Lucas Lima Linhares (born 28 September 1996), known as Luquinhas, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Polish club Legia Warsaw, on loan from Série A club Fortaleza.[2]

Luquinhas
Personal information
Full name Lucas Lima Linhares
Date of birth (1996-09-28) 28 September 1996 (age 28)
Place of birth Ceilândia, Brazil
Height 1.69 m (5 ft 7 in)[1]
Position(s) Attacking midfielder, winger
Team information
Current team
Legia Warsaw
Number 82
Youth career
2014 Ceilandense
2014–2015 Vilafranquense
Senior career*
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2015–2016 Vilafranquense 36 (17)
2016–2017Benfica B (loan) 14 (0)
2017 Benfica 0 (0)
2017–2019 Aves 17 (0)
2017–2018Vilafranquense (loan) 32 (10)
2019–2022 Legia Warsaw 75 (8)
2022–2023 New York Red Bulls 56 (8)
2024– Fortaleza 3 (0)
2024–Legia Warsaw (loan) 9 (2)
*Club domestic league appearances and goals, correct as of 22:56, 27 September 2024 (UTC)

Career

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Benfica

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Born in Ceilândia, Luquinhas started his football career at local club Atlético Ceilandense. In September 2014, he moved to Portugal and joined Vilafranquense before moving on loan to Portuguese champions S.L. Benfica in June 2016.[3][4][5] On 11 September, he made his professional debut with Benfica's reserve team as a substitute in a 2–1 home win over Académico de Viseu in LigaPro.[6] After playing 15 matches with Benfica B, Luquinhas signed a four-year contract with Benfica on 28 June 2017.[5]

Aves

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On 25 August 2017 Luquinhas penned a three-year deal with Desportivo das Aves, who loaned him out for one season to Vilafranquense three days later.[7][8] After one season on loan with Vilafranquense, in which he scored 10 goals in 32 league matches, Luquinhas returned to Aves. On 20 January 2019, he made his debut for Aves in a 2–1 win over Vitória de Setúbal in the Primeira Liga.

Legia Warsaw

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On 4 July 2019, Luquinhas signed a three-year contract with Polish club Legia Warsaw.[9] On 21 July, he made his debut with Legia as a starter in a 1–2 defeat to Pogoń Szczecin.[10] On 27 October, Luquinhas scored his first goal with Legia Warsaw in a 7–0 victory over Wisła Kraków.[11] He ended his first season in Poland appearing in 45 matches scoring 5 goals and recording 9 assists, helping Legia to a league title.

Luquinhas continued to be an important player for Legia during the 2020–21 season. On 6 February 2021, he scored his first goal of the campaign in a 2–0 victory over Raków Częstochowa.[12] A few days later, on 9 February, Luquinhas helped Legia to a 3–2 victory over ŁKS Łódź. Luquinhas came on in the second half, scoring his club's second goal, as they advanced in the Polish Cup.[13] He ended the season appearing in 34 matches scoring 4 goals and recording 8 assists, as Legia won its second straight Ekstraklasa title. For his efforts, he was named the Ekstraklasa Midfielder of the Season.[14]

On 7 July 2021, Luquinhas opened the scoring for the Polish champions in a 3–2 victory over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of the first round of UEFA Champions League qualifying.[15] On 14 July, he helped Legia advance in the competition, scoring the opening goal in a 2–0 victory in the second leg against Bodø/Glimt.[16] On 12 December 2021, he was one of the victims of Legia pseudo-fans attacking players returning to Warsaw after a match against Wisła Płock. Luquinhas himself was said to be frightened and not confident after the incident. His agent suggested the possibility of terminating his contract with the team.[17][18]

New York Red Bulls

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On 16 February 2022, Luquinhas signed with Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls on a three-year deal.[19] Luquinhas made his debut off the bench for his new club on 13 March, in a 0–1 loss versus Minnesota United FC.[20] On 24 April 2022, Luquinhas scored his first goal for New York in a 3–0 victory over Orlando City SC.[21] On 10 May 2022, Luquinhas scored and assisted on another goal for New York in a 3–0 victory over DC United, helping the club advance to Round of 16 in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.[22] A few days later, on 14 May, he scored a second half equalizer, helping New York to a 1–1 draw on the road against Philadelphia Union.[23] On 28 May 22, Luquinhas scored two goals to help lead New York to a 4–1 victory over rival D.C. United.[24] On 22 June 2022, Luquinhas helped New York to advance to the semifinals of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, scoring a goal in a 3–0 victory over local rival New York City FC.[25]

