Steven Moreira
{{short description|Cape Verdean footballer (born 1994)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=February 2021}}
{{Infobox football biography
| name = Steven Moreira
| image = Steven Moreira dribbling (cropped).jpg|
| caption = Moreira with the Columbus Crew in 2023
| full_name =
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1994|8|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = Noisy-le-Grand, France
| height = 1.76 m
| position = Right-back, centre-back{{cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2023/03/16/steven-moreira-adapting-to-center-back-for-columbus-crew/70007867007/ |title='He's a versatile player': How Columbus Crew's Steven Moreira adapted to a position change |publisher=The Columbus Dispatch |accessdate=4 April 2023}}
| currentclub = Columbus Crew
| clubnumber = 31
| youthyears1 = 2000–2005
| youthclubs1 = AS Champs-sur-Marne{{cite web|url=https://www.aschampsfootball.com/article.php?idarticle=89 |title=Steven Moreira |publisher=aschampsfootball.com |accessdate=17 September 2023}}
| youthyears2 = 2005–2009
| youthclubs2 = US Torcy{{cite web|url=https://torcyfoot.footeo.com/actualite/2013/05/10/c-est-le-moment-de-jouer-chez-les-grands.html |title=C'EST LE MOMENT DE JOUER CHEZ LES GRANDS |date=10 May 2013 |publisher=Torcy foot |accessdate=31 March 2024}}
| youthyears3 = 2009–2013
| youthclubs3 = Rennes{{cite web|url=https://www.staderennais.com/actualites/articles/premiere-pour-s-moreira |title=Première pour S. Moreira |publisher=Stade Rennais |accessdate=31 March 2024}}
| years1 = 2011–2014
| clubs1 = Rennes B
| caps1 = 20
| goals1 = 0
| years2 = 2013–2016
| clubs2 = Rennes
| caps2 = 58
| goals2 = 0
| years3 = 2016–2018
| clubs3 = Lorient
| caps3 = 63
| goals3 = 1
| years4 = 2018–2021
| clubs4 = Toulouse
| caps4 = 58
| goals4 = 1
| years5 = 2018
| clubs5 = Toulouse B
| caps5 = 3
| goals5 = 0
| years6 = 2021–
| clubs6 = Columbus Crew
| caps6 = 100
| goals6 = 3
| nationalyears1 = 2009
| nationalteam1 = France U16
| nationalcaps1 = 1
| nationalgoals1 = 0
| nationalyears2 = 2013
| nationalteam2 = France U19
| nationalcaps2 = 7
| nationalgoals2 = 0
| nationalyears3 = 2014
| nationalteam3 = France U20
| nationalcaps3 = 2
| nationalgoals3 = 0
| nationalyears4 = 2015
| nationalteam4 = France U21
| nationalcaps4 = 4
| nationalgoals4 = 0
| nationalyears5 = 2023–
| nationalteam5 = Cape Verde
| nationalcaps5 = 6
| nationalgoals5 = 0
| club-update = 03:31, 3 October 2024 (UTC)
| nationalteam-update = 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.
