Lucas Sasha

{{Infobox football biography

| name = Lucas Sasha

| image = Lukas Sasha.jpg

| image_size = 220

| caption = Sasha with CSKA Sofia in 2012

| fullname = Lucas Pacheco Affini

| height = {{height|m=1.77}}

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1990|3|1}}

| birth_place = São Paulo, Brazil

| currentclub = Fortaleza

| clubnumber = 88

| position = Defensive midfielder

| youthyears1 =

| youthclubs1 = Corinthians

| years1 = 2009–2010 | clubs1 = Grêmio Barueri

| caps1 = 13

| goals1 = 0

| years2 = 2011

| clubs2 = Catanzaro | caps2 = 1

| goals2 = 0

| years3 = 2012

| clubs3 = São José | caps3 = 0

| goals3 = 0

| years4 = 2012–2013

| clubs4 = CSKA Sofia

| caps4 = 29

| goals4 = 2

| years5 = 2013–2015

| clubs5 = Hapoel Tel Aviv | caps5 = 59

| goals5 = 7

| years6 = 2015–2019

| clubs6 = Ludogorets Razgrad II

| caps6 = 9

| goals6 = 4

| years7 = 2015–2019

| clubs7 = Ludogorets Razgrad | caps7 = 92

| goals7 = 2

| years8 = 2019–2022

| clubs8 = Aris

| caps8 = 117

| goals8 = 9

| years9 = 2022–

| clubs9 = Fortaleza

| caps9 = 108

| goals9 = 4

| nationalyears1 =

| nationalteam1 =

| nationalcaps1 =

| nationalgoals1 =

| pcupdate = 30 March 2025

| ntupdate =

}}

Lucas Pacheco Affini (born 1 March 1990), commonly known as Lucas Sasha, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Fortaleza.

Club career

Lucas Sasha began his youth career with Corinthians. He was part of the side that won the youth cup – Copa São Paulo de Juniores in 2009.[http://esporte.uol.com.br/futebol/ultimas/2009/01/25/ult59u185186.jhtm Corinthians win the São Paulo youth competition (in Portuguese)] In the same year he moved to Grêmio Barueri.

In 2010, he made his professional debut for Grêmio and played in 16 matches through the season. He competed in only 3 matches for the club during Campeonato Paulista (from January to May). In the second part of the season, he participated in 13 matches in Série A. The team finished 20th in the league and was relegated.

In January 2011, he went on trial to West Ham United.it loses any meaning it has in other contexts Later he moved to the Italian Catanzaro 1929.

In early 2012 he joined São José and played in Campeonato Paulista Série A2. He played in 10 matches for the club. During the summer of 2012, Sasha passed trial in CSKA Sofia and signed as a free agent with the club.[http://football.sportal.bg/news.php?news=370213 Brazilian midfielder joins CSKA on trial (in Bulgarian)][http://www.zasada.bg/%D1%86%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%86-1/ CSKA signs a Brazilian scouted by several English clubs (in Bulgarian)] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304002022/http://www.zasada.bg/%D1%86%D1%81%D0%BA%D0%B0-%D0%B2%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BC%D0%B0-%D0%B1%D1%80%D0%B0%D0%B7%D0%B8%D0%BB%D0%B5%D1%86-1/ |date=4 March 2016 }}{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportni.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=2736344 |title=CSKA introduce the new signings at Bulgarska Armiya (in Bulgarian) |access-date=14 November 2012 |archive-date=26 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121126182305/http://www.sportni.bg/index.phtml?tid=40&oid=2736344 |url-status=dead }} Lucas debuted for CSKA in the second qualifying round of UEFA Europa League, coming on as substitute for Kosta Yanev in a match against Mura 05.[https://www.uefa.com/uefaeuropaleague/match/2009715--nd-mura-05-vs-cska-sofia/ Match report of the match against Mura 05 – uefa.com] He scored his first goal as a CSKA player in A Group against Slavia Sofia.[http://cska.sportal.bg/news.php?news=389403&team=17&champ=1 CSKA wins against Slavia 2–0, Lucas scored the first goal (in Bulgarian)] On 31 October he made assist for the equalizing goal and scored the second against Ludogorets Razgrad in a 2–1 win at Ludogorets Arena for the Bulgarian Cup.[http://cska.sportal.bg/news.php?news=393853&team=17&champ=1 CSKA win at Ludogorets Arena in the Bulgarian Cup first leg, Sasha with assist and a goal (in Bulgarian)][http://sport.btv.bg/article/bgfootball/ludogorets-tsska-sledete-tuk.html CSKA with a comeback against Ludogorets (in Bulgarian)]{{Cite web |url=http://www.sportline.bg/news/101472/sasha-se-dokaza-srestu-silnite |title=Sasha prove to the critics that he is a class player (in Bulgarian) |access-date=14 November 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130528033339/http://www.sportline.bg/news/101472/sasha-se-dokaza-srestu-silnite |archive-date=28 May 2013 |url-status=dead }} On 6 April 2013 Sasha netted the winning goal for CSKA against Botev Vratsa as the match finished 4–3 at Hristo Botev Stadium.[http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=420559&team=17&champ=1 Sasha:"I'm not a hero" – comment after the match (in Bulgarian)][http://www.sportal.bg/news.php?news=420515&team=17&champ=1 CSKA – Botev Vratsa match report from Sportal.bg (in Bulgarian)] During the summer of 2013 CSKA experienced a management and financial crisis, causing Lucas to start looking for a new club.

