Tiago Pinto

Early years

Pinto was born in Porto. After receiving his first football lessons at Benfica, both he and his father joined neighbouring Sporting CP, and the 12-year-old went on to complete his development at the Estádio José Alvalade. For 2007–08, Pinto was loaned to Olivais e Moscavide of the third division, and spent the following campaign with Primeira Liga newcomers Trofense. He scored his first goal in the competition on 18 April 2009, a consolation in a 2–1 away defeat against Rio Ave. In September 2009, after cutting ties with Sporting, Pinto signed a four-year contract with Braga. In his only season, he made no competitive appearances as the Minho side finished in second position.

Rio Ave

Pinto was released in summer 2010, and joined fellow top-flight club Rio Ave. He arrived to replace Braga-bound Sílvio, and had previously failed a medical at Vitória de Setúbal. On 3 September 2012, Pinto was loaned to Spanish side Deportivo de La Coruña for one year, without the option to purchase. He was presented before 200 fans at the Estadio Riazor and joined several compatriots at his new team, making his official debut on 1 November by playing the entirety of a 1–1 home draw with Mallorca in the last-32 stage of the Copa del Rey and also featuring three minutes in place of Juan Domínguez in the goalless second leg four weeks later, with the subsequent elimination on the away goals rule; between those two cup matches he appeared in his only game for them in…

Pinto won 25 caps for Portugal at youth level, including two for the under-21s. He was called up to the full side for the first time on 31 March 2015 for a friendly with Cape Verde, remaining on the bench in the 2–0 defeat in Estoril.

Pinto is the son of João Pinto, whom successfully represented Benfica, Sporting and the Portugal national team. In June 2009, he married Bárbara Brilhante at the Jerónimos Monastery in Lisbon, and the couple have a son and a daughter together. Pinto's uncle, Sérgio, competed mostly in the Portuguese lower divisions, also spending a season at England's Bradford City.