João Paulo (footballer, born 1991)

João Paulo Mior (born 8 March 1991), known as João Paulo, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a central midfielder for Major League Soccer club Seattle Sounders FC.

João Paulo

Personal information
Full name	João Paulo Mior[1]
Date of birth	(1991-03-08) 8 March 1991 (age 34)[1]
Place of birth	Serafina Corrêa, Rio Grande do Sul, Brazil
Height	1.70 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s)	Midfielder
Team information
Current team	Seattle Sounders FC
Number	6
Youth career
2004–2006	Gaúcho
2007–2009	Internacional
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2010–2015	Internacional	39	(1)
2013	→ Atlético Goianiense (loan)	45	(6)
2014	→ Goiás (loan)	12	(0)
2015	→ Santa Cruz (loan)	45	(3)
2016	Santa Cruz	44	(3)
2017–2021	Botafogo	93	(6)
2020	→ Seattle Sounders FC (loan)	23	(2)
2021–	Seattle Sounders FC	85	(4)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 11:26, 11 January 2025 (UTC)

Career

João Paulo played youth futsal until the age of 14, when he switched to football on a full-time basis.^[2] He made his professional debut for Internacional in the 2010 Campeonato Gaúcho and he spent three seasons with the club. He was then loaned out to Atlético Goianiense in 2013, Goiás in 2014, and Santa Cruz in 2015. João Paulo transferred permanently to Santa Cruz in 2016 before being signed by Botafogo, where he played for three seasons and made 68 appearances, scoring five goals.^[3][4]

Seattle Sounders FC

On 31 January 2020, João Paulo was signed on loan by Seattle Sounders FC of Major League Soccer to a Designated Player contract.^[4] He made his debut in two 2020 CONCACAF Champions League fixtures, playing both legs in the Round of 16 against Honduran club C.D. Olimpia. During the first leg in San Pedro Sula, João Paulo scored the opening goal in a 2–2 draw;^[5] in the second leg, he scored Seattle's second goal in another 2–2 draw and converted his penalty in the shootout, but the Sounders were unable to advance.^[6] In his first MLS season with the club, which was shortened due to the COVID-19 pandemic, João Paulo made 19 appearances, including 17 starts, scoring two goals and recording five assists as a deep-lying playmaker.^[7][8]

His loan was made permanent by Seattle on 21 January 2021.^[9] João Paulo scored the club's first goal of the 2021 season, a volley from outside the penalty area against Minnesota United FC, which was voted MLS Goal of the Week.^[2][10] He played 31 matches for the Sounders during the regular season and scored three total goals, including another Goal of the Week winner in October against the Colorado Rapids.^[11] João Paulo was named to the five-candidate shortlist for the Landon Donovan MVP Award for his 11 assists and defensive performances, which helped the Sounders qualify for the playoffs despite a depleted roster.^[2]

João Paulo scored his first goal of the 2022 season against Minnesota—his third against the club—during a 2–1 away victory on 2 April.^[12] He played through Seattle's run to the 2022 CONCACAF Champions League Final, where he started in both legs as the Sounders won their first continental title. João Paulo left the final's second leg in the first half with an anterior cruciate ligament tear that left him unable to play for the rest of the year.^[13] His role in midfield was initially replaced with 16-year-old youth product Obed Vargas, who he had mentored, but Vargas suffered a back injury a month later.^[14] The lack of available defensive midfielders on the team was a factor in Seattle missing the MLS Cup Playoffs for the first time in their history.^[15]

Career statistics

As of match played 30 November 2024

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Internacional	2010	Série A	0	0	3[a]	0	—		—		—		3	0
	2011	Série A	14	0	1[a]	0	—		—		—		15	0
	2012	Série A	4	0	14[a]	1	—		4[b]	0	—		22	1
	2013	Série A	—		3[a]	0	—		—		—		3	0
	Total		18	0	21	1	—		4	0	—		43	1
Atlético Goianiense (loan)	2013	Série B	35	4	10[c]	2	3	0	—		—		48	6
Goiás (loan)	2014	Série A	5	0	7[c]	0	1	0	0	0	—		13	0
Santa Cruz (loan)	2015	Série B	34	1	11[d]	2	—		3[e]	0	—		48	3
Santa Cruz	2016	Série A	34	2	10[d]	1	3	0	—		10[f]	0	57	6
Botafogo	2017	Série A	30	2	6[g]	0	6	0	13[b]	1	—		55	3
	2018	Série A	2	0	12[g]	0	1	0	—		—		15	0
	2019	Série A	36	3	7[g]	1	2	0	4[e]	0	—		49	4
	Total		68	5	25	1	9	0	17	1	—		119	7
Seattle Sounders FC (loan)	2020	MLS	23	2	—		—		2[h]	2	4[i]	0	25	4
Seattle Sounders FC	2021	MLS	32	3	—		—		—		4[j]	0	36	3
	2022	MLS	6	1	—		0	0	6[h]	0	—		12	1
	2023	MLS	31	0	—		1	0	—		7[k]	0	39	0
	2024	MLS	21	0	—		2	0	—		9[l]	0	32	0
	Total		80	4	—		3	0	6	0	20	0	119	4
Career total			307	18	83	7	19	0	32	3	34	0	480	31

1. Appearance(s) in Campeonato Gaúcho
2. Appearances in Copa Libertadores
3. Appearances in Campeonato Goiano
4. Appearances in Campeonato Pernambucano
5. Appearances in Copa Sudamericana
6. Appearances in Copa do Nordeste
7. Appearances in Campeonato Carioca
8. Appearances in CONCACAF Champions League
9. Appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs
10. Three appearances in Leagues Cup, one appearance in MLS Cup Playoffs
11. One appearance in FIFA Club World Cup, four appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs, two appearances in Leagues Cup
12. Five appearances in Leagues Cup, four appearances in MLS Cup Playoffs

Personal life

João Paulo has been a fan of American football since his childhood and supports the Pittsburgh Steelers.^[2] He is the nephew of former Gremio player Casemiro Mior.^[16]

Honours

Internacional

• Recopa Sudamericana: 2011

Santa Cruz

• Campeonato Pernambucano: 2015, 2016
• Copa do Nordeste: 2016

Botafogo

• Campeonato Carioca: 2018

Seattle Sounders FC

• CONCACAF Champions League: 2022

Individual

• MLS All-Star: 2021
• MLS Best XI: 2021