Steven Moreira

Last updated

Steven Moreira
Steven Moreira dribbling (cropped).jpg
Moreira with the Columbus Crew in 2023
Personal information
Date of birth (1994-08-13) 13 August 1994 (age 30)
Place of birth Noisy-le-Grand, France
Height 1.76 m (5 ft 9 in)
Position(s) Right-back, centre-back [1]
Team information
Current team
 Columbus Crew
Number 31
Youth career
2000–2005 AS Champs-sur-Marne [2]
2005–2009 US Torcy [3]
2009–2013 Rennes [4]
Senior career*
YearsTeamApps(Gls)
2011–2014 Rennes B 20 (0)
2013–2016 Rennes 58 (0)
2016–2018 Lorient 63 (1)
2018–2021 Toulouse 58 (1)
2018 Toulouse B 3 (0)
2021– Columbus Crew 110 (4)
International career‡
2009 France U16 1 (0)
2013 France U19 7 (0)
2014 France U20 2 (0)
2015 France U21 4 (0)
2023– Cape Verde 6 (0)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 11:39, 15 May 2025 (UTC)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 18:27, 19 February 2024 (UTC)

Steven Moreira (born 13 August 1994) is a professional footballer who plays as a right-back or centre-back for Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer. Born in France, he plays for the Cape Verde national team.

Contents

Club career

Moreira first began with AS Champs-sur-Marne in 2000, staying there for five years until he joined US Torcy in 2005. [5] He later joined the Rennes youth academy in 2009, and secured a professional contract with the Breton side in 2013, scoring his first goal for Rennes on 19 January 2016 in a Coupe de France match, [6] netting his team's only goal in a 3–1 loss to Bourg-en-Bresse. [7] Moreria joined FC Lorient on 30 August 2016 for a reported €1.2 million, signing a four-year deal. [8] [9] He scored a goal against RC Lens in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue in August 2016, [10] and on 29 January scored the only goal in a victory versus eventual Ligue 2 champions Reims. [11]

Moreira was transferred to Toulouse on 10 August 2018 and agreed to terms on a three-year deal. [12] [13] He incurred a three-match suspension following a red card received during a match against Marseille on 24 November 2019. [14] [15] On 15 February 2020, he was shown a red card for a foul on Adam Ounas, resulting in another three-match suspension. [16] [17] [18] He would score his only league goal for the club on 26 September 2020, contributing to a 3–1 victory at home for Les Violets. [19] On 20 March 2021, Moreira received a red card in a 1–0 defeat against Niort, serving a three-match suspension as a result. [20] [21]

In August 2021, Moreira signed with Columbus Crew in Major League Soccer on a free transfer until the end of the 2021 season, with team options to extend his contract until the end of the 2023 season. [22] [23] He would go on to appear in eight total matches in his first season, including making his team debut in the Campeones Cup victory versus Cruz Azul. [24] On 27 August 2022, Moreira scored his first goal for the Crew, a right-footed volley in the 96th minute to tie Hell is Real rivals FC Cincinnati 2–2. [25] During the 2023 season, Moreira became a key contributor at centre-back for a Columbus side that won MLS Cup. Described as having a "unique role", [26] he was given the freedom to carry the ball high into the midfield or make line-splitting passes. [27] After the final, it was announced that he extended his contract until 2025, with an option for 2026. [23] [28]

International career

Born in France, Moreira is of Cape Verdean descent, and is a former France youth international. He played at the 2013 UEFA European Under-19 European Championship, finishing as the runner-up. [22] He was called up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023. [29] He debuted with Cape Verde in a 5–1 loss to Algeria on 12 October 2023. [30] Moreira was part of the Cape Verde team that made the Quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations. [31]

Style of play

Moreira has mainly been deployed as a right-back in his career. Since 2023, he has shifted to a right-sided centre-back in a back three. Speaking about the change, Moreira said: "I no longer play in my position, which was right-back. I play as a defender in a three-man defense and I have incredible freedom. I find myself almost often in front of goal." [23]

Personal life

Moreira is Muslim and fasts during the month of Ramadan. [32]

Career statistics

Club

As of match played 11 May 2025 [33]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueNational cup [a] League cup [b] ContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Rennes B 2010-11 CFA 10————10
2012-13 CFA 2 150————150
2013-14 CFA 230————30
2014-15 CFA 210————10
2015-16 CFA 240————40
Total240————240
Rennes 2012-13 Ligue 1 300000——30
2013-14 Ligue 11504020——210
2014-15 Ligue 12303030——290
2015-16 Ligue 11601020——190
2016-17 Ligue 1100000——10
Total5808070——730
Lorient 2016-17 Ligue 12802010—2 [c] 0330
2017-18 Ligue 2 3513031——412
Total6315041—20742
Toulouse B 2018-19 Championnat National 3 30————30
Toulouse 2018-19 Ligue 11003010——140
2019-20 Ligue 11701020——200
2020-21 Ligue 231120——1 [c] 0341
Total5816030—10681
Columbus Crew 2021 MLS 70——1 [d] 0—80
2022 MLS32100———321
2023 MLS34010—2 [e] 16 [f] 0431
2024 MLS27200—13 [g] 02 [f] 0422
2025 MLS9100—2 [h] 0—111
Total109410—181801365
Career total31562001411811103788
  1. ↑ Includes Coupe de France, U.S. Open Cup
  2. ↑ Includes Coupe de la Ligue
  3. 1 2 Appearance(s) in Ligue 1 Relegation play-offs
  4. ↑ Appearance(s) in Campeones Cup
  5. ↑ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  6. 1 2 Appearance(s) in MLS Cup playoffs
  7. ↑ Seven appearances in CONCACAF Champions Cup, Five appearances in Leagues Cup, One appearance in Campeones Cup
  8. ↑ Appearance(s) in CONCACAF Champions Cup


