Biography
Who is Rúben Neves?
Early life and youth career
Rúben Diogo da Silva Neves was born in Mozelos, Portugal. He grew up supporting FC Porto and entered the club's youth academy when he was eight years old. During his time in the youth system, he spent one season on loan at Padroense, which served as an under-16 team.
Before the 2014-15 season, he was expected to move to the reserve squad. However, an injury to Mikel Agu led manager Julen Lopetegui to include him in the first-team pre-season preparations. This opportunity allowed him to advance quickly through the ranks of Portuguese football.
Professional start at FC Porto
He made his Primeira Liga debut on 15 August 2014, while aged 17. In that match against Marítimo, he scored a goal, becoming the youngest player in club history to score in that competition. Shortly after, he played in the UEFA Champions League against Lille, setting a record as the youngest Portuguese player to appear in the tournament.
Rúben Neves faced a setback in December 2014 when a collision with Alex Teixeira caused a knee sprain. After recovering from this injury, he continued to make history at Porto. In October 2015, he became the youngest player to start as captain in a Champions League match during a victory over Maccabi Tel Aviv.
Success with Wolverhampton Wanderers
In July 2017, he transferred to Wolverhampton Wanderers for a fee reported to be £15.8 million. This move reunited him with his former Porto manager, Nuno Espírito Santo. During his first season, he helped the team win the EFL Championship and earned several individual accolades, including the EFL Championship Player of the Season award.
Rúben Neves played a significant role in the Premier League, scoring various goals and serving as the club captain. He reached his 200th competitive appearance for the club in February 2022. His time at Wolves included scoring a well-known winning goal against Liverpool in the FA Cup that was voted the best goal of the third round by BBC Sport visitors.
Career at Al-Hilal and international play
In 2023, he signed with the Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal for a transfer fee of £47 million. This move set a new record sale for Wolverhampton Wanderers. During his first season in Saudi Arabia, he helped the team win the Saudi Pro League title, the King's Cup, and the Saudi Super Cup. He later extended his contract with the club until 2029.
On the international stage, he has represented Portugal at many levels, including the under-16, under-17, under-18, under-21, and Olympic teams. He made his senior international debut in 2015 at age 18. He was part of the squads for the 2020 and 2024 UEFA European Championships, as well as the 2022 and 2026 FIFA World Cups. He also won the UEFA Nations League in 2019 and 2025.
Birthday and age
Rúben Neves was born on March 13, 1997, which makes Rúben 29 years old today. That birthday falls under the Pisces sign. Rúben shares the date with 60 other famous people.
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