Ricardo Esgaio

Sporting CP

Born in Nazaré, Leiria District, Esgaio joined Sporting CP's youth system at the age of 12, having signed from local Grupo Desportivo os Nazarenos. On 14 December 2011 he was called for a UEFA Europa League group stage game away against Lazio, alongside youth graduates Betinho, Tiago Ilori, João Carlos and João Mário, as the Lions had already secured the first place in their group; he remained an unused substitute in the 2–0 loss. On 11 August 2012, Esgaio made his senior debut with the reserves in the Segunda Liga, playing 80 minutes in a 1–0 defeat at Oliveirense. He scored his first goal with the side the following matchday, the only in the home fixture against Vitória de Guimarães B; in his early career, he was mainly deployed as a right winger. Esgaio made his first official appearance with Sporting's main squad on 7 December 2012, starting against Videoton in the last round of the Europa League group stage as the team were already eliminated from knockout stage contention, and featuring the entire 2–1 home win. He made his Primeira Liga debut on 5 January of the following year, playing the last two minutes of a 0–1 home loss to Paços de Ferreira. On 6 November 2013, back in the reserves, he scored a hat-trick in the 4–0 defeat of Chaves. On 27 January 2015, both Esgaio and Sporting teammate Salim Cissé were loaned to fellow top-tier club Académica de Coimbra until the end of the season.

Braga

On 17 June 2017, after only 44 competitive…

Esgaio played 91 times for Portugal at youth level. He was first choice for the under-21s at the 2015 UEFA European Championship, helping to a runner-up finish in the Czech Republic. He was the captain of the Olympic team at the 2016 tournament in Brazil.

As of match played 31 July 2025

Esgaio's younger brother, Tiago, is also a footballer and a defender. He married Mara Alexandra in June 2018, and the couple later had son Giovanni and daughter Layena.