International

As of match played 19 November 2024 [34]
Appearances and goals by national team and year
National teamYearAppsGoals
Cape Verde 202310
2024120
Total130

Honours

Columbus Crew

Individual

References

  1. ↑ "'He's a versatile player': How Columbus Crew's Steven Moreira adapted to a position change". The Columbus Dispatch. Retrieved 4 April 2023.
  2. ↑ "Steven Moreira". aschampsfootball.com. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  3. ↑ "C'EST LE MOMENT DE JOUER CHEZ LES GRANDS". Torcy foot. 10 May 2013. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  4. ↑ "Première pour S. Moreira". Stade Rennais. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  5. ↑ Rédaction Meaux (17 May 2021). "Ligue 2. Passé par Champs-sur-Marne et Torcy, Steven Moreira (Toulouse FC) disputera les barrages" (in French). Actu. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  6. ↑ "Rennes. Steven Moreira signe pro". Le Télégramme (in French). 4 December 2013. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  7. ↑ "Football. Coupe de France : l'exploit de Bourg-en-Bresse". www.leprogres.fr (in French). 19 January 2016. Archived from the original on 31 March 2024. Retrieved 31 March 2024.
  8. ↑ "Transfert : Steven Moreira à Lorient/722690". L'Equipe (in French). 30 August 2016. Retrieved 2 September 2016.
  9. ↑ Lavaud, Thomas (27 May 2017). "Barrages Ligue 1 - Ligue 2 | Le FC Lorient sans défense". ici, par France Bleu et France 3 (in French). Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  10. ↑ "Lorient vs. Lens Match Report – Tuesday August 22, 2017". FB Ref. 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  11. ↑ "Steven MOREIRA". FC Lorient (in French). 26 June 2023. Archived from the original on 26 June 2023. Retrieved 6 December 2024.
  12. ↑ "Journal du Mercato : ça s'agite dans tous les sens au Real Madrid !". Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot Transfert (in French). 10 August 2018. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  13. ↑ "Mercato : Steven Moreira signe au Toulouse Football Club, un contrat proposé à Stéphane Mbia | Actu Toulouse (in French)". 29 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  14. ↑ "Commission de discipline : les décisions du 27 novembre 2019 - LFP.fr". lfp.fr. 2 December 2019. Archived from the original on 2 December 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  15. ↑ "Toulouse v Marseille | 24 novembre 2019 | Goal.com Français". www.goal.com (in French). 24 November 2019. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  16. ↑ "Toulouse 0-2 Nice (Feb 15, 2020) Final Score". ESPN. 15 February 2020. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  17. ↑ Berthaud, Alexandre (19 February 2020). "Le TFC privé de son latéral droit pendant trois matchs". ici, par France Bleu et France 3 (in French). Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  18. ↑ "Deux suspendus à Toulouse". Ligue1 (in French). 19 February 2020. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  19. ↑ "Enfin!". ToulouseFC (in French). 26 September 2020. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  20. ↑ "Feuille de match". Ligue2 (in French). 20 March 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  21. ↑ "Steven Moreira, suspension terminée". www.lesviolets.com (in French). 15 April 2021. Archived from the original on 17 September 2023. Retrieved 17 September 2023.
  22. 1 2 "Columbus Crew signs French defender Steven Moreira | Columbus Crew". ColumbusCrew.com.
  23. 1 2 3 Chirat, Antoine (3 January 2024). "EXCLU - Steven Moreira : « Messi n'a pas de MLS, mais moi oui ! »". Onze Mondial (in French). Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  24. ↑ Myers, Jacob (29 September 2021). "Columbus Crew wins Campeones Cup, shuts out Liga MX's Cruz Azul". The Columbus Dispatch. Archived from the original on 25 June 2023. Retrieved 25 June 2023.
  25. ↑ "Columbus Crew tie at FC Cincinnati on late Moreira goal". 29 October 2022. Archived from the original on 29 October 2022. Retrieved 29 October 2022.
  26. ↑ Boehm, Charles (12 July 2024). "Bouanga & Moreira: The friendship behind LAFC vs. Columbus Crew". mlssoccer. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  27. ↑ Lowery, Joseph (19 February 2024). "One MLS star to follow at each position in 2024". mlssoccer. Retrieved 7 May 2025.
  28. ↑ "Rudy Camacho et Steven Moreira prolongent au Columbus Crew en MLS" (in French). L'Equipe. 12 December 2023. Retrieved 1 September 2024.
  29. ↑ "Columbus Crew defender Steven Moreira called up to represent Cape Verde Islands". The Columbus Dispatch.
  30. ↑ "Futebol: Cabo Verde goleado pela Argélia no dia em que conhece adversários do CAN'2023 – INFORPRESS". INFORPRESS – Agência Cabo-Verdiana de Notícias (in Portuguese). 12 October 2023. Retrieved 13 October 2023.
  31. ↑ "Profile of Cape Verde Islands team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations". Reuters.com. 7 January 2024. Archived from the original on 19 February 2024. Retrieved 19 February 2024.
  32. ↑ Boehm, Charles (7 April 2023). "Respecting Ramadan in MLS: "Spiritually it gives you strength to keep going" | MLSSoccer.com". mlssoccer. Retrieved 28 February 2025.
  33. ↑ Steven Moreira at Soccerway. Retrieved 12 May 2025.
  34. ↑ "Steven Moreira". National Football Teams. Benjamin Strack-Zimmermann. Retrieved 8 May 2025.
  35. ↑ "Columbus Crew's Steven Moreira named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year". Major League Soccer. 13 November 2024. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  36. ↑ "2024 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire". Major League Soccer. 3 December 2024. Retrieved 4 December 2024.
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