Club career
Moreira first began with AS Champs-sur-Marne in 2000, staying there for five years until he joined US Torcy in 2005.{{cite web |url=https://actu.fr/sports/football/ligue-2-passe-par-champs-sur-marne-et-torcy-steven-moreira-toulouse-fc-disputera-les-barrages_41899343.html |title=Ligue 2. Passé par Champs-sur-Marne et Torcy, Steven Moreira (Toulouse FC) disputera les barrages |language=fr |author=Rédaction Meaux |publisher=Actu |date=17 May 2021 |access-date=1 September 2024 }} 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,{{Cite web |date=2013-12-04 |title=Rennes. Steven Moreira signe pro |url=https://www.letelegramme.fr/sports/football/spanrennesspan-steven-moreira-signe-pro-2013843.php |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331212435/https://www.letelegramme.fr/sports/football/spanrennesspan-steven-moreira-signe-pro-2013843.php |archive-date=2024-03-31 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=Le Télégramme |language=FR}} netting his team's only goal in a 3–1 loss to Bourg-en-Bresse.{{Cite web |date=2016-01-19 |title=Football. Coupe de France : l'exploit de Bourg-en-Bresse |url=https://www.leprogres.fr/football/2016/01/19/coupe-de-france-l-exploit-de-bourg-en-bresse-fbbp01-rennes |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240331211330/https://www.leprogres.fr/football/2016/01/19/coupe-de-france-l-exploit-de-bourg-en-bresse-fbbp01-rennes |archive-date=2024-03-31 |access-date=2024-03-31 |website=www.leprogres.fr |language=FR-fr}} Moreria joined FC Lorient on 30 August 2016 for a reported €1.2 million, signing a four-year deal.{{cite news|title=Transfert : Steven Moreira à Lorient/722690|url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Transfert-steven-moreira-a-lorient/722690|accessdate=2 September 2016|work=L'Equipe|date=30 August 2016|language=French}}{{Cite web |last=Lavaud |first=Thomas |date=2017-05-27 |title=Barrages Ligue 1 - Ligue 2 {{!}} Le FC Lorient sans défense |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/barrages-ligue-1-ligue-2-le-fc-lorient-sans-defense-1495893043 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917225422/https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/barrages-ligue-1-ligue-2-le-fc-lorient-sans-defense-1495893043 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=ici, par France Bleu et France 3 |language=fr}} He scored a goal against RC Lens in the second round of the Coupe de la Ligue in August 2016,{{Cite web |date=29 October 2022 |title=Lorient vs. Lens Match Report – Tuesday August 22, 2017 |url=https://fbref.com/en/matches/de2d1104/Lorient-Lens-August-22-2017-Coupe-de-la-Ligue |access-date=29 October 2022 |website=FB Ref}} and on 29 January scored the only goal in a victory versus eventual Ligue 2 champions Reims.{{Cite web |date=2023-06-26 |title=Steven MOREIRA |url=https://www.fclorient.bzh/joueur/steven-moreira/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230626000252/https://fclweb.fr/joueur/steven-moreira/ |archive-date=2023-06-26 |access-date=2024-12-06 |website=FC Lorient |language=fr}}
Moreira was transferred to Toulouse on 10 August 2018 and agreed to terms on a three-year deal.{{Cite web |title=Journal du Mercato : ça s'agite dans tous les sens au Real Madrid ! |url=https://www.footmercato.net/a4735152827300027440-journal-du-mercato-ca-sagite-dans-tous-les-sens-au-real-madrid |access-date=2022-10-29 |website=Foot Mercato : Info Transferts Football - Actu Foot Transfert |date=10 August 2018 |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=2022-10-29 |title=Mercato : Steven Moreira signe au Toulouse Football Club, un contrat proposé à Stéphane Mbia {{!}} Actu Toulouse (in French) |url=https://actu.fr/occitanie/toulouse_31555/mercato-steven-moreira-signe-toulouse-football-club-contrat-propose-stephane-mbia_18143212.html |access-date=2022-10-29 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029231147/https://actu.fr/occitanie/toulouse_31555/mercato-steven-moreira-signe-toulouse-football-club-contrat-propose-stephane-mbia_18143212.html |archive-date=29 October 2022 }} He incurred a three-match suspension following a red card received during a match against Marseille on 24 November 2019.