Matheus Moraes

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Blecha and the second or paternal family name is de Moraes.

Matheus Purcelo Blecha de Moraes (born 22 April 2000), known as Matheus Moraes or simply Moraes, is a Brazilian footballer for Japanese J1 League club Albirex Niigata. Mainly a forward, he can also play as an attacking midfielder.

Matheus Moraes

Personal information
Full name	Matheus Purcelo Blecha de Moraes
Date of birth	(2000-04-22) 22 April 2000 (age 25)
Place of birth	Mogi Mirim, Brazil
Height	1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s)	Forward
Team information
Current team	Albirex Niigata
Number	55
Youth career
2010–2021	Santos
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2021–2022	Santos	0	(0)
2021	→ Maringá (loan)	9	(2)
2022	→ Maringá (loan)	0	(0)
2022	Londrina	0	(0)
2023–2025	Maringá	66	(16)
2025–	Albirex Niigata	4	(1)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 16 September 2025

Club career

Born in Mogi Mirim, São Paulo, Moraes joined Santos' youth setup in 2011, aged ten.^[1] On 31 July 2017, he signed his first professional contract with the club, agreeing to a three-year deal.^[2]

Struggling severely with injuries, Moraes could not feature regularly for the youth sides, but still renewed his contract until 2022 on 24 January 2020.^[3] On 21 July, he was registered for the year's Campeonato Paulista.^[4]

On 5 February 2021, Moraes was loaned to Maringá for the 2021 Campeonato Paranaense.^[5] He made his professional debut on 23 March, coming on as a 65th-minute substitute for Vinícius Faria but being subbed off nine minutes later due to an injury in a 0–1 home loss against Coritiba.^[6]

Moraes scored his first senior goals on 15 May 2021, netting a brace in a 9–1 away success over Cascavel CR.^[7] He returned to Santos after his loan ended, playing for the under-23s,^[8] before rejoining Maringá also on loan on 6 January 2022.^[9] However, he was unable to play after suffering a fracture on his fibula shortly after.^[10]

On 1 July 2022, Moraes left Santos as his contract expired,^[11] and joined Londrina on 8 August.^[12] On 30 November, after only two unused substitute appearances, he returned to Maringá on a permanent deal.^[13]

After being mainly a backup option, Moraes became an undisputed starter in the 2025 season, scoring eight goals as the club reached the finals of the 2025 Campeonato Paranaense.^[14]

Career statistics

As of 31 March 2025^[15]

Club	Season	League			State League		Cup		Continental		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Santos	2021	Série A	0	0	—		0	0	—		2[a]	0	2	0
Maringá (loan)	2021	Paranaense	—		9	2	—		—		—		9	2
Maringá (loan)	2022	Paranaense	—		0	0	—		—		—		0	0
Londrina	2022	Série B	0	0	—		—		—		—		0	0
Maringá	2023	Série D	3	0	12	3	2	0	—		—		17	3
	2024		18	3	8	0	1	0	—		—		27	3
	2025	Série C	0	0	16	8	2	1	—		—		18	9
	Total		21	3	36	11	5	1	—		—		62	15
Career total			21	3	45	13	5	1	0	0	2	0	73	17

1. Appearance(s) in Copa Paulista