| Paulo Soares | |
| Birth Date: | 1 December 1999 |
| Birth Place: | United States |
| Position: | Midfielder |
| Currentclub: | Sportist Svoge |
| Collegeyears1: | 2017–2021 |
| College1: | Quinnipiac Bobcats |
| Years1: | 2022 |
| Clubs1: | Rochester New York FC |
| Caps1: | 10 |
| Goals1: | 0 |
| Years2: | 2024 |
| Clubs2: | Dobrudzha |
| Caps2: | 7 |
| Goals2: | 0 |
| Nationalyears1: | 2019 |
| Nationalteam1: | Cape Verde U19 |
| Nationalcaps1: | 2 |
| Nationalgoals1: | 0 |
| Club-Update: | 8 August 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalteam-Update: | 19:57, 14 January 2024 (UTC) |
| Nationalyears2: | 2022– |
| Nationalteam2: | Cape Verde |
| Nationalcaps2: | 1 |
| Nationalgoals2: | 0 |
| Years3: | 2024- |
| Clubs3: | Sportist Svoge |
| Caps3: | 2 |
| Goals3: | 0 |
Paulo Soares (born 1 December 1999) is a professional footballer who plays as a midfielder for Bulgarian Second Professional Football League club Sportist Svoge.[1] Born in the United States, he is a Cape Verde international.[2]
Born in the United States, Soares returned to Cape Verde as a child with his family, before returning again to the United States, where he captained the soccer team at Quincy High School in Quincy, Massachusetts.[3] [4] In Cape Verde, Soares had been scouted by Italian and Portuguese teams but his family prioritized his education, thus the decision to send him back to the United States instead.
Soares played college soccer for the Quinnipiac Bobcats and made the Metro Atlantic Athletic Conference (MAAC) All-Rookie team.[5] During the 2021 season, he made the All-MAAC team and the MAAC All-Academic team.[6] He also captained the Quinnipiac Bobcats.[7]
Before the 2022 season, Soares signed for American side Rochester New York FC.[8]
On 13 January 2024, Soares joined Bulgarian second division club Dobrudzha.[9]
Soares played for the Cape Verde national under-15, under-16, and under-19 teams, and has captained the national under-19 team.[10] He debuted for Cape Verde during a 1–0 loss to Ecuador.[11]
Soares can operate as a center midfielder and a defensive midfielder and is known for his work ethic.[12]
His father is a civil engineer.[13]
| Club | Season | League | Cup | Other | Total | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Division | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | Apps | Goals | |||
| Rochester New York | 2022 | MLS Next Pro | 10 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 11 | 0 | |
| Dobrudzha | 2023-24 | Second League | 7 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 7 | 0 | |
| Sportist Svoge | 2024-25 | Second League | 2 | 0 | — | — | — | — | 2 | 0 | |
| Career Total | 19 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 20 | 0 | |||