Estrela (footballer) explained

Estrela
Fullname:Valdmiro Tualungo Paulo Lameira
Birth Date:1995 9, df=yes
Birth Place:Luanda, Angola
Height:1.73 m
Position:Defensive midfielder
Currentclub:Erzurumspor
Clubnumber:25
Youthyears1:2006–2014
Youthclubs1:Benfica
Years1:2014
Caps1:6
Goals1:1
Years2:2015
Clubs2:Orlando City
Caps2:0
Goals2:0
Years3:2016
Clubs3:APOEL
Caps3:1
Goals3:0
Years4:2016–2019
Clubs4:Varzim
Caps4:72
Goals4:2
Years5:2019–2020
Clubs5:Aves
Caps5:21
Goals5:0
Years6:2020–2021
Caps6:17
Goals6:0
Years7:2021–
Clubs7:Erzurumspor
Caps7:61
Goals7:1
Nationalyears1:2014–2015
Nationalcaps1:8
Nationalgoals1:0
Nationalyears2:2020–
Nationalcaps2:5
Nationalgoals2:0
Club-Update:12 June 2023
Nationalteam-Update:14:10, 27 October 2021 (UTC)

Valdomiro Tualungo Paulo Lameira (born 22 September 1995), known as Estrela, is an Angolan professional footballer who plays as a defensive midfielder for Erzurumspor F.K. and the Angola national team.

Club career

Estrela began his career in S.L. Benfica's youth squad in 2006,[1] joining the under-19 squad in 2011. He was part of the squad that competed in the 2013–14 UEFA Youth League,[2] including a match against Manchester City under-19 in which he scored a goal. Benfica went on to be runners-up in the tournament,[2] losing to the under-19 squad of Barcelona 0–3 in the final. He had signed a contract to stay with Benfica until 2020.[3]

On 8 July 2014, it was announced that he and teammate Rafael Ramos were transferred to Orlando City SC of the USL Pro, the third level of the United States soccer league system, on three-and-a-half-year professional contracts as part of an affiliation between the two clubs.[2] The players' contracts would see the two new signings finish out the 2014 USL Pro season with the club before transitioning into Major League Soccer in 2015.[4]

He, along with Ramos, made his professional debut on 23 August 2014 in a league match against the Richmond Kickers. In the 8th minute of the match, he volleyed a strike from outside of the box to also score his first goal for the club. The 3–2 victory was notable for Ramos also scoring his first goal for the club in his debut in addition to Kevin Molino breaking the single-season league goal scoring record. After the match, head coach Adrian Heath stated in regards to the two new players, "I thought that the two new players (Estrela and Ramos) were outstanding, considering that they haven't played for two or three weeks. Their contribution was massive..."[5]

He went on to make five league appearances for the club, scoring one goal, during the 2014 USL Pro season, Orlando City's last in the league before making the jump to Major League Soccer.[6] The defender also started and played 90 minutes[7] of Orlando's defeat to the Harrisburg City Islanders in the first round of the playoffs which saw Orlando eliminated.[8] Estrela was released by Orlando on 30 January 2016.[9]

On 1 February 2016, he joined Cypriot champions APOEL FC on a two-and-a-half-year contract.[10] Estrela made his first and only appearance for APOEL on 27 February 2016, coming on as a 71st-minute substitute in his team's 3–0 home victory against Ayia Napa for the Cypriot First Division.[11] A few months after joining APOEL, he crowned champion for the first time in his career, as his team managed to win the Cypriot First Division title for a fourth time in the row.[12] On 10 August 2016, Estrela's contract with APOEL was mutually terminated.[13] On 29 October 2016, he signed a contract until 2018 with Portuguese side Varzim S.C. from LigaPro.[14]

On 4 July 2019 he signed a three-year contract with Primeira Liga club Aves.[15]

