Kaio César

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Kaio César

| image =

| fullname = Kaio César Andrade Lima

| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|2004|2|15|df=y}}

| birth_place = Maceió, Brazil

| height = 1.68m

| position = Winger

| currentclub = Al-Hilal

| clubnumber = 27

| youthyears1 = 2018–2023

| youthclubs1 = Coritiba

| years1 = 2023–2025

| clubs1 = Coritiba

| caps1 = 32

| goals1 = 2

| years2 = 2024–2025

| clubs2 = → Vitória Guimarães (loan)

| caps2 = 27

| goals2 = 1

| years3 = 2025

| clubs3 = Vitória Guimarães

| caps3 = 2

| goals3 = 1

| years4 = 2025–

| clubs4 = Al-Hilal

| caps4 = 10

| goals4 = 1

| nationalyears1 = 2023–

| nationalteam1 = Brazil U23

| nationalcaps1 = 5

| nationalgoals1 = 0

| medaltemplates = {{MedalSport|Men's football}}

{{MedalCountry|{{fb|BRA}}}}

| club-update = 21 April 2025

| ntupdate = 4 November 2023

}}

Kaio César Andrade Lima (born 15 February 2004), known as Kaio César or just Kaio, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a winger for Saudi Pro League club Al-Hilal.

Club career

=Coritiba=

Born in Maceió, Alagoas, Kaio joined Coritiba's youth setup in 2018, aged 14.{{cite web|url=https://www.coritiba.com.br/artigo/38210/perfil_pia_do_couto_kaio_cesar|title=Perfil Piá do Couto - Kaio César|trans-title=Piá do Couto profile - Kaio César|publisher=Coritiba FBC|language=pt-BR|date=6 October 2021|accessdate=15 February 2023}} On 15 December 2022, he renewed his contract with the club until 2024, being promoted to the first team for the 2023 season.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/pr/futebol/times/coritiba/noticia/2022/12/15/promessa-da-base-kaio-cesar-renova-com-o-coritiba-e-ganha-espaco-no-elenco-principal.ghtml|title=Promessa da base, Kaio César renova com o Coritiba e ganha espaço no elenco principal|trans-title=Youth prospect, Kaio César renews with Coritiba and gets a place in the first team|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=15 December 2022|accessdate=15 February 2023}}

Kaio made his professional debut on 18 January 2023, coming on as a late substitute for Alef Manga in a 3–0 Campeonato Paranaense away win over Foz do Iguaçu.{{cite web|url=https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/enm/2023/01/20/promessa-da-base-kaio-cesar-celebra-estreia-pelo-coritiba-inicio-de-uma-grande-carreira.htm|title=Promessa da base, Kaio Cesár celebra estreia pelo Coritiba: "Início de uma grande carreira"|trans-title=Youth prospect, Kaio César celebrates debut for Coritiba: "The start of a great career"|publisher=UOL Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=20 January 2023|accessdate=15 February 2023}} Eleven days later, in his first match as a starter, he scored his side's second in a 2–2 home draw against Azuriz.{{cite web|url=https://ge.globo.com/pr/futebol/times/coritiba/noticia/2023/01/30/kaio-cesar-marca-primeiro-gol-pelo-coritiba-e-mostra-personalidade-em-estreia-como-titular-sonhei-com-isso.ghtml|title=Kaio César marca primeiro gol pelo Coritiba e mostra personalidade em estreia como titular: "Sonhei com isso"|trans-title=Kaio César scores first goal for Coritiba and shows personality in his debut as a starter: "I have dreamed with this"|publisher=ge|language=pt-BR|date=30 January 2023|accessdate=15 February 2023}}

On 8 February 2023, Coritiba announced the renewal of Kaio's contract until 2026.{{cite web|url=https://www.uol.com.br/esporte/ultimas-noticias/enm/2023/02/08/coritiba-anuncia-renovacao-de-kaio-cesar-ate-2026-e-com-multa-milionaria.htm|title=Coritiba anuncia renovação de Kaio Cesár até 2026 e com multa milionária|trans-title=Coritiba announce the renewal of Kaio César until 2026 and with a millionaire release clause|publisher=UOL Esporte|language=pt-BR|date=8 February 2023|accessdate=15 February 2023}}

=Vitória de Guimarães=

On 31 January 2024, Kaio joined Portuguese Primeira Liga club Vitória de Guimarães on loan until the end of the 2023–24 season, with an optional buy-clause, reported to be around €1.5 million.{{Cite web |date=31 January 2024 |title=Kaio César assegurado para o ataque |trans-title=Kaio César assured for the attack |url=https://vitoriasc.pt/2024/01/31/kaio-cesar-assegurado-para-o-ataque/ |access-date=1 February 2024 |publisher=Vitória S.C. |language=pt-PT}}{{Cite news |date=31 January 2024 |title=Mercado (oficial): Kaio César assina pelo V. Guimarães |trans-title=Market (official): Kaio César signs for V. Guimarães |url=https://www.abola.pt/futebol/noticias/mercado-oficial-kaio-cesar-assina-pelo-v-guimaraes-2024013123122647832 |access-date=1 February 2024 |work=A Bola |language=pt-pt}}

=Al-Hilal=

On 21 January 2025, Saudi club Al-Hilal announced the signing of Kaio on a three-and-a-half-year contract for a reported fee of €10 million, following Vitória's activation of the buyout clause.{{cite web |last=Mauad |first=Nadja |url=https://ge.globo.com/pr/blogs/blog-da-nadja/post/2025/01/21/coritiba-triplica-lucro-com-venda-de-kaio-cesar-ao-al-hilal-saiba-o-valor.ghtml |title=Coritiba triplica lucro com venda de Kaio César ao Al-Hilal; saiba o valor |publisher=globo.com |language=pt |date=21 January 2025 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.saudigazette.com.sa/article/648777/SAUDI-ARABIA/Al-Hilal-signs-young-Brazilian-talent-Kaio-C-eacutesar-from-Vit-oacuteria-Guimar-atildees |title=Al Hilal signs young Brazilian talent Kaio César from Vitória Guimarães |publisher=Saudi Gazette|date=21 January 2025 }}

Career statistics

{{updated|match played 31 January 2025}}{{soccerway|kaio-cesar-andrade-lima/859308|Kaio César|accessdate=15 February 2023}}

rowspan="2"\|Club !rowspan="2"\|Season !colspan="3"\|League !colspan="2"\|State league{{efn\|Includes Campeonato Paranaense}} !colspan="2"\|National cup{{efn\|Includes Copa do Brasil, Taça de Portugal}} !colspan="2"\|League cup{{efn\|Includes Taça da Liga}} !colspan="2"\|Continental !colspan="2"\|Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align: center;" \|+Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
Division	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals	Apps	Goals
Coritiba \|2023 \|Série A \|24	0	8	2	4	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	36	3
rowspan="3"\|Vitória Guimarães (loan) \|2023–24 \|rowspan="2"\|Primeira Liga \|12	0	colspan="2"\|—	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	14	0
2024–25 \|17	2	colspan="2"\|—	3	1	1	0	12{{efn\|Appearances in UEFA Conference League}}	1	33	4
colspan="2"\|Total !29	2	colspan="2"\|—	5	1	1	0	12	1	47	4
Al-Hilal \|2024–25 \|Saudi Pro League \|1	1	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	colspan="2"\|—	0	0	1	1
colspan="3"\|Career total !54	3	8	2	9	2	1	0	12	1	84	8