Luquinhas Explained

Luquinhas
Fullname:Lucas Lima Linhares
Birth Date:28 September 1996
Birth Place:Ceilândia, Brazil
Height:1.69 m[1]
Position:Attacking midfielder, winger
Currentclub:Legia Warsaw
Clubnumber:82
Youthyears1:2014
Youthclubs1:Ceilandense
Youthyears2:2014–2015
Youthclubs2:Vilafranquense
Years1:2015–2016
Clubs1:Vilafranquense
Caps1:36
Goals1:17
Years2:2016–2017
Clubs2:Benfica B (loan)
Caps2:14
Goals2:0
Years3:2017
Clubs3:Benfica
Caps3:0
Goals3:0
Years4:2017–2019
Clubs4:Aves
Caps4:17
Goals4:0
Years5:2017–2018
Clubs5:Vilafranquense (loan)
Caps5:32
Goals5:10
Years6:2019–2022
Clubs6:Legia Warsaw
Caps6:75
Goals6:8
Years7:2022–2023
Clubs7:New York Red Bulls
Caps7:56
Goals7:8
Years8:2024–
Clubs8:Fortaleza
Caps8:3
Goals8:0
Years9:2024–
Clubs9:Legia Warsaw (loan)
Caps9:2
Goals9:2
Club-Update:13:32, 29 July 2024 (UTC)

Lucas Lima Linhares (born 28 September 1996), known as Luquinhas, is a Brazilian professional footballer who plays as an attacking midfielder or winger for Polish club Legia Warsaw, on loan from Série A club Fortaleza.[2]

Career

Benfica

Born in Ceilândia, Luquinhas started his football career at local club Atlético Ceilandense. In September 2014, he moved to Portugal and joined Vilafranquense before moving on loan to Portuguese champions S.L. Benfica in June 2016.[3] [4] [5] On 11 September, he made his professional debut with Benfica's reserve team as a substitute in a 2–1 home win over Académico de Viseu in LigaPro.[6] After playing 15 matches with Benfica B, Luquinhas signed a four-year contract with Benfica on 28 June 2017.[5]

Aves

On 25 August 2017 Luquinhas penned a three-year deal with Desportivo das Aves, who loaned him out for one season to Vilafranquense three days later.[7] [8] After one season on loan with Vilafranquense, in which he scored 10 goals in 32 league matches, Luquinhas returned to Aves. On 20 January 2019, he made his debut for Aves in a 2–1 win over Vitória de Setúbal in the Primeira Liga.

Legia Warsaw

On 4 July 2019, Luquinhas signed a three-year contract with Polish club Legia Warsaw.[9] On 21 July, he made his debut with Legia as a starter in a 1–2 defeat to Pogoń Szczecin.[10] On 27 October, Luquinhas scored his first goal with Legia Warsaw in a 7–0 victory over Wisła Kraków.[11] He ended his first season in Poland appearing in 45 matches scoring 5 goals and recording 9 assists, helping Legia to a league title.

Luquinhas continued to be an important player for Legia during the 2020–21 season. On 6 February 2021, he scored his first goal of the campaign in a 2–0 victory over Raków Częstochowa.[12] A few days later, on 9 February, Luquinhas helped Legia to a 3–2 victory over ŁKS Łódź. Luquinhas came on in the second half, scoring his club's second goal, as they advanced in the Polish Cup.[13] He ended the season appearing in 34 matches scoring 4 goals and recording 8 assists, as Legia won its second straight Ekstraklasa title. For his efforts, he was named the Ekstraklasa Midfielder of the Season.[14]

On 7 July 2021, Luquinhas opened the scoring for the Polish champions in a 3–2 victory over Norwegian side Bodø/Glimt in the first leg of the first round of UEFA Champions League qualifying.[15] On 14 July, he helped Legia advance in the competition, scoring the opening goal in a 2–0 victory in the second leg against Bodø/Glimt.[16] On 12 December 2021, he was one of the victims of Legia pseudo-fans attacking players returning to Warsaw after a match against Wisła Płock. Luquinhas himself was said to be frightened and not confident after the incident. His agent suggested the possibility of terminating his contract with the team.[17] [18]

New York Red Bulls

On 16 February 2022, Luquinhas signed with Major League Soccer side New York Red Bulls on a three-year deal.[19] Luquinhas made his debut off the bench for his new club on 13 March, in a 0–1 loss versus Minnesota United FC.[20] On 24 April 2022, Luquinhas scored his first goal for New York in a 3–0 victory over Orlando City SC.[21] On 10 May 2022, Luquinhas scored and assisted on another goal for New York in a 3–0 victory over DC United, helping the club advance to Round of 16 in the 2022 U.S. Open Cup.[22] A few days later, on 14 May, he scored a second half equalizer, helping New York to a 1–1 draw on the road against Philadelphia Union.[23] On 28 May 22, Luquinhas scored two goals to help lead New York to a 4–1 victory over rival D.C. United.[24] On 22 June 2022, Luquinhas helped New York to advance to the semifinals of the 2022 U.S. Open Cup, scoring a goal in a 3–0 victory over local rival New York City FC.[25]

On 18 March 2023, Luquinhas scored his first goal of the season, scoring the opening goal for New York in a 2–1 victory over Columbus Crew.[26] On 7 October 2023, Luquinhas scored two goals for New York in a 3–0 victory over Toronto FC.[27]

Fortaleza

On 12 January 2024, Luquinhas returned to Brazil, signing a four-year contract, with an option for a further year, with Série A club Fortaleza. New York Red Bulls received a $1.5 million transfer fee, which could rise to $2 million with add-ons.[28]

Loan to Legia

Ahead of the 2024–25 season, Luquinhas returned to Ekstraklasa club Legia Warsaw on a season-long loan; he previously played for Legia from 2019 to 2022.

