Froholdt rivals João Moutinho for instant impact at FC Porto | OneFootball

The return of Victor Froholdt to top-level performances coincided with FC Porto’s return to a more pressing and dominant style of football. Coincidence? Hard to believe. The Danish midfielder, brought in from Copenhagen last summer, stood out in Sunday’s win at Famalicão (1-0) and scored the goal that secured all three points, returning the Dragons to the top of the league before the competitive break.

The number 8 has confirmed what he had already shown: he is the engine of the blue and white midfield, capable of giving the team a different rhythm when he imposes his game. His quick adaptation to the new reality was surprising, especially given his young age—19 years old—and the Nordic player has become indispensable for Francesco Farioli, in an influence not seen at the Dragão for 15 years, since the season when João Moutinho commanded Porto’s midfield.

A BOLA compiled the data from the first seasons—up to the November international break (see table below)—of all midfielders who have played for FC Porto in the last decade and a half, and the conclusion is unequivocal: Froholdt is a rare case among midfield reinforcements. Between 2010 and 2025, no other midfielder had such an immediate and significant impact on the blue and white’s play as the Dane, especially in terms of playing time: Victor has logged 1,279 minutes across 16 matches. It was necessary to go back to 2010/11, Moutinho’s first season as a Dragon, to find higher numbers—1,324 minutes in 17 games.

Moreover, Froholdt surpasses the Portuguese international, currently at SC Braga, in other metrics: the former Copenhagen player already has two goals and three assists; at that stage of the season, João Moutinho had made ‘only’ two decisive passes. The podium is completed by another fan favorite: Otávio. The ‘Little One’ was already linked to FC Porto before 2016/17, but only that season did he fully join the main squad, after half a year with the B team and a fruitful loan to Vitória de Guimarães. Other notable names such as Uribe, Danilo, Casemiro, and Alan Varela, among others, are further down the list.

It’s worth noting that the Colombian, now back in his home country, is the only representative of the ‘Sérgio Conceição era’ in this ranking. Under the current Al Ittihad coach’s leadership at Porto, it was common for new signings to go through a more demanding adaptation period.

Returning to Froholdt, the young Dane is one of three players Farioli has used in every FC Porto match in 2025/26, alongside Bednarek and Borja Sainz, both interestingly recovering from injuries. Victor is also the third most-used player in the squad—only Diogo Costa and the Polish center-back have more minutes—so it would not be surprising if he gets some rest against Sintrense on the 22nd.

This article was translated into English by Artificial Intelligence. You can read the original version in 🇵🇹 here.