Ricardo Velho

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

Mário Ricardo da Silva Velho (born 20 August 1998) is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a goalkeeper for Liga Portugal 2 club Farense.

Ricardo Velho

Personal information
Full name	Mário Ricardo da Silva Velho[1]
Date of birth	(1998-08-20) 20 August 1998 (age 26)[1]
Place of birth	Famalicão, Portugal[1]
Height	1.88 m (6 ft 2 in)[1]
Position(s)	Goalkeeper
Team information
Current team	Farense
Number	33
Youth career
2006–2007	Vitória Guimarães
2007–2009	Porto
2009–2010	Salgueiros
2010–2012	Trofense
2012–2013	Braga
2013–2014	Palmeiras Braga
2014–2017	Braga
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2020	Braga B	11	(0)
2020–	Farense	94	(0)
* Club domestic league appearances and goals as of 22:25, 7 April 2025 (UTC)

Club career

Braga

Born in Vila Nova de Famalicão, Braga District, Velho joined Braga's academy when he was 14.^[2] On 23 August 2017, he made his professional debut with the reserve team in a 2–1 away loss against Penafiel in the LigaPro.^[3]

During his spell, Velho played second-fiddle to Tiago Sá (who later appeared in several matches for the main squad) and Rogério Santos.^[4][5]

Farense

On 31 July 2020, Velho signed a two-year contract with Primeira Liga club Farense.^[6] In the 2022–23 season, he contributed 22 games as his side finished runners-up and returned to the main division after a two-year absence, while they conceded a league-best 34 goals; subsequently, he agreed to an extension until June 2026.^[7][8]

Velho's maiden appearance in the top flight took place on 12 August 2023, in a 0–3 home defeat to Casa Pia.^[9] Due to his performances, which included a league-best 143 saves and seven clean sheets with Farense finishing tenth, he was voted the campaign's Goalkeeper of the Year.^[10][11][12]

In summer 2024, Velho was linked with a move to Benfica, but they rejected a transfer due to Farense asking Benfica to pay his €10 million release clause. This led to him agreeing to extend his contract until 2028.^[13]

Velho missed the final month of 2024–25, due to a knee ligament injury that required surgery.^[14] His team would be ultimately relegated as second-bottom.^[15]

International career

Velho was not capped by Portugal at any youth level. On 4 October 2024, he was called by the senior team for matches against Poland and Scotland in the UEFA Nations League.^[16]

Career statistics

As of match played 5 May 2024^[17]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			National cup		League cup		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Braga B	2017–18	LigaPro	2	0	—		—		2	0
	2018–19	LigaPro	0	0	—		—		0	0
	2019–20	Campeonato de Portugal	9	0	—		—		9	0
	Total		11	0	—		—		11	0
Farense	2020–21	Primeira Liga	0	0	0	0	—		0	0
	2021–22	Liga Portugal 2	12	0	3	0	0	0	15	0
	2022–23	Liga Portugal 2	22	0	0	0	1	0	23	0
	2023–24	Primeira Liga	32	0	0	0	3	0	35	0
	Total		66	0	3	0	4	0	73	0
Career total			77	0	3	0	4	0	84	0

Honours

Individual

• Primeira Liga Goalkeeper of the Season: 2023–24^[11]
• Primeira Liga Team of the Year: 2023–24^[18]