Career statistics

Appearances and goals by club, season and competition
ClubSeasonLeagueState leagueNational cupContinentalOtherTotal
DivisionAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoalsAppsGoals
Vilafranquense2014–15AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão103103
2014–15AF Lisboa 1ª Divisão261431103015
Total361731104018
Benfica B2016–17LigaPro14000140
Vilafranquense2017–18Campeonato de Portugal3210113311
Aves2018–19Primeira Liga17010180
Legia Warsaw2019–20Ekstraklasa3555050455
2020–21Ekstraklasa253414010344
2021–22Ekstraklasa1502113210313
Total7581122222011012
New York Red Bulls2022Major League Soccer3055210367
2023Major League Soccer263104030343
Total5686240407010
Fortaleza2024Série A0030001060100
Legia Warsaw (loan)2024–25Ekstraklasa32002153
Career total233453022629313030054

Honours

Legia Warsaw

2019–20, 2020–21

Fortaleza

2024

Individual

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Lucas Lima Linhares . 22 August 2022 . New York Red Bulls.
  2. Web site: Ziółkowski . Maciej . 2024-06-16 . Oficjalnie. Luquinhas wypożyczony do Legii Warszawa . 2024-06-16 . legia.net . pl.
  3. News: Belo. Miguel. Martins. Nuno. 4 June 2016. Luquinhas passou fome e dormiu em aeroportos do Brasil. Luquinhas starved and slept in airports in Brazil. Portuguese. Record. 10 June 2018.
  4. News: 2 June 2016. Benfica contrata Luquinhas. Benfica sign Luquinhas. Portuguese. zerozero. 12 September 2016.
  5. News: 28 June 2017. Benfica contrata extremo do Vilafranquense. Benfica sign Vilafranquense's winger. Portuguese. SAPO Desporto. 10 June 2018.
  6. Web site: Benfica B 2–1 Ac. Viseu. 11 September 2016. Liga Portugal. Portuguese. 12 September 2016.
  7. News: 28 August 2017. Oficial: Desp. Aves empresta Luquinhas. Official: Aves loan out Luquinhas. Portuguese. Maisfutebol. 10 June 2018.
  8. News: Silva. Flávio Miguel. 28 August 2017. Luquinhas regressa ao Vilafranquense por uma temporada. Luquinhas returns to Vilafranquense for one season. Portuguese. Record. 10 June 2018.
  9. News: Kostrzewa. Mateusz. 4 July 2019. Luquinhas w Legii. Luquinhas in Legia. pl. Legia Warsaw. 4 July 2019.
  10. News: 21 July 2019. Legia Warszawa 1-2 Pogoń Szczecin. pl. portowefakty.wp.pl. 21 July 2019.
  11. News: Stompór. Michał. 27 October 2019. Nokaut w stolicy Polski: Legia - Wisła 7:0. pl. wisla.krakow.pl. 27 October 2019.
  12. News: 6 February 2021. Luquinhas i Pekhart załatwili sprawę. Legia nie traci dystansu do lidera . pl. sport.dziennik.pl. 6 February 2021.
  13. News: Wojs. Maciej . 9 February 2021. Puchar Polski: mróz i ŁKS nie zatrzymały Legii. Mistrz Polski w ćwierćfinale. pl. sport.tvp.pl. 9 February 2021.
  14. News: Gala Ekstraklasy – nagrodzono najlepszych w sezonie 2020/21. 17 May 2021. 14 September 2021. Ekstraklasa.org. pl.
  15. News: UCL: Legia Mark Victory in Norway with FK Bodø/Glimt. 7 July 2021. 7 July 2021. Psnfutbol.com. en.
  16. News: UCL: Legia-FK Bodø/Glimt (2-0) . 14 July 2021. 14 July 2021. Legia.com. pl.
  17. Web site: 2021-12-15 . Wystraszony piłkarz odejdzie z Legii? Agent zabrał głos. "To bardzo ważne" . Frightened footballer to leave Legia? The agent spoke out. "It's very significant" . 2024-02-04 . Sport.pl . pl.
  18. Web site: Ziółkowski . Maciej . 2021-12-14 . Menedżer Luquinhasa: Zawodnik jest wystraszony i nieufny . Luquinhas' manager: the player is frightened and not confident . 2024-02-04 . legia.net . pl.
  19. Web site: New York Red Bulls Acquire Brazilian Midfielder Luquinhas. New York Red Bulls. 16 February 2022. 16 February 2022.
  20. Web site: Lucas Lima Linhares . Mlssoccer.com. 8 April 2022.
  21. News: Quillen. Ian Nicholas. 24 April 2022. Road warrior New York Red Bulls make MLS history in Orlando. EN. mlssoccer.com. 24 April 2022.
  22. Web site: Red Bulls Roll to 3-0 Victory, Advance to Open Cup Round of 16. www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  23. Web site: Down to Ten Men, Red Bulls Fight Back for Draw at Philadelphia. www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  24. Web site: Red Bulls Break Through at Home Against Atlantic Cup Rival D.C United. www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  25. Web site: Red Bulls Advance to U.S. Open Cup Semifinals With NYCFC Win. www.newyorkredbulls.com.
  26. Web site: Dante Vanzeir Scores Match-Winner with First MLS Goal . NewYorkRedBulls.com . . 19 March 2023.
  27. Web site: Dante Vanzeir Scores Match-Winner with First MLS Goal . NewYorkRedBulls.com . . 9 October 2023.
  28. Web site: 12 January 2024 . Fortaleza acerta a contratação do meia Luquinhas . Fortaleza agrees the signing of midfielder Luquinhas . 13 January 2024 . Fortaleza Esporte Clube . pt-br.