Eustáquio left his mark on the squad before joining Los Angeles FC | OneFootball

Stephen Eustáquio was one of the few players in Francesco Farioli’s squad who began the season already holding champion status with FC Porto, having been part of the 2021/22 title-winning campaign. That journey earned him a prominent place within the group, starting with a spot among the captains, alongside names such as Diogo Costa, Cláudio Ramos and Alan Varela. Despite not having come through the club’s academy, the Portuguese-Canadian made his mark through his personality, leadership ability and also his quality on the pitch, establishing himself as an important part of the starting eleven in his first three and a half seasons at the Dragão, a period in which he made 140 appearances and scored a dozen goals.

Eustáquio gave a talk that impressed both his teammates and the coaching staff. The 29-year-old midfielder spoke about his journey as a footballer, recalling his beginnings at modest clubs and the effort required to reach the top. One of the main targets of the Portuguese-Canadian’s message was Samu, who was going through a difficult spell after missing two penalties in consecutive matches, against V. Guimarães and Plzeň.

“I was the one who asked Stephen [Eustáquio], before the match, to speak. His speech gave me goosebumps. It was chilling. He spoke about how he started out as a player, about his development, the sacrifices he made… His message gave a huge boost to our young players. He found the right words to reach Samu. This group has leaders. It has players who are friends, people deeply committed to the club, who know how to welcome those who arrive, just as they welcomed me. I’m very grateful for how fortunate I am to coach these human beings. Stephen is an excellent example of that,” recalled Francesco Farioli, with the super champion Thiago Silva joining in the praise.

Eustáquio fulfilled his wish of living the American dream and moved to Major League Soccer to play for Los Angeles FC. The move allowed him to earn regular minutes and remain in the spotlight in the build-up to the World Cup, at a time when he continues to be an influential figure in the Canada national team.

The midfielder left the Dragão midway through the season, but he was not forgotten during the title celebrations, with his name repeatedly mentioned among the champions. In service of the Porto side, Eustáquio won eight trophies.

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