On 4 July 2013 Sasha signed a two-year contract with Hapoel Tel Aviv after a short trial.{{Cite web |url=http://www.gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=357313 |title=Lucas Sasha signed for two years with Hapoel Tel Aviv (in Bulgarian) |access-date=10 July 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131215172741/http://www.gong.bg/view_article.php?article_id=357313 |archive-date=15 December 2013 |url-status=dead }}[http://www.sportline.bg/news/120677/lukas-sasha-parafira-s-apoel-ta-za-2-godini Lucas Sasha signs with Beroe's Europa League opponent (in Bulgarian)] On 18 July, he marked his debut by scoring a goal and providing an assist in the 4–1 away win over Beroe in the first leg of a UEFA Europa League preliminary round match.[http://topsport.ibox.bg/news/id_187971833 „Червени демони" обладаха Берое, Апоел предреши всичко след 4:1 (in Bulgarian)] He returned to Bulgaria, joining reigning champions Ludogorets Razgrad in the summer of 2015.{{cite news |url=https://dariknews.bg/regioni/razgrad/ludogorec-sys-silen-transfer-privleche-lukas-sasha-1449389

|script-title=bg:Лудогорец със силен трансфер, привлече Лукас Саша|accessdate=16 May 2019 |date=5 June 2015 |language=Bulgarian |publisher=dariknews.bg}}

On 10 July 2019, he moved to the Greek Superleague, signing a two-year contract with Aris.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Aris/arhs-sta-kitrinomayra-gia-ta-epomena-duo-xronia-o-sasa.5556468.html |title=Άρης: Στα κιτρινόμαυρα για τα επόμενα δύο χρόνια ο Σάσα |publisher=sport24.gr |date=10 July 2019 |access-date=10 July 2019 |archive-date=10 July 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190710093101/https://www.sport24.gr/football/omades/Aris/arhs-sta-kitrinomayra-gia-ta-epomena-duo-xronia-o-sasa.5556468.html |url-status=dead }} On 24 August 2019, he scored his first goal for the club, in a 1–1 home draw against OFI.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/arhs-ofh-1-1-moirasia-sto-kl-vikelidhs-me-xamenoys-toys-kitrinoys.5583040.html |title=Άρης – ΟΦΗ 1-1: Μοιρασιά στο "Κλ. Βικελίδης" με χαμένους τους "κίτρινους" |publisher=sport24.gr |date=24 August 2019}} On 10 November 2019, he scored with a beautiful header helping to a 2–1 home win against Asteras Tripolis.{{cite web |url=https://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/arhs-asteras-2-1-diproswpoi-alla-nikhtes-oi-kitrinoi.5636629.html |title=Άρης – Αστέρας 2-1: Διπρόσωποι αλλά νικητές οι "κίτρινοι" |website=sport24.gr |date=10 November 2019|accessdate=10 November 2019|language=Greek}}