On 18 March 2023, Luquinhas scored his first goal of the season, scoring the opening goal for New York in a 2–1 victory over Columbus Crew.[26] On 7 October 2023, Luquinhas scored two goals for New York in a 3–0 victory over Toronto FC.[27]

Fortaleza

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On 12 January 2024, Luquinhas returned to Brazil, signing a four-year contract, with an option for a further year, with Série A club Fortaleza. New York Red Bulls received a $1.5 million transfer fee, which could rise to $2 million with add-ons.[28]

Loan to Legia

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Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Luquinhas returned to Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw on a season-long loan; he previously played for Legia from 2019 to 2022.[2] On 7 November 2024, Luquinhas scored his first two goals of the season in a 4–0 victory over Dinamo Minsk in a UEFA Conference League game.[29]

Career statistics

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As of match played 20 September 2024[30][31]
Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Club Season League State league National cup Continental Other Total
Division Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals Apps Goals
Vilafranquense 2014–15 AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão 10 3 10 3
2014–15 AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão 26 14 3 1 1[a] 0 30 15
Total 36 17 3 1 1 0 40 18
Benfica B 2016–17 LigaPro 14 0 0 0 14 0
Vilafranquense 2017–18 Campeonato de Portugal 32 10 1 1 33 11
Aves 2018–19 Primeira Liga 17 0 1 0 18 0
Legia Warsaw 2019–20 Ekstraklasa 35 5 5 0 5[b] 0 45 5
2020–21 Ekstraklasa 25 3 4 1 4[c] 0 1[d] 0 34 4
2021–22 Ekstraklasa 15 0 2 1 13[e] 2 1[d] 0 31 3
Total 75 8 11 2 22 2 2 0 110 12
New York Red Bulls 2022 Major League Soccer 30 5 5 2 1[f] 0 36 7
2023 Major League Soccer 26 3 1 0 4[g] 0 3[f] 0 34 3
Total 56 8 6 2 4 0 4 0 70 10
Fortaleza 2024 Série A 0 0 3 0 0 0 1[h] 0 6[i] 0 10 0
Legia Warsaw (loan) 2024–25 Ekstraklasa 9 2 0 0 5[j] 1 14 3
Career total 239 45 3 0 22 6 32 3 13 0 309 54
  1. ^ Appearance(s) in AF Lisboa play-offs
  2. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Europa League
  3. ^ Two appearances in UEFA Champions League, two appearances in UEFA Europa League
  4. ^ a b Appearance(s) in Polish Super Cup
  5. ^ Six appearances and two goals in UEFA Champions League, seven appearances in UEFA Europa League
  6. ^ a b Appearance(s) in MLS Cup Playoffs
  7. ^ Appearance(s) in Leagues Cup
  8. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa Sudamericana
  9. ^ Appearance(s) in Copa do Nordeste
  10. ^ Appearance(s) in UEFA Conference League

