Ricardo Horta is a professional footballer from Portugal, known for playing as a right winger.
He currently captains SC Braga in the Primeira Liga and represents the Portugal national team.
Horta made his professional debut for Vitória de Setúbal in 2013, where he quickly became a regular starter.
Biography
Early Life
Ricardo Jorge da Luz Horta was born in Sobreda, Almada, Portugal. He began his football journey in the youth ranks of Benfica before joining Vitória de Setúbal in 2011, where he developed his skills and passion for the game.
Club Career
Horta made his professional debut for Vitória de Setúbal on April 7, 2013, in a Primeira Liga match against Rio Ave. He quickly made an impact, scoring his first professional goal on December 9, 2013, against Académica de Coimbra. After a successful stint, he signed with La Liga side Málaga CF in July 2014, where he played for two seasons, making 56 appearances and scoring three goals. In July 2016, Horta was loaned to SC Braga, where he later signed permanently. At Braga, he became a key player, helping the team achieve consecutive fourth-place finishes and extending his contract in 2019.
International Career
Horta has represented Portugal at various youth levels, including the under-19, under-20, and under-21 teams. He earned his first cap for the senior national team on September 7, 2014, just before his 20th birthday. After a long absence from the national squad, he was recalled in May 2022 and played a crucial role in the 2022 FIFA World Cup, where he started in the final group match against South Korea.
Personal Life
Ricardo Horta's family is deeply rooted in football; his younger brother, André Horta, is also a professional footballer and has played alongside him at several clubs, including Benfica and Braga. Horta's journey reflects his dedication to the sport and his contributions to Portuguese football.
Collected from open sources (3) · facts link to sources · AI-processed
Gallery
Career & Clubs
Horta was part of the Portugal under-20 team at the 2014 Toulon Tournament and the under-21 one at the 2015 and 2017 UEFA European Championship. He scored in his only appearance in the 2015 competition, in a final runner-up position in the Czech Republic. On 7 September 2014, Horta earned his first cap for the full side – one week before his 20th birthday – replacing William Carvalho early into the second half of a 0–1 home loss against Albania for the UEFA Euro 2016 qualifiers. In May 2022, after almost eight years in the international wilderness, Horta was recalled by Fernando Santos for upcoming 2022–23 UEFA Nations League games, playing 20 minutes in the 1–1 draw with Spain in Seville on 2 June and scoring his team's goal. In November, he was named in the final squad for the 2022 FIFA World Cup in Qatar. As the nation had already secured qualification from their group, he started in the last fixture, opening an eventual 2–1 loss to South Korea in Al Rayyan following a cross from Diogo Dalot.
Club
As of match played 9 October 2026
International
As of match played 31 March 2026
Scores and results list Portugal's goal tally first, score column indicates score after each Horta goal.
Vitória Setúbal
Born in Sobreda, Almada, Horta joined Vitória de Setúbal's youth ranks in 2011, signing from Benfica. On 7 April 2013, he made his first-team and Primeira Liga debut, coming on as a second-half substitute for Cristiano in a 2–1 away loss against Rio Ave. He finished the campaign with six games, all from the bench. On 9 December 2013, Horta scored his first professional goal, the game's only against Académica de Coimbra. He was a regular starter in his second season, playing 28 matches and scoring seven times.
Málaga
On 12 July 2014, Horta signed a five-year deal with La Liga side Málaga. He made his debut in the competition on 23 August, starting in a 1–0 home win over Athletic Bilbao. Horta scored his first goal for on 6 January 2015, in a 2–0 defeat of Levante in the round of 16 of the Copa del Rey also at La Rosaleda Stadium. He finished his spell with 56 appearances, three goals and one assist in all competitions; his only league goal was in a 3–2 victory against Getafe on 28 February.
Braga
On 5 July 2016, Horta was loaned to Braga for one year. Roughly one year later he joined the club permanently, with Juan Carlos moving in the opposite direction. He scored 11 and eight goals in his second and third seasons respectively, helping to consecutive fourth-place finishes. In September 2019, Horta added two more seasons to his contract to take him through to 2024, while increasing his buyout clause from €25 million to €30 million.…
- Club
- Vitória F.C. (2013–2014)
- Club
- Málaga CF (2014–)
- Club
- Portugal national under-19 football team (2013–2013)
- Club
- Portugal national under-20 football team (2014–2014)
- Club
- Portugal national under-21 football team (2014–)
- Club
- Portugal Olympic football team (2016–)
- Club
- Portugal men's national football team (2014–)
- National team
- Portugal
Personal
Horta's younger brother, André, is also a footballer. He was a teammate at Benfica, Vitória de Setúbal and Braga.
Clubs
Played together with
- Aarón EscandellMálaga CF · 2012–2014
- Aarón EscandellMálaga CF · 2013–2017
Abdel AbqarMálaga CF- Abdullah QuayeMálaga CF · 1999–2001
- Abel CamaráPortugal national under-21 football team · 2011–2012
- Abel MigliettiPortugal men's national football team · 1972–1973
- Abel SilvaPortugal national under-20 football team · 1989–1989
- Abel SilvaPortugal national under-21 football team · 1989–1991
- Abel SilvaVitória F.C. · 1995–1995
- Abel XavierPortugal men's national football team · 1993–2002
- Abel XavierPortugal national under-20 football team · 1990–1991
- Abel XavierPortugal national under-21 football team · 1991–1994
Archive
Passport
Identifiers & aliases
Ricardo Jorge da Luz Horta is a Portuguese professional footballer who plays as a right winger for Primeira Liga club Braga, whom he captains, and the Portugal national team.
Opinions of fans — not verified facts.
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