Biography
Who is João Mário?
Early life and background
João Mário Naval da Costa Eduardo was born in Porto, Portugal. He began his football path with a brief period at his local club in his hometown. During those early years, he played as a central defender.
In 2004, he moved to the Lisbon area to join the Sporting CP youth system. He spent many years developing his skills at this club until he was ready for professional competition.
Club career highlights
João Mário made his senior debut for Sporting CP in late 2011. He later went on loan to Vitória de Setúbal in 2014, where he earned recognition as a top young player in the league. He eventually returned to Sporting and helped the team win the 2015 Taça de Portugal.
After a move to Inter Milan in 2016, he had loan spells at West Ham United and Lokomotiv Moscow. He later returned to Sporting in 2020 to help them secure a Primeira Liga title. His time at Benfica included winning the league in the 2022–23 season after scoring 17 goals.
He later played for Beşiktaş and AEK Athens. During his time with AEK Athens, he helped the club win the Super League Greece title in 2026.
International career and honors
The midfielder represented Portugal at many levels, earning 82 caps in total. He made his senior international debut in October 2014 during a match against France. He was part of the squad that won the UEFA Euro 2016 tournament.
He also participated in the 2018 and 2022 FIFA World Cups. João Mário announced his retirement from international football in May 2023. For his contributions, he was named a Commander of the Order of Merit of Portugal.
Family and personal life
João Mário has a brother named Wilson Eduardo who is also a professional footballer. Both brothers were graduates of the Sporting CP academy. In June 2022, he married Marta Branco Oliveira.
He is a father to a daughter who was one year old at the time of his marriage. The player is of Angolan descent.
Birthday and age
João Mário was born on January 19, 1993, which makes João 33 years old today. That birthday falls under the Capricorn sign. João shares the date with 61 other famous people.
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