International career

He, along with Orlando teammate Ramos, was called to camp with the Portugal national under-20 team in October 2014, despite being born in Angola. The camp, which was his first international experience, was part of Portugal's preparation for the 2015 FIFA U-20 World Cup.[16]

On 22 September 2020, Estrela was called up by the senior Angola national football team.[17] He made his debut on 13 October 2020.[18]

Honours

Benfica

APOEL

2015–16[12]

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: futebol365 Profile. www.futebol365.pt. 24 August 2014.
  2. Web site: Valdomiro Lameira and Rafael Ramos head to Orlando City. S.L. Benfica. 24 August 2014.
  3. Web site: Benfica: dois jovens nos Estados Unidos para jogar com Kaká. www.maisfutebol.iol.pt. 24 August 2014.
  4. Web site: SL Benfica partnership delivering benefits as Orlando City signs two players to MLS deals. Orlando City SC. 24 August 2014. 26 August 2014. https://web.archive.org/web/20140826114938/http://www.orlandocitysc.com/news/pronews/?article_id=1989. dead.
  5. Web site: MOLINO BREAKS USL PRO GOAL SCORING RECORD IN THRILLING 3–2 VICTORY. Orlando City SC. 24 August 2014.
  6. Web site: 2014 Stats. USL Pro. 16 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141021201754/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/teams/2014/13380700.html#STATS. 21 October 2014. dmy-all.
  7. Web site: Harrisburg 1 Orlando O. USL Pro. 16 September 2014. dead. https://archive.today/20140914022222/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/scripts/runisa.dll?M2:gp::72013+Elements/Display+E+47107+Stats/+4986422. 14 September 2014. dmy-all.
  8. Web site: Hoppenot, City Islanders Stun Lions. USL Pro. 16 September 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20141111090937/http://uslpro.uslsoccer.com/home/836885.html. 11 November 2014. dmy-all.
  9. Web site: Orlando City has waived midfielder Estrela . 30 January 2016 . Orlando City SC . 31 January 2016.
  10. Web site: http://apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=14764&tt=graphic&lang=l1. el:Σύναψη συμφωνίας με Valdmiro Tualungo Paulo Lameira (Estrela). Agreement with Valdmiro Tualungo Paulo Lameira (Estrela). apoelfc.com.cy. el. 1 February 2016. 1 February 2016.
  11. Web site: APOEL FC 3–0 Ayia Napa. apoelfc.com.cy. 27 February 2016. 27 February 2016.
  12. Web site: APOEL clinch record 25th title in Cyprus. uefa.com. 28 April 2016. 28 April 2016.
  13. Web site: Κοινή συναινέσει λύση συνεργασίας με Estrela. APOEL FC. 10 August 2016. 10 August 2016. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20160816063527/http://apoelfc.com.cy/nqcontent.cfm?a_id=15350&tt=graphic&lang=l1. 16 August 2016. dmy-all.
  14. News: 29 October 2016. Varzim contrata ex-Benfica e colega de Kaká. Varzim sign former Benfica player and Kaká's teammate. pt. Maisfutebol. 31 October 2016.
  15. Aves. CONTRATAÇÃO ESTRELA. 4 July 2019. pt.
  16. Web site: Ramos and Estrela Called-Up to Train with U20 Portugal Men's National Team. Orlando City SC. 10 November 2014.
  17. Web site: Convocatória Seleção da Honras data FIFA de 5 a 13 de outubro de 2020. pt. Angolan Football Federation. 22 September 2020. 22 September 2020.
  18. Web site: BOLA – Angola beat Mozambique (3-0) in Rio Maior (CAF). pt. 13 October 2020. 14 October 2020. 1 December 2020. https://web.archive.org/web/20201201211547/https://www.time24.news/2020/10/bola-angola-beat-mozambique-3-0-in-rio-maior-caf.html. dead.
  19. Web site: 'Proud' Benfica hold heads high after final defeat . 14 April 2014 . . 12 January 2015.