| Cristian Ponde | |
| Fullname: | Cristian Ioan Ponde[1] |
| Birth Date: | 26 January 1995 |
| Birth Place: | Făurești, Romania |
| Height: | 1.79 m |
| Position: | Forward |
| Currentclub: | Marítimo |
| Clubnumber: | 11 |
| Youthyears1: | 2002–2005 |
| Youthclubs1: | Olhanense |
| Youthyears2: | 2005–2014 |
| Youthclubs2: | Sporting CP |
| Years1: | 2013–2018 |
| Caps1: | 89 |
| Goals1: | 14 |
| Years2: | 2015 |
| Caps2: | 0 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2016–2017 |
| Clubs3: | → Covilhã (loan) |
| Caps3: | 29 |
| Goals3: | 6 |
| Years4: | 2018–2019 |
| Caps4: | 32 |
| Goals4: | 7 |
| Years5: | 2020–2021 |
| Caps5: | 26 |
| Goals5: | 5 |
| Years6: | 2021–2024 |
| Caps6: | 73 |
| Goals6: | 15 |
| Years7: | 2024– |
| Caps7: | 1 |
| Goals7: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2011–2012 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 9 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 1 |
| Nationalyears2: | 2012–2013 |
| Nationalcaps2: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 2 |
| Nationalyears3: | 2013–2014 |
| Nationalcaps3: | 10 |
| Nationalgoals3: | 8 |
| Club-Update: | 19:04, 1 October 2024 (UTC) |
Cristian Ioan Ponde (born 26 January 1995) is a professional footballer who plays as a forward for Liga Portugal 2 club Marítimo.
Born in Făurești, Romania, Ponde emigrated to Portugal with his parents before his 10th birthday, and started playing football with S.C. Olhanense.[2] In 2005, he joined Sporting CP to complete his development.[3]
Ponde made his senior debut with the club's reserves on 24 February 2013, coming on as a substitute for fellow youth graduate Ricardo Esgaio for the final 14 minutes of a 5–1 home win against S.C. Freamunde in the Segunda Liga.[4] He scored his first goal as a professional on 30 March of that year, but in a 1–3 home loss to S.L. Benfica B.[5]
On 2 March 2014, during a second-tier game against S.C. Covilhã, Ponde contracted a serious injury to his right knee, going on to be sidelined for several months.[6] His only competitive appearance for the first team took place on 21 January 2015, when he played three minutes in a 3–2 defeat at C.F. Os Belenenses in the group stage of the Taça da Liga.[7]
For the 2016–17 season, Ponde was loaned to Covilhã.[8] He then took his game to the Ukrainian Premier League, where he represented FC Karpaty Lviv after signing a three-year contract.[9] He scored his first top-flight goal on 28 October 2018, contributing to the 5–0 away victory over FC Chornomorets Odesa.[10]
Ponde joined Grasshopper Club Zürich on 25 August 2020, on a one-year deal.[11] He returned to the Portuguese second division in summer 2021, agreeing to a one-year contract with the option of a further one at S.C. Farense.[12] He scored six goals in the 2022–23 campaign, adding six assists in a return to the Primeira Liga after a two-year absence.[13]
Ponde's first match in the top flight took place on 12 August 2023, replacing Elves Baldé at half-time of a 0–3 home loss against Casa Pia AC.[14] He scored his first league goal the following 18 May, but in a 1–3 home defeat to Portimonense S.C. in the Algarve derby.[15]
Ponde represented Portugal at under-17, under-18 and under-19 levels.[16] He scored in his first appearance for the latter side, a 1–1 draw against Spain in a friendly tournament held in Hungary.[17]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | League Cup | Europe | Other | Total | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Sporting CP B | 2012–13 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 6 | 1 | |
| 2013–14 | 21 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 21 | 1 | ||
| 2014–15 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 2 | ||
| 2015–16 | 10 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 10 | 4 | ||
| Sporting CP | 2014–15 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | |
| Career total | 48 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 49 | 8 | ||