuta, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a centre-back for Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt.^[2]

Tuta

Tuta warming up for Eintracht Frankfurt in 2022
Personal information
Full name	Lucas Silva Melo
Date of birth	(1999-07-04) 4 July 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	São Paulo, Brazil
Height	1.85 m (6 ft 1 in)[1]
Position(s)	Centre-back
Team information
Current team	Eintracht Frankfurt
Number	35
Youth career
0000–2018	São Paulo
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2018–2019	São Paulo	0	(0)
2019–	Eintracht Frankfurt	136	(9)
2019–2020	→ Kortrijk (loan)	14	(1)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11 May 2025

He acquired his nickname due to his likeness to former Brazilian footballer Moacir Bastos, who is also known as Tuta.

Career

In January 2019, Tuta joined Bundesliga club Eintracht Frankfurt from São Paulo, signing a four-and-a-half-year contract lasting until 30 June 2023.^[3] In August 2019, Tuta joined Belgian club Kortrijk on a season-long loan from Frankfurt.^[4] He made his debut for Kortrijk in the Belgian First Division A on 24 November 2019, starting in the away match against Anderlecht, which finished as a 0–0 draw.^[5] He made 18 appearances and scored one goal for Kortrijk until April 2020, when the season was ended early due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

He returned to Frankfurt for the Bundesliga 2020-21 season and made four appearances for the club the first half of the season. After Eintracht team captain David Abraham retired from professional football in January 2021, Tuta became a starting player, playing in the central defense together with Evan Ndicka and Martin Hinteregger.^[6] Tuta scored his first goal for Frankfurt and in the Bundesliga on 30 October 2021, when he scored the late equalizer in a 1-1 draw against RB Leipzig.^[7]

On 18 May 2022, Tuta won the 2021–22 UEFA Europa League title. He appeared in the starting formation in the final against Rangers.^[8]

Career statistics

As of match played 11 May 2025^[9]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Eintracht Frankfurt	2020–21	Bundesliga	19	0	1	0	—		—		20	0
	2021–22		26	4	1	0	11	0	—		38	4
	2022–23		31	2	5	0	8	0	1[a]	0	45	2
	2023–24		30	1	3	0	8[b]	1	—		41	2
	2024–25		30	2	3	0	10[c]	0	—		43	2
	Total		136	9	13	0	37	1	1	0	187	10
Kortrijk (loan)	2019–20	Belgian Pro League	14	1	4	0	—		—		18	1
Career total			150	10	17	0	38	1	1	0	205	11

1. Appearance in UEFA Super Cup
2. Appearances in UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Appearances in UEFA Europa League

Honours

Eintracht Frankfurt

• UEFA Europa League: 2021–22