Paulo Iago

In this Spanish name, the first or paternal surname is Álvarez and the second or maternal family name is Morón.
Paulo Iago
Personal information
Full name Paulo Iago Álvarez Morón[1]
Date of birth (2007-04-10) 10 April 2007 (age 17)
Place of birth Madrid, Spain[2]
Position(s) Midfielder
Team information
Current team
 Sporting CP
Youth career
2011–2013 Parque Sureste
2013–2014 Adpi Rivas
2013–2014 Estrella de Madrid
2014–2024 Real Madrid
2024– Sporting CP
International career‡
Years Team Apps (Gls)
2022 Spain U15 6 (4)
2022–2023 Spain U16 8 (1)
2023– Spain U17 12 (2)
‡ National team caps and goals, correct as of 04:15, 31 May 2024 (UTC)

Paulo Iago Álvarez Morón (born 10 April 2007), known as Paulo Iago or just Paulo, is a Spanish professional footballer currently playing as a midfielder for Sporting CP.

Club career

Early life

Born in Madrid, Paulo Iago developed an interest for football at the age of two, and was encouraged by his father, Xosé "Pepe" Álvarez Murias, a former amateur footballer from A Fonsagrada, Lugo.[3][4]

He joined Parque Sureste at the age of four, but broke his tibia and fibula in a skateboarding accident shortly after his first training session.[4] After a year out, he returned to become top scorer in his category at the age of five.[3] He was scouted by professional sides Atlético Madrid, Rayo Vallecano and Real Madrid, a rare feat for a player of such a young age.[3] Short spells with Adpi Rivas and Estrella de Madrid followed, before he joined Real Madrid in 2014.[2]

He progressed well through La Fábrica, scoring over 150 goals in his first five years with the club.[3][5] After signing with super-agent Jorge Mendes, he signed his first contract with Los Blancos in 2022.[6]

In the 2024/25 season summer market, Paulo Iago left Real Madrid academy and joined Sporting Clube de Portugal [7]

International career

Paulo Iago has represented Spain at under-15 level.[1] He was called up to the under-16 team in August 2022.[8]

Style of play

A prolific goal-scorer from midfield, technically gifted and skilful, he has drawn comparisons to Ballon d'Or winners Lionel Messi and Luka Modrić.[4][9]

References

  1. ^ a b Paulo Iago at WorldFootball.net
  2. ^ a b "Paulo". realmadrid.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  3. ^ a b c d Fernández, M.; Carerra, U. (18 August 2021). "El hijo del Pelé de A Fonsagrada triunfa como pichichi del Real Madrid" [The son of Pelé from A Fonsagrada triumphs as top scorer for Real Madrid]. globalgalicia.org (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  4. ^ a b c Menendez, Nacho D. (1 June 2020). "Paulo Iago, la joya de la cantera del Real Madrid, tiene raíces en A Fonsagrada" [Paulo Iago, the jewel of the Real Madrid academy, has roots in A Fonsagrada]. elprogreso.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  5. ^ Díaz Rolle, I. (17 May 2020). "El acento gallego de la zurda más letal de La Fábrica" [The Galician accent of the most lethal lefty of La Fábrica]. lavozdegalicia.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  6. ^ "El Madrid se asegura el futuro de Paulo Iago, prometedor cadete" [Madrid ensures the future of Paulo Iago, promising cadet]. es.besoccer.com (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  7. ^ "Paulo Iago reforça equipa B Leonina!" (in Portuguese). 11 September 2024.
  8. ^ "Paulo Iago jugará dos partidos en Rumanía con la selección sub-16" [Paulo Iago will play two games in Romania with the U-16 team]. lavozdegalicia.es (in Spanish). 31 August 2022. Retrieved 14 November 2022.
  9. ^ Díaz Rolle, I. (19 February 2022). "Así es Paulo Iago, la perla de origen gallego del Real Madrid" [This is Paulo Iago, the pearl of Galician origin of Real Madrid]. lavozdegalicia.es (in Spanish). Retrieved 14 November 2022.