Rui Modesto

In this Portuguese name, the first or maternal family name is Muati and the second or paternal family name is Modesto.

Rui Manuel Muati Modesto (born 7 October 1999) is a footballer who plays as a winger for Italian Serie A club Udinese.^[1] Born in Portugal, he represents the Angola national team. Initially a defender in his native Portugal, Modesto moved to a more attacking role after moving to Finland.

Rui Modesto

Modesto with AIK in 2023
Personal information
Full name	Rui Manuel Muati Modesto
Date of birth	(1999-10-07) 7 October 1999 (age 25)
Place of birth	Vendas Novas, Portugal
Height	1.83 m (6 ft 0 in)
Position(s)	Winger, wing-back, full back
Team information
Current team	Udinese
Number	77
Youth career
2007–2012	Afeiteira
2012–2018	Estrela V.N.
2015–2016	→ Juventude Évora (youth loan)
2016–2017	→ Lusitano Évora (youth loan)
2018–2020	Vitória Setubal
Senior career*
Years	Team	Apps	(Gls)
2017–2018	Estrela V.N.	28	(0)
2020	Honka II	3	(0)
2020–2022	Honka	50	(9)
2023–2024	AIK	49	(12)
2024–	Udinese	20	(0)
International career
2023–	Angola	4	(0)
Medal record Men's football Representing  Angola COSAFA Cup Winner 2024 South Africa
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 30 May 2025

Early career

Modesto was born in Vendas Novas and developed his football skills through various youth clubs in Afeiteira, Estrela Vendas Novas, Juventude Évora and Lusitano Évora.^[2]

Modesto made his senior debut with Estrela Vendas Novas first team in the 2017–18 season, playing in Portuguese third-tier Campeonato de Portugal.

Between 2018 and 2020, he played with Vitória Setubal U23 in Liga Revelação youth league.

Club career

Honka

On 17 September 2020, Modesto transferred to Honka in Finnish top-tier Veikkausliiga.^[3] Modesto represented Honka in the 2021–22 UEFA Europa Conference League qualifiers in four games. In the 2022 season, he scored 7 goals and provided 12 assists in the league, and was awarded for the most assists of the season.^[4][5]

AIK

After a two-and-a-half season stint in Finland, Modesto was acquired by Allsvenskan club AIK in preparation for the 2023 season. He signed a three-year contract with the club, for a transfer fee of €500,000.^{[6][7][8][9][10]}

After his first season with AIK, Modesto was named The Player of the Season by the fans of the club.^[11] He finished the season scoring 7 goals in 34 matches, in all competitions combined.

Udinese

On 30 August 2024, AIK reached an agreement with Italian Serie A club Udinese for the immediate transfer of Modesto for €1.5 million fee.^[12][13] Modesto signed a four-year contract with Udinese.^[14]

International career

In June 2023, Modesto received his first call-up to Angola national team for the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations qualification matches against Central African Republic, Madagascar and Ghana. However, he remained an unused substitute during these matches.

Modesto made his debut for the Angola national team on 12 September 2023, in a 4–0 friendly loss against Iran.^[15]

Career statistics

Club

As of 9 June 2025^[15]

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition

Club	Season	League			Cup[a]		Europe		Other		Total
		Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Estrela V.N.	2017–18	Campeonato de Portugal	28	0	0	0	—		—		28	0
Honka Akatemia	2020	Kakkonen	3	0	–		—		—		3	0
Honka	2020	Veikkausliiga	3	0	0	0	0	0	—		3	0
	2021	Veikkausliiga	21	2	6	1	4[b]	0	—		31	3
	2022	Veikkausliiga	26	7	1	0	—		4[c]	1	31	8
	Total		50	9	7	1	4	0	4	1	65	11
AIK	2023	Allsvenskan	29	6	5	1	—		—		34	7
	2024	Allsvenskan	20	6	5	3	—		—		25	9
	Total		49	12	10	4	0	0	0	0	59	16
Udinese	2024–25	Serie A	20	0	2	0	—		—		22	0
Career total			150	21	18	5	4	0	4	1	179	28

1. Includes Suomen Cup, Svenska Cupen and Coppa Italia
2. Includes UEFA Europa Conference League
3. Includes Finnish League Cup

International

As of 26 November 2023

Appearances and goals by national team and year

National team	Year	Apps	Goals
Angola	2023	2	0
	2024	2	0
Total		4	0

Honours

FC Honka

• Finnish League Cup: 2022

Individual

• Veikkausliiga Player of the Month: July 2022^[16]
• Veikkausliiga Team of the Year: 2022^[17]
• Veikkausliiga Most Assists of the Season: 2022