{{Cite web |date=2019-12-02 |title=Commission de discipline : les décisions du 27 novembre 2019 - LFP.fr |url=https://www.lfp.fr/corporate/article/commission-de-discipline-les-decisions-du-27-novembre-2019.htm |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191202205317/https://www.lfp.fr/corporate/article/commission-de-discipline-les-decisions-du-27-novembre-2019.htm |archive-date=2019-12-02 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=lfp.fr}}{{Cite web |date=2019-11-24 |title=Toulouse v Marseille {{!}} 24 novembre 2019 {{!}} Goal.com Français |url=https://www.goal.com/fr/match/toulouse-vs-marseille/6c5e3dy75uzs7axojzrma6oa2 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917230734/https://www.goal.com/fr/match/toulouse-vs-marseille/6c5e3dy75uzs7axojzrma6oa2 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.goal.com |language=fr}} On 15 February 2020, he was shown a red card for a foul on Adam Ounas, resulting in another three-match suspension.{{Cite web |date=2020-02-15 |title=Toulouse 0-2 Nice (Feb 15, 2020) Final Score |url=https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/541990 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917231742/https://www.espn.com/soccer/match/_/gameId/541990 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=ESPN |language=en}}{{Cite web |last=Berthaud |first=Alexandre |date=2020-02-19 |title=Le TFC privé de son latéral droit pendant trois matchs |url=https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/le-tfc-prive-de-son-lateral-droit-pendant-trois-matchs-1582146418 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917225030/https://www.francebleu.fr/sports/football/ligue-1-reduits-a-9-contre-11-les-toulousains-s-inclinent-face-a-nice-au-bout-d-un-match-fou-0-2-1581801315 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=ici, par France Bleu et France 3 |language=fr}}{{Cite web |date=2020-02-19 |title=Deux suspendus à Toulouse |url=https://www.ligue1.fr/Articles/Actu/2020/02/19/deux-suspendus-toulouse |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917233239/https://www.ligue1.fr/Articles/ACTU/2020/02/19/deux-suspendus-toulouse |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Ligue1 |language=fr-FR}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2020-09-26 |title=Enfin! |url=https://www.toulousefc.com/fr/enfin-0 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917234842/https://www.toulousefc.com/fr/enfin-0 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=ToulouseFC |language=fr}} On 20 March 2021, Moreira received a red card in a 1–0 defeat against Niort, serving a three-match suspension as a result.{{Cite web |date=2021-03-20 |title=Feuille de match |url=https://www.ligue2.fr/feuille-match |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917234039/https://www.ligue2.fr/feuille-match?matchId=68765 |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=Ligue2 |language=fr-FR}}{{Cite web |date=2021-04-15 |title=Steven Moreira, suspension terminée |url=https://www.lesviolets.com/actu/steven-moreira-suspension-terminee,57439.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230917235625/https://www.lesviolets.com/actu/steven-moreira-suspension-terminee,57439.html |archive-date=2023-09-17 |access-date=2023-09-17 |website=www.lesviolets.com |language=fr}}
In August 2021, Moreira signed with Columbus Crew on a free transfer, with team options to extend his contract until the end of the 2023 season.{{Cite web|url=https://www.columbuscrew.com/news/columbus-crew-signs-french-defender-steven-moreira|title=Columbus Crew signs French defender Steven Moreira | Columbus Crew|website=ColumbusCrew.com}} 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.{{Cite web |last=Myers |first=Jacob |date=2021-09-29 |title=Columbus Crew wins Campeones Cup, shuts out Liga MX's Cruz Azul |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/09/29/columbus-crew-wins-campeones-cup-shuts-out-liga-mxs-cruz-azul/5923588001/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230625234848/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/2021/09/29/columbus-crew-wins-campeones-cup-shuts-out-liga-mxs-cruz-azul/5923588001/ |archive-date=2023-06-25 |access-date=2023-06-25 |website=The Columbus Dispatch |language=en-US}} 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.{{Cite web |date=2022-10-29 |title=Columbus Crew tie at FC Cincinnati on late Moreira goal |url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/08/28/columbus-crew-tie-at-fc-cincinnati-on-late-moreira-goal/65457928007/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221029221313/https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2022/08/28/columbus-crew-tie-at-fc-cincinnati-on-late-moreira-goal/65457928007/ |archive-date=2022-10-29 |access-date=2022-10-29 }} In December 2023, it was announced that he extended his contract until 2025, with an option for 2026.{{cite web |url=https://www.lequipe.fr/Football/Actualites/Rudy-camacho-et-steven-moreira-prolongent-au-columbus-crew-en-mls/1436608 |title=Rudy Camacho et Steven Moreira prolongent au Columbus Crew en MLS |language=fr |publisher=L'Equipe |date=12 December 2023 |access-date=1 September 2024}}