On 4 January 2020, he scored with a perfect shot, after an assist from Giannis Fetfatzidis, to seal a triumphant 4–2 home win against PAOK, at the Derby of Thessaloniki.{{Cite web | url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/SuperLeague/arhs-paok-4-2-toy-espase-to-ahtthto-me-tessara.5665367.html | title=Άρης – ΠΑΟΚ 4-2: Του έσπασε το αήττητο με τεσσάρα | publisher=sport24.gr | date=4 January 2020}} Ten days later, he helped with a goal to a 2–1 home win against Xanthi, as his team qualified for the quarter-finals of the Greek Cup.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/ellada/GreekCup/arhs-ksanthh-2-1-me-anatroph-stoys-8.5669577.html |title=Άρης – Ξάνθη 2-1: Με ανατροπή στους "8" |publisher=sport24.gr |date=14 January 2020}}

In June 2020, Sasha is likely to extend his contract, as everyone in the team has been impressed by his consistency and professionalism.{{Cite news|url=http://www.gazzetta.gr/football/superleague/article/1482603/o-aris-thelei-tin-epektasi-ton-symvolaion-ton-sasa-fetfatzidi|title=Ο Άρης θέλει την επέκταση των συμβολαίων των Σάσα, Φετφατζίδη|access-date=2020-06-08|language=el}}

His first goal for the 2020–21 season came in a 2–2 away draw against Atromitos, on 5 December 2020.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/atromitos-aris-2-2-manoysos-moynith-katse-sasa-aittitos-ektos.9071740.html |title=Ατρόμητος – Άρης 2-2: Όρθιοι στο Περιστέρι με 10 παίκτες οι κίτρινοι |publisher=sport24.gr |date=14 January 2020}} In the first game of 2021, Sasha opened the score in a 2–0 home win against Volos.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/aris-volos-2-0-kitrini-yperochi-kai-epistrofi-stis-nikes.9103531.html |title=Άρης – Βόλος 2-0: "Κίτρινη" υπεροχή και επιστροφή στις νίκες |publisher=sport24.gr |date=7 January 2021}}

On 22 March 2021, Sasha signed a new three-year contract, which will keep at the Kleanthis Vikelidis Stadium, until the summer of 2024.{{cite web |url=http://www.sport24.gr/football/aris-symfonia-me-sasa-gia-symvolaio-eos-to-2024.9178563.html |title=Άρης: Υπέγραψε ο Σάσα έως το 2024 |publisher=sport24.gr |date=22 March 2021}}

Career statistics

=Club=

rowspan=2 \| Club ! rowspan=2 \| Season ! colspan=3 \| League ! colspan=2 \| Cup ! colspan=2 \| Continental ! colspan=2 \| Other ! colspan=2 \| Total
class="wikitable" style="text-align:center"
Division ! Apps ! Goals ! Apps ! Goals ! Apps ! Goals ! Apps ! Goals ! Apps ! Goals
CSKA Sofia \|2012–13 \|Group A \|29	2	1	0	2	0	colspan="2"\|—	32	2
rowspan=3\|Hapoel Tel Aviv \|2013–14 \|Israeli Premier League \|34	4	0	0	4	2	1	1	39	7
2014–15 \|Israeli Premier League \|25	3	5	0	2	1	0	0	32	4
colspan="2"\|Total !59	7	5	0	6	3	1	1	71	11
rowspan=5\|Ludogorets Razgrad \|2015–16 \|Group A \|22	0	0	0	1	0	1	0	24	0
2016–17 \|First League \|25	1	4	1	7	0	0	0	36	2
2017–18 \|First League \|27	0	2	0	11	0	0	0	40	0
2018–19 \|First League \|18	1	2	0	7	0	0	0	27	1
colspan="2"\|Total !92	2	8	1	26	0	1	0	127	3
rowspan="4" \|Aris \|2019–20 \|Superleague Greece \|34	3	6	1	4	0	colspan="2"\|—	44	4
2020–21 \|Superleague Greece \|35	3	4	0	1	0	colspan="2"\|—	40	3
2021–22 \|Superleague Greece \|30	2	4	0	2	1	colspan="2"\|—	36	3
colspan="2" \|Total !99	8	14	1	7	1	colspan="2"\|—	120	10
colspan="3" \|Career total !279	19	28	2	41	4	2	1	350	26