Josué Pesqueira

Early years and Paços

Born in Valongo, Porto District, Josué joined FC Porto's youth system at the age of nine. He spent his first two seasons as a senior on loan, both in Portugal and abroad, representing successively S.C. Covilhã, F.C. Penafiel (both in the Segunda Liga) and VVV-Venlo (Netherlands). In summer 2011, Josué was released by Porto with only two official appearances to his credit, both in the Taça da Liga, and signed with F.C. Paços de Ferreira. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 17 September, playing the full 90 minutes in a 1–0 away loss against C.D. Nacional. In his second year he contributed 23 league appearances – 18 starts – as the club finished a best-ever third and qualified for the UEFA Champions League, and was chosen as Best Young Player in the competition in the process.

Return to Porto

Josué agreed on a return to former side Porto on 29 May 2013, penning a four-year contract and moving alongside manager Paulo Fonseca. On 10 August he won his first club honour, coming on as a substitute in a 3–0 win over Vitória de Guimarães in the Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira, and scored his first goal for his new team a week later starting and netting through a penalty kick in a 3–1 victory at Vitória de Setúbal. Deemed surplus to requirements at Porto as practically all Portuguese players, Josué then spent 18 months on loan at Bursaspor. He made his Süper Lig debut on 30 August 2014, coming on as a late substitute in a 0–2 home loss to…

Josué won 26 caps for Portugal across all youth levels, including 17 for the under-21 team. He made his debut with the full side on 11 October 2013, playing 21 minutes in a 1–1 home draw with Israel for the 2014 FIFA World Cup qualifiers. In the second leg of the play-offs against Sweden on 19 November, Josué (who was not used in the game) extended his middle finger towards the opposing fans, while celebrating his country's qualification to the World Cup after the final whistle.

Club

As of 27 May 2024

International

Porto

Supertaça Cândido de Oliveira: 2013 Braga

Taça de Portugal: 2015–16 Akhisarspor

Turkish Super Cup: 2018 Hapoel Be'er Sheva

Israel State Cup: 2019–20 Legia Warsaw

Polish Cup: 2022–23 Polish Super Cup: 2023 Coritiba

Campeonato Brasileiro Série B: 2025 Individual

Primeira Liga Breakthrough Player of the Year: 2012–13 SJPF Young Player of the Month: February 2013 Ekstraklasa Midfielder of the Season: 2022–23 Piłka Nożna Foreigner of the Year: 2023 Polish Union of Footballers' Ekstraklasa Team of the Season: 2023–24 Bola de Prata: 2025 Campeonato Brasileiro Série B Best Player