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. He was called up to the Cape Verde national team for a set of friendlies in October 2023.{{Cite web|url=https://www.dispatch.com/story/sports/mls/columbus-crew/2023/10/09/columbus-crew-steven-moreira-has-first-fifa-international-window-call-up-cape-verde-islands/71122202007/|title=Columbus Crew defender Steven Moreira called up to represent Cape Verde Islands|website=The Columbus Dispatch}} He debuted with Cape Verde in a 5–1 loss to Algeria on 12 October 2023.{{cite web | title=Futebol: Cabo Verde goleado pela Argélia no dia em que conhece adversários do CAN'2023 – INFORPRESS | website=INFORPRESS – Agência Cabo-Verdiana de Notícias | date=2023-10-12 | url=https://inforpress.cv/futebol-cabo-verde-goleado-pela-argelia-no-dia-em-que-conhece-adversarios-do-can2023/ | language=pt | access-date=2023-10-13}} Moreira was part of the Cape Verde team that made the Quarter-finals of the 2023 Africa Cup of Nations.{{Cite web |date=2024-01-07 |title=Profile of Cape Verde Islands team for 2023 Africa Cup of Nations |url=https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/profile-cape-verde-islands-team-2023-africa-cup-nations-2024-01-08/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240219182630/https://www.reuters.com/sports/soccer/profile-cape-verde-islands-team-2023-africa-cup-nations-2024-01-08/ |archive-date=2024-02-19 |access-date=2024-02-19 |website=Reuters.com}}
Personal life
Moreira is Muslim and fasts during the month of Ramadan.{{Cite web |last=Boehm |first=Charles |date=Apr 7, 2023 |title=Respecting Ramadan in MLS: "Spiritually it gives you strength to keep going" {{!}} MLSSoccer.com |url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/respecting-ramadan-in-mls-spiritually-it-gives-you-strength-to-keep-going |access-date=2025-02-28 |website=mlssoccer |language=en}}
Honours
Columbus Crew
- MLS Cup: 2023
- Leagues Cup: 2024
- Campeones Cup: 2021
- CONCACAF Champions Cup runner-up: 2024
Individual
- MLS All-Star: 2024
- MLS Defender of the Year: 2024{{cite news|date=13 November 2024|title=Columbus Crew's Steven Moreira named 2024 MLS Defender of the Year|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/columbus-crew-s-steven-moreira-named-2024-mls-defender-of-the-year|access-date=13 November 2024|publisher=Major League Soccer}}
- MLS Best XI: 2024{{cite news|date=3 December 2024|title=2024 MLS Best XI presented by Continental Tire|url=https://www.mlssoccer.com/news/2024-mls-best-xi-presented-by-continental-tire|access-date=4 December 2024|publisher=Major League Soccer}}
References
{{reflist}}
External links
- {{FFF player|8902-moreira-steven}}
- {{Soccerway|steven-moreira/192254}}
- [http://au.eurosport.com/football/steven-moreira_prs337542/person.shtml Eurosport profile]
- {{FBref|f10983ae/Steven-Moreira}}
- {{NFT player|92495}}
{{Columbus Crew squad}}
{{Cape Verde squad 2023 Africa Cup of Nations}}
{{Navboxes
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{{MLS Defender of the Year}}
{{2024 MLS Best XI}}
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Moreira, Steven}}
Category:People from Noisy-le-Grand
Category:Footballers from Seine-Saint-Denis
Category:Cape Verdean men's footballers
Category:21st-century Cape Verdean sportsmen
Category:Cape Verde men's international footballers
Category:Naturalized citizens of France
Category:French men's footballers
Category:France men's under-21 international footballers
Category:France men's youth international footballers
Category:French sportspeople of Cape Verdean descent
Category:Cape Verdean people of French descent
Category:Men's association football fullbacks
Category:Columbus Crew players
Category:Major League Soccer players
Category:Stade Rennais FC players