Honours

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Legia Warsaw

Fortaleza

Individual

References

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  1. ^ "Lucas Lima Linhares". New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 22 August 2022.
  2. ^ a b Ziółkowski, Maciej (16 June 2024). "Oficjalnie. Luquinhas wypożyczony do Legii Warszawa". legia.net (in Polish). Retrieved 16 June 2024.
  3. ^ Belo, Miguel; Martins, Nuno (4 June 2016). "Luquinhas passou fome e dormiu em aeroportos do Brasil" [Luquinhas starved and slept in airports in Brazil]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  4. ^ "Benfica contrata Luquinhas" [Benfica sign Luquinhas]. zerozero (in Portuguese). 2 June 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  5. ^ a b "Benfica contrata extremo do Vilafranquense" [Benfica sign Vilafranquense's winger]. SAPO Desporto (in Portuguese). 28 June 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  6. ^ "Benfica B 2–1 Ac. Viseu". Liga Portugal (in Portuguese). 11 September 2016. Retrieved 12 September 2016.
  7. ^ "Oficial: Desp. Aves empresta Luquinhas" [Official: Aves loan out Luquinhas]. Maisfutebol (in Portuguese). 28 August 2017. Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  8. ^ Silva, Flávio Miguel (28 August 2017). "Luquinhas regressa ao Vilafranquense por uma temporada" [Luquinhas returns to Vilafranquense for one season]. Record (in Portuguese). Retrieved 10 June 2018.
  9. ^ Kostrzewa, Mateusz (4 July 2019). "Luquinhas w Legii" [Luquinhas in Legia]. Legia Warsaw (in Polish). Retrieved 4 July 2019.
  10. ^ "Legia Warszawa 1-2 Pogoń Szczecin". portowefakty.wp.pl (in Polish). 21 July 2019. Retrieved 21 July 2019.
  11. ^ Stompór, Michał (27 October 2019). "Nokaut w stolicy Polski: Legia - Wisła 7:0". wisla.krakow.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 27 October 2019.
  12. ^ "Luquinhas i Pekhart załatwili sprawę. Legia nie traci dystansu do lidera". sport.dziennik.pl (in Polish). 6 February 2021. Retrieved 6 February 2021.
  13. ^ Wojs, Maciej (9 February 2021). "Puchar Polski: mróz i ŁKS nie zatrzymały Legii. Mistrz Polski w ćwierćfinale". sport.tvp.pl (in Polish). Retrieved 9 February 2021.
  14. ^ a b "Gala Ekstraklasy – nagrodzono najlepszych w sezonie 2020/21". Ekstraklasa.org (in Polish). 17 May 2021. Retrieved 14 September 2021.
  15. ^ "UCL: Legia Mark Victory in Norway with FK Bodø/Glimt". Psnfutbol.com. 7 July 2021. Retrieved 7 July 2021.
  16. ^ "UCL: Legia-FK Bodø/Glimt (2-0)". Legia.com (in Polish). 14 July 2021. Retrieved 14 July 2021.
  17. ^ "Wystraszony piłkarz odejdzie z Legii? Agent zabrał głos. "To bardzo ważne"" [Frightened footballer to leave Legia? The agent spoke out. "It's very significant"]. Sport.pl (in Polish). 15 December 2021. Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  18. ^ Ziółkowski, Maciej (14 December 2021). "Menedżer Luquinhasa: Zawodnik jest wystraszony i nieufny" [Luquinhas' manager: the player is frightened and not confident]. legia.net (in Polish). Retrieved 4 February 2024.
  19. ^ "New York Red Bulls Acquire Brazilian Midfielder Luquinhas". New York Red Bulls. 16 February 2022. Retrieved 16 February 2022.
  20. ^ "Lucas Lima Linhares". Mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 8 April 2022.
  21. ^ Quillen, Ian Nicholas (24 April 2022). "Road warrior New York Red Bulls make MLS history in Orlando". mlssoccer.com. Retrieved 24 April 2022.
  22. ^ "Red Bulls Roll to 3-0 Victory, Advance to Open Cup Round of 16". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  23. ^ "Down to Ten Men, Red Bulls Fight Back for Draw at Philadelphia". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  24. ^ "Red Bulls Break Through at Home Against Atlantic Cup Rival D.C United". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  25. ^ "Red Bulls Advance to U.S. Open Cup Semifinals With NYCFC Win". www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  26. ^ "Dante Vanzeir Scores Match-Winner with First MLS Goal". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 19 March 2023.
  27. ^ "Dante Vanzeir Scores Match-Winner with First MLS Goal". NewYorkRedBulls.com. New York Red Bulls. Retrieved 9 October 2023.
  28. ^ "Fortaleza acerta a contratação do meia Luquinhas" [Fortaleza agrees the signing of midfielder Luquinhas]. Fortaleza Esporte Clube (in Brazilian Portuguese). 12 January 2024. Retrieved 13 January 2024.
  29. ^ UEFA.com. "Legia Warszawa vs Dinamo-Minsk | UEFA Conference League 2024/25". UEFA.com. Retrieved 13 November 2024.
  30. ^ Luquinhas at ForaDeJogo (archived)  
  31. ^ Luquinhas at